Comparative Medicine Behavior and Training Specialist

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 mov