Primary responsibilities of the position include: * Directs and coordinates campus-wide facility operations for the Division of Comparative Medicines’ services, including husbandry, training, core services, administrative, and ancillary services * Responsible for strategic and budgetary planning, creation, and execution of new programs * Plan, coordinate, and integrate services to support the mission of University Animal Cores, including close collaboration with other UNC Departments, Centers, and Divisions. This focuses on in vitro/in vivo work and pre-clinical studies spanning clinical studies. As required, it includes orchestrating the merger, retirement, or development and implementation of new services to meet current research needs. * Maintain financial accountability, including reviewing core and departmental usage, expenses, and revenue; review budgets and financial reporting; make recommendations for financial support and capital purchases with operational changes with economic justifications; submit financial metrics as requested. * Provides oversight of the Assistant Operations Directors and supervisors responsible for coordinating operations and maintenance of UNC 26 animal facilities and DCM and LCCC research core facilities; assisting with professional development and work plan implementation for staff to support operational workflow. Assist in the staff performance evaluation, providing ongoing staff mentoring and counseling as required. * Investigate and address any client and staff concerns, implement changes as required, monitor the effectiveness of solutions, and communicate recommendations to Directors. * Develop, implement, and evaluate laboratory and departmental policies and standard operating procedures to provide superior results and service to clients. * Provides direction and oversight of facility construction and renovation; coordinates and manages all projects, especially those of enormous scope; coordinates and develops security and emergency planning. * Resource and liaison to staff, clients, and the research community. * Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, a collegial attitude, and the ability to successfully work with faculty, staff, and trainees. Present information to Directors, faculty, staff, and clients as required. * The Director of Operations directly supervises up to 15 high-level full-time employees and indirectly supervises 200+ staff reporting to those individuals.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Knowledge of and expertise with in-vivo techniques for research, experience with protocol & grant review and manuscript preparation, demonstrated ability to create/implement new programs in adherence with established policies & procedures, demonstrated ability to plan and monitor the use of expenditures and prepare budget documents & reports, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Previous experience in a supervisory role, a post-baccalaureate degree in a relevant field, seven or more years of relevant experience, certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) at the Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) level, certification by AALAS at the Certified Manager of Animal Resources (CMAR) level.
The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) cares for all vertebrate animals on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) campus. DCM is committed to programs of excellence in veterinary care and laboratory animal management practices for all species used in UNC-CH research endeavors.
A staff of more than 170 professional, technical, and administrative personnel provides quality animal care to a daily population of over 200,000 animals in 26 animal facilities on and off the UNC campus. Federal funding and foundations sponsor over $1 billion in research on the UNC campus conducted by the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, and Pharmacy and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology.
The Division’s veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and laboratory technicians are responsible for the health care and humane use of all animals. The Division’s program is reviewed semi-annually by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. It has been accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) since 1973. DCM and the University meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Public H...ealth Service standards and regulations. As laboratory animal specialists, they provide a comprehensive program of veterinary care, offer technical advice and assistance, and provide needed laboratory and research core services for teaching and research purposes.
Position Summary
The Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research, Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) supports the animal oversight and research needs of all investigators utilizing animals in their research and teaching. The Director of Operations serves a critical function in support of excellent animal care and welfare within the context of the University’s highly successful biomedical research program. He will provide research support to University scientists by developing and maintaining optimum laboratory animal facilities and core services. DCM provides husbandry, veterinary care, training, translational study support, and laboratory services for all animals at UNC. UNC Cores support the research missions within the UNC School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Public Health, and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Director of Operations will provide strategic leadership and management across the animal cores to support the preclinical research mission. The Director of Operations will report to the Director of DCM to provide guidance and develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare at the National Institutes of Health – NIH (OLAW) regulations and AAALAC. The Director of Operations will also interact with entities outside UNC, such as industry and other universities that utilize our core services.
