Behavioral Management Technologist

Behavioral Management Technologist

Research Animal Resources is seeking a Behavioral Management Technologist to support the behavioral management program for Animal Research & Care at Johns Hopkins University. The Technologist is responsible for overseeing and conducting positive reinforcement training, socialization, and enrichment evaluation with laboratory animals.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Implement and evaluates social housing, environmental enrichment, and positive reinforcement training; strategies with various laboratory animal species
• Assist with the assessment and monitoring of the psychological welfare of laboratory animals.
• Responsible for conducting positive reinforcement training of nonhuman primates and other large animal species for cooperation with common experimental and veterinary procedures.
• Design and document animal training plans; communicate training progress and program goals to faculty and staff as needed.
• Communicate, understand, and relay relevant research, behavioral, and veterinary medical terminology
• Guide the social housing of laboratory housed animals, including forming social pairs, assessing behavioral compatibility between animals, and monitoring the stability of socially housed animals in pairs and groups.
• Assist with the design and implementation of enrichment devices for various laboratory animal species. Assist with evaluating the efficacy of the environmental enhancement plan for laboratory housed animals.
• Maintain accurate behavioral records and regulatory documents
• Maintain research equipment and initiates the process for equipment repair when needed.
• Communicate with faculty and staff in a timely and professional manner when issues arise with research plans or deadlines to determine solutions.
• Provide administrative support and other duties as assigned.

Technical Skills and Expected Level of Proficiency

• Animal Behavior Training Techniques - Awareness
• Animal Social Housing and Compatibility Assessment - Awareness
• Animal Welfare Assessment - Awareness
• Documentation and Reporting - Awareness
• Enrichment Device Design and Evaluation - Awareness
• Interpersonal Skills - Awareness

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

Any specific physical requirements for the job:

• Ability to work under environmental conditions that could require the use of safety equipment.
• Specialty Occupational Health requirements up to date and complete.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of positive reinforcement training principles and techniques.
• Previous experience assessing and enhancing captive animal welfare.
• Some related post-undergraduate work experience.