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Comparative Medicine Behavior and Training Specialist
PfizerUnited States - Connecticut - Groton$68,600 - $114,3003-5 years
Apply Why Patients Need You
Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in class medicines to patients around the world.
What You Will Achieve
As part of the Comparative Medicine team, you will join a group of dedicated professionals passionate about the care, behavior, and welfare of laboratory animal species. You will play a key role in the success of our acclimation, habituation and cooperative training/positive reinforcement programs by performing tactical components of non-human primate and canine handling and training. This includes training colleagues in key concepts of behavior and handling as a Subject Matter Expert.
It is your hard work along with innovative ideas and focus that will help in making Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.
How You Will Achieve It
Work with the CM Scheduler to schedule hands-on training sessions with CM Operations and veterinary technicians in applicable programs and techniques such as acclimation, habituation, and cooperative training/ positive reinforcement program, and socialization.
Complete training documentation for trainees in electronic database
Create and edit shaping plans for handling, create and adjust behavior management plans, and perform temperament testing to aid in socialization program, where appropriate
Work with veterinarians and Global Training colleagues to aid in the writing and revising of training modules and for applicable programs and techniques
Contribute to local/global teams in the refinement, continuous improvement, and innovative concepts in nonhuman primate and handling
Serve as a role model in human safety when working with and handling nonhuman primates
Set a workplace standard through leading by example, showing mastery of all animal handling SOP’s, regulatory guidelines and Pfizer policies.
Exemplify work-place standards, positive habits and behaviors to co-workers.
Interact with key in vivo research contacts to expand acclimation/handling/ positive reinforcement that meets study needs and objectives.
Contribute to operational excellence by the collation of metrics to aid in staffing and scheduling for NHP training, acclimation, etc.
Rotate occasional weekends to expand touchpoints for NHPs in training, to work alongside trainees progressing in training, and aid in study readiness of trainees
Maintain appropriate animal health, husbandry, or study-related records in compliance with regulatory and departmental standards
May be required to work under one of the following: The United States Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Act and associated Regulations and Standards, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Good Laboratory Practices, Public Health Service Policy and/or AAALAC accreditation standards.
Qualifications
Must-Have
BS/BA with 3 to 5 years' experience OR MA/MBA/MS with 0 to 4 years' experience
The candidate must be an expert at nonhuman primate handling and restraint, specifically in NHP cooperative methods and an expert at training nonhuman primates in novel approaches in cooperative handling and restraint eg. open and/or closed chair
All colleagues should have functional knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook, and calendar management. Colleagues should be able to use on line systems such as time tracking and document management. (e.g. electronic medical records, SharePoint, Activity Tracker).
Knowledge and use of other systems based upon job function may be required
Nice-to-Have
AALAS certification preferred.
Experience working in a large, complex nonhuman primate facility (ex: national primate research center) with a focus on nonhuman primate behavior and training is preferred.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to perform repetitive physical activities such as: pushing and pulling racks of caging, lifting and moving water bottles, bags of feed and bedding, reaching, stooping and bending.
Ability to move 50-pound bags of feed and bedding and a Functional Capacity Evaluation may be required.
For this position, you are expected to enter the nonhuman primate areas as part of your job responsibilities, a pre-hire requirement is either providing proof of measles immunity or receiving the measles vaccination before hire.
NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS
This is an Essential Personnel role: Essential Personnel are defined as the staff that are required to report to their designated work location, to ensure the operation of essential functions or departments during an emergency, as determined by Pfizer, or when the business has suspended operations. There are some individuals who may be required to perform essential services remotely and those individuals will be identified in advance and notified by their supervisors, but in most cases Essential Personnel are required to be on-site during an emergency or suspension of operations.
Some weekend work may be required, but it is very occasional.
Other job details:
Work Location Assignment: On Premise
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

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Research and Development