Department: Ctr for Comparative Medicine
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Please include a cover letter and resume with your application.

Job Summary:

The Manager of Husbandry Operations is responsible for Chicago and Evanston campus operations and personnel required for the husbandry care of laboratory animals.  This position oversees all husbandry personnel, ensures compliance with the University's Human Resources policies and practices, assists with strategic and budgetary planning, as well as ensures regulatory compliance with all federal, state and local laws and policies pertaining to animal use in research, and monitors building management alarms.

Please note: Work hours can be flexible and should add up to 40 hours per week. Work stations are close to each other and work space is limited. Work may require extended hours sitting at a computer temrinal and/or several hours of standing and walking in and around the animal facility. Position requires travel between the Evanston and Chicago campuses. Work will require access to the animal facilities.  Weekend, holiday and off hour monitoring of building management alarms is required. The ability to respond to and coordinate off hour emergencies and repairs may be necessary and will share on call responsibilities with other husbandry management. Must be enrolled in the University's occupational health program which entails filling out a health questionnaire. The health questionnaire is submitted to the University's occupational health provider for review.  Must be willing to undergo job related background check.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Husbandry Operations: Manage and coordinate campus wide operations related to animal care. Maintain animal care at a level to meet or exceed all pertinent laws, regulations and policies. Direct the activities of the Supervisors/Group Leaders responsible for the various areas. Serve as a strong, proactive leader of husbandry operations who anticipates and solves problems, and inspires staff. Support operations within centralized, satellite, and decentralized facilities and coordinate distribution of necessary supplies and equipment. Interact with various CCM offices in regards to finances, capital equipment purchases, preventative maintenance contracts, security, training and regulatory issues. Interface with vendors and internal/external service providers to assure that operations meet or exceed all safety and animal welfare regulations and policies. Conduct facility tours and particpate in program inspections as required. Participate in emergency planning and evacuation drills and interface with emergency response groups as necessary.
• Husbandry Staffing: Set clear expectations for husbandry and support staff, review progress, provide feedback and guidance, hold staff accountable for following SOPs and meeting performance standards. Oversee recruiting, hiring, disciplinary actions, terminations, evaluation of job performances, promotions and assignment of workloads. Support training for husbandry management and husbandry personnel.  Advises staff and faculty in laboratory animal care such as feeding, watering, cage cleaning, environmental controls. Assists and supports planning and implementation of on-the-job training and formal animal care training progarms such as American Association of Laboratory Animal Science courses. Supports the development, writing and implementation of husbandry Standard Operating Procedures. Assure adequate staffing to support operations, including weekend/holiday coverage.  Assemble staff in the event of an emergency and interface with emergency responders.
• Customer Service: Advises faculty and staff on procurement of animals, supplies and equipment. Assist with allocation of animal housing space and support areas. Organize and implement communications to research staff on issues pertaining to the facilities, staffing, security and operational changes as necessary. Consult with laboratories regarding special requirements and assist with lab space design. Participate in IACUC and Committee for Animal Research events as required.  Strive to build and maintain positive and effective relationships with NU research staff.
• Physical Plant: Maintain the physical plants in a condition that meets or exceeds all pertinent regulations, policies and local codes. Support the collection of physical plant data required for the AAALAC Program Description. Monitor building system alarms. Coordinate repairs, upgrades and maintenance of equipment and physical plants.
• Regulatory Compliance: This position ensures regulatory compliance with all federal, state and local laws and policies related to animal care and husbandry. Assist with and support USDA, AAALAC and IACUC inspections, including organizing responses to reports and writing the AAALAC program description. Interface with the Office of Research Safety.
• Additional: Perform other duties as assigned by CCM/NU management.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS, LATg
• 8 years direct experience in managing an animal research facility with a clear progression in overall responsibility and scope.
• Proven track record in effectively managing a staff of 25+ staff, strategic planning, fiscal responsibility and improvement in operational efficiencies.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Quality, compliance, customer focus, communications, collegiality, initiative, efficiency, coachability, people mangement.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively and confidential or sensitive information.
• Proven track record of effectively making critical decisions under pressure.
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Good working knowledge of office based software, e-mail and building management systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS/MBA, CMAR certification, ILAM graduate
• 12 years direct experience in managing an animal research facility with a clear progression in overall  responsibility and scope.
• Proven track record in effectively managing a staff of 50+ staff, strategic planning, fiscal responsibility and improvement in operational efficiencies.
• Management experience in a large academic institution.
• Active participation in local/national AALAS/LAMA.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Quality, compliance, customer focus, communications, collegiability, initiative, efficiency, coachability, people management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively and confidential or sensitive information.
• Proven track record of effectively making critical decisions under pressure.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Good working knowledge of office based software, e-mail and building management systems.
• Formal training in Project Management, Human Resources, Leadership and FEMA emergency management.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.