• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000

Position Summary

The Director of the Office of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reports to the Vice President for Research Operations and Policy and Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR).  He/She supervises the IACUC Office staff, works closely with the Institute of Comparative Medicine (ICM) and the Attending Veterinarian, and serves as the primary liaison between the IACUC and members of the research community.  

Responsibilities

• Assists investigators in the preparation of protocols;
• Serves as designated reviewer of protocols, if required;
• Prepares agendas for monthly IACUC meetings;
• Attends monthly and other IACUC meetings, drafts minutes of meetings and follows up on open items;
• Organizes training for IACUC members during at least six monthly meetings per year;
• Disseminates information/advice on various aspects of the animal care and use program for researchers who participate in animal-related activities;
• Maintains knowledge of current information and issues regarding laboratory animal science and engages in professional development activities;
• Ensures compliant IACUC semiannual inspection and program evaluation schedules and participates in such inspections regularly;
• Coordinates and leads all investigations of compliance issues, including generation of investigation reports to the IACUC,  letters to investigators, and, if required, reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Wefare (OLAW) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA);
• Prepares OLAW, USDA and New York State Department of Health annual reports and other government communications in consultation with ICM leadership and the Office of the General Counsel;
• Prepares and submits AAALAC International annual reports in consultation with ICM leadership;
• Attends monthly Institutional Official meetings as well as regularly scheduled meetings among representatives of the IACUC, ICM and Environmental Health and Safety;
• Serves as Chair of the University Committee on Animal Welfare and prepares meeting agendas and minutes;
• Assists in preparation of and disseminates quarterly compliance reports to appropriate administrative personnel and department chairs;
• Ensures compliance in protocol and grant congruency reviews;
• Negotiates memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with collaborating IACUCs, as required;
• Regularly interfaces with Columbia University Information Technology division that manages the electronic protocol review system;
• Provides ongoing support for IACUC members, the Committee Chair and Vice Chair; and
• Manages all aspects of the IACUC Office.
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Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent plus at least five years of laboratory animal experience in a regulatory supervisory capacity (e.g., IACUC director); and
• Requires certification as Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPI)

Preferred Qualifications

• Veterinary medical degree;
• Ability to work with and communicate positively and effectively with researchers and veterinarians;
• Very strong knowledge of regulations and guidelines pertaining to the use of laboratory animals;
• Very strong knowledge of laboratory animal science, including familiarity with all of the most commonly used species of animal;
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment with frequently changing priorities;
• Keen attention to detail.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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