Comparative Medicine Behavior and Training Specialist

Role Summary

Comparative Medicine Behavior and Training Specialist at Pfizer, focusing on care, behavior, and welfare of laboratory animal species. You will support acclimation, habituation, and cooperative training/positive reinforcement programs for non-human primates and canines, and serve as a subject matter expert by training colleagues in key concepts of behavior and handling.

Responsibilities

• Schedule hands-on training sessions with CM Operations and veterinary technicians in applicable programs and techniques such as acclimation, habituation, cooperative training/positive reinforcement, and socialization.
• Complete training documentation for trainees in electronic databases.
• Create and edit shaping plans for handling, adjust behavior management plans, and perform temperament testing to aid in socialization programs where appropriate.
• Collaborate with veterinarians and Global Training colleagues to write and revise training modules for applicable programs and techniques.
• Contribute to local/global teams in refinement, continuous improvement, and innovative concepts in nonhuman primate handling.
• Serve as a role model in human safety when working with and handling nonhuman primates.
• Maintain mastery of animal handling SOPs, regulatory guidelines, and Pfizer policies to set workplace standards.
• Demonstrate workplace standards and positive behaviors to colleagues.
• Engage with in vivo research contacts to expand acclimation/handling/positive reinforcement that meets study needs.
• Support operational excellence by collecting metrics to aid staffing and scheduling for NHP training and acclimation.
• Rotate occasional weekends to expand touchpoints for NHPs in training and assist in study readiness of trainees.
• Maintain appropriate animal health, husbandry, or study-related records in compliance with regulatory and departmental standards.

Qualifications

• Required: BS/BA with 3 to 5 years' experience OR MA/MBA/MS with 0 to 4 years' experience.
• Required: Expert-level nonhuman primate handling and restraint, specifically in NHP cooperative methods, and expert at training nonhuman primates in novel cooperative handling and restraint approaches (e.g., open/closed chair).
• Required: Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook, and calendar management; ability to use online systems (time tracking, document management, electronic medical records, SharePoint, Activity Tracker).
• Required: Knowledge of other systems based on job function as needed.
• Preferred: AALAS certification.
• Preferred: Experience in a large, complex nonhuman primate facility with a focus on behavior and training.

Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Behavioral assessment and temperament testing.
• Training module development and documentation.

Additional Requirements

• Physical: Ability to perform repetitive activities such as lifting and moving materials; potential to move 50-pound bags of feed and bedding.
• Health/safety: May require measles immunity proof or vaccination before hire for sites with nonhuman primates.
• Work environment: Essential Personnel role requiring on-site presence during emergencies or suspensions of operations; possible on-site environmental requirements.