Manager, Animal Resources Program

Vassar College

Manager, Animal Resources Program

Department: Dean of the Faculty Office

Duration of Position: Full year / Full time

Work Schedule:

Employee Type: Administrator

Posting Date: 02/22/2021

Union Representation: Not Applicable

Posting Number: AS041P

Pay Rate:



About Vassar College

Located in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college.  Vassar is strongly committed to fostering a community that reflects the values of a liberal arts education and to promoting an environment of equality, inclusion and respect for difference.  Vassar College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, and applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.
Vassar College is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.

Position Summary and Responsibilities

This position will provide leadership and oversight in developing and directing an effective, efficient, innovative, and compliant animal care program that responds to and meets Vassar's diverse and dynamic research and teaching priorities. This position requires a broad and contemporary knowledge base in animal-based research methodology and applications for both traditional and non-model systems, industry-specific equipment and technology, specialized animal care requirements, and regulatory requirements. The Manager, who reports to the Associate Dean of the Faculty, is responsible for the training, oversight and evaluation of work performance of the animal care staff that perform daily care and housing of multiple species.

This position is responsible for the management of all activities related to laboratory animal research and facility oversight to ensure compliance with federal and state regulatory guidelines and institutional policies. The Manager's primary duties include working closely with the Consulting Veterinarian, faculty, staff, and students who conduct animal research within the constraints of the regulatory bodies and to enforce Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) policies to protect animal welfare. The Manager is responsible for administration of the budget and for maintaining records and reports, including IACUC records. This position is responsible for post-approval monitoring and ensuring that adequate training of all individuals is current.

The Manager must be familiar with the Animal Welfare Act, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the IACUC Guidebook for animal research. The Manager serves as the technical leader of animal care staff responsible for the care of animals and the animal resource facility. This position provides animal care expertise to support the Animal Care Technician and the faculty developing methods and protocols involving animals. A willingness and enthusiasm for gaining additional knowledge and skills in the area of regulatory compliance in the sciences more broadly is a trajectory for this position.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise staff when caring, feeding, watering, cleaning, and breeding rats, mice, birds, frogs and crickets; annotating animal data for record keeping; and providing medical treatment to animals to complement the Animal Care Technician and Consulting Veterinarian. The position is responsible for providing supervision and guidance to personnel and operations to ensure the care and well-being of laboratory animals, facilities, and the animal environment. The position is also responsible for the evaluation of work performance of the staff, as per Vassar College's staff management requirements.
  
• Manage and monitor the budget of the animal facility, providing periodic reports to the Associate Dean of the Faculty, and ensuring that the overall size of the animal program aligns with the constraints of the budget.
  
• Provide reports and applications as needed, to assist the Chair of the IACUC; maintain IACUC records and keep protocols up to date. Coordinate with the IACUC to develop and implement Institutional Animal Care and Use policies, programs, and standard operating procedures to comply with federal and state regulations. One goal is to seek AAALAC accreditation, so knowledge or experience of this process is valuable.
  
• Pre-review submissions to the IACUC and conduct post-approval monitoring of research protocols.
  
• Generate, along with the Animal Care Technician, and maintain all SOP and documents to ensure the facility meets all applicable college, state and federal regulations.
  
• Communicate with the Consulting Veterinarian, IACUC, Animal Care Technician, and research faculty to provide the most effective operation of the animal facility for the scientists and students.
  
• Knowledge of the sex, maturity and normal appearance and activities of animals.
  
• Knowledge of abnormal appearance and behavior of animals (i.e. characteristics, external lesions, rate of growth, weight loss, appetite, feces, etc.) to recognize when an animal is ill or injured.
  
• Perform quality controls, assure corrections of errors (incl. documentation), identify potential problems and optimize quality control.
  
  

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in a life science discipline, Animal Science or related field required, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in laboratory animal research. LATG certification is a minimum level of expertise, with CMAR certification preferred.
  
• Prior supervisory and management experience essential, minimum of 4 years preferable. Prior leadership experience is preferred.
  
• Knowledgeable of regulatory issues in animal care and use, as described above, essential.
  
• Experience with managing a sizable budget essential.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to develop important relationships with researchers.
  
• Prior experience with genetically engineered mouse models. Understand basic genetics. Familiarity with different breeding paradigms for rats, mice, birds and crickets.
  
• Skilled in animal handling and veterinary health assessments of vertebrate animals. Skilled in basic surgery techniques a plus. Basic animal dosing and necropsy skills.

Special Instructions to Applicants

To complete your on-line application, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 professional references.  All attachments must be in PDF format. Review of applications will begin immediately. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources, 845-437-5820.

For full consideration applicants should apply by:

All applicants must apply online at: https://employment.vassar.edu/postings/1773.