Animal Care Manager   

Research Animal Resources (RAR) is hiring for the position of Animal Care Manager.  This position will be responsible for supervising and directing the activities of approximately half of the department's 10 animal care supervisors in collaboration with a second Animal Care Manager. Together, the Animal Care Managers and Supervisors oversee a team of nearly 100 people responsible for the care of laboratory animals across the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. This management role is intended to provide another level of support to the supervisors and staff in the department, ensuring all safety, sanitation, and research requirements are followed and that the needed resources (human, facilities, and equipment) are available.  The manager will also be asked to lead and oversee various husbandry-related projects.

The work duties for this position are complex and varied and will require the interpretation of technical and detailed guidelines, policies, and procedures. Analytical ability is needed to gather and interpret data and information to aid in making decisions regarding refining methods, processes, and techniques used to maintain high quality animal care and customer service.  Innovation, critical thinking, and problem solving are an essential underlying part of the job duties described within this posting. Also, a balanced commitment to the employees, animals and management must be maintained.

This position reports to the RAR Assistant Director of Operations. 

Duties/Responsibilities:

50% - Direct supervision of the animal care supervisors

• Supervise and direct the work of 5-7 animal care supervisors
  • Plan training/cross-training of staff to ensure standard, consistent operations across all RAR animal facilities
  • Ensure staff implement proper and consistent husbandry care for all species & areas within RAR
  • Create and maintain work schedules (including weekend/holidays) and work with team to cover work during employee absences
  • Provide performance feedback, both immediate and at annual performance reviews.
  • Mentor employees to further career goals and support continued educational and certification opportunities
  • Ensure direct reports have the resources, training, and support needed to be effective, supportive supervisors for their direct reports
• Share weekend and on call responsibilities as needed
• Ensure all animal care billing is completed in a timely fashion
• Investigate and resolve HR issues for labor represented employees
• Determine appropriate staffing levels and communicate needs with Associate Director of Operations and co-manager
• Coordinate personnel resources in collaboration with co-manager to cover needs of the department
• Hiring manager for animal care supervisor positions as needed

25% - Oversight/Management of Equipment and Facilities

• Work with animal care supervisors to understand acute and long-term facility and equipment needs
• Communicate needs with Assistant Director of Operations
• Ensure animal care supervisors have the appropriate knowledge and training to ensure proper maintenance and minor repairs on equipment and in their facility, as well as alerting the Facilities Maintenance team as appropriate
• Develop and maintain a system for understanding and monitoring facility utilization, including forecasts and investigator requests, while ensuring that census activities and cage card management are conducted as timely and efficiently as possible

15% - Project Management and Project Oversight

• Lead husbandry-related projects as assigned by supervisor
• Collaborate with colleagues to drive initiatives forward from idea through implementation.
• Ensure all husbandry working teams have the correct support

5% - Develop and maintain cross unit communication and relationships within RAR

• Maintain effective communication with the RAR Training, Operations (Business and Animal-related), and Veterinary Services teams
• Identify improvement opportunities regarding communication and bring ideas to managers and senior leaders
• Provide mentorship and resolve conflict professionally without the need for escalation

5% - Other duties as assigned by the manager or leadership

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through this link - https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/354994.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to report complete vaccination against COVID-19 or submit documentation requesting a medical or religious exemption on their first day of employment. To learn more, please visit the University's COVID-19 Response webpage.

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning.  We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Scholarship
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to report complete vaccination against COVID-19 or submit documentation requesting a medical or religious exemption on their first day of employment. To learn more, please visit the University's COVID-19 Response webpage.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least 5 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least 9 years
• Direct managerial experience of employees, >2 year in duration

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct managerial experience with bargaining unit employees
• Supervisory experience in the laboratory animal industry
• ALAT or higher certification through AALAS
• Hands-on experience working with multiple research animal species
• Thorough understanding of cage wash and vivarium sanitation operations
• Excellent communication skills and experience working in a university setting with diverse staff, laboratory researchers and research models

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to be successful in position:

• Possess communication, independence and leadership skills needed to interact with veterinary technician employees, professional staff, other technical and administrative staff, and husbandry operations staff
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-manager in making consistent and harmonized management decisions
• Ability to delegate appropriately as needed
• Ability to work and think independently to produce quality work and to encourage the same quality work from employees
• Interest in mentoring, teaching, and cross-training staff to promote professional growth of employees
• A thorough knowledge of animal welfare regulations related to areas in the Preferred Qualifications
• Working knowledge of generally accepted laboratory animal husbandry practices and the ability to work collaboratively with operations and husbandry supervisors and animal care technicians to promote advances in animal care and research
• Excellent attention to details, analytical thinking skills, resourcefulness, ingenuity, project organization, and management skills
• Computer skills necessary to learn and use current RAR electronic systems and to adapt to new software programs as they are implemented
• Experience with conflict management and the ability to deescalate difficult situations
• Must be flexible, resilient, change-agile, forward-thinking, and motivated to succeed in RAR’s mission