Associate Group Leader / In Vivo Unit Manager

IQVIA; Portishead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Financial & Retirement

Health & Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Additional Perks

Job summary

IQVIA Laboratories seeks a hands‑on Unit Manager to lead a small rodent facility at Portishead. You will manage daily operations, ensure ASPA, Home Office and ethical compliance, and supervise staff including a NACWO‑eligible role.

The candidate will drive welfare, training and process improvements in a fast‑paced CRO setting. The role requires a qualified life sciences professional with leadership experience and the ability to travel daily to the Portishead site, contributing to high‑quality

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in biology or life sciences.
• Experience in a regulated animal research environment.
• Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) covering rodents.
• Willingness to be appointed as NACWO under ASPA, subject to approval.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and people management for a small rodent animal unit.
• Ensure compliance with ASPA and Home Office requirements.
• Oversee animal welfare, husbandry, health monitoring and environmental conditions.
• Support staff training, performance management and rota planning.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Home Office PIL

NACWO eligibility

Communication

Travel to site

Education

Biology/Life Sciences degree

Job description

Could you be our next compassionate and proven unit manager?

Ready to lead and manage an in vivo facility at our Discovery Sciences site in Portishead?

You will be responsible for the smooth operation of the animal unit, compliance with UK Home Office regulations, with accountability in resolving day‑day leadership tasks, management of several Technical and Husbandry Specialists, while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, staff performance, and procedural compliance.

This role requires a hands‑on manager with strong organisational skills, sound understanding and hands‑on experience of working within a regulated animal research environment, and the ability to support a variety of preclinical research studies in a fast‑paced Contract Research Organisation.

The role offers the opportunity to play a key part in high‑quality research, supporting ethically conducted science and leading a committed animal care team.

Main Tasks

Operational:

• Provide operational and people management for a small rodent animal unit.
• Ensure compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and all Home Office, institutional, and ethical requirements.
• Act as a holder of a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) and perform licensed procedures as required.
• Oversee animal welfare, husbandry standards, health monitoring, and environmental conditions within the facility.
• Support staff training, performance management, and rota planning.
• Maintain accurate records relating to animal use, staffing, training, and compliance.
• Liaise with scientists, veterinarians, the NACWO, and other Named Persons to support study delivery.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of facility processes, SOPs, and regulatory readiness.
• Support internal and external audits and inspections.
• Keep up to date on latest initiatives concerning animal welfare such as enrichment, handling and procedures.
• Liaise with external sites, facilities to aid continuous improvement in animal welfare.

People Leader:

• Effectively manage direct reports on a day‑day basis, through meaningful onsite interactions ensuring optimal performance and delivery to assigned client projects.
• Establish strong working relationships across the management community, identifying any potential areas for improvement and/or development and facilitating those opportunities for self and direct reports, where possible.
• Be a positive influence across the group, able to coach, guide and mentor more junior staff and peers as needed to achieve strategic goals as set out by the Senior Leadership Team and Site Director.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in a biological or life sciences discipline, or significant equivalent experience in laboratory animal science.
• Demonstrable lab‑based industry led experience in the Contract Research Organisation or biotech discovery environment.
• Proven leadership or supervisory experience, overseeing smaller teams on a day‑day basis.
• Practical knowledge of standard conditions in animal facilities, including husbandry, biosecurity, environmental controls, and welfare assessment.
• Strong communication skills, able to foster working relationships with peers and reports alike in a professional manner.
• Home Office Personal Licence covering rodents.
• Eligibility and willingness to be appointed as a NACWO under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), subject to Home Office approval.
• Must be able to travel to the Portishead site daily and in an emergency.
• The role requires ability to provide out‑of‑hours NACWO support and unit work cover.

Advantageous, but not essential:

• MSc/PhD within relevant discipline, in applicable field.
• Familiarity with requirements for ex vivo biomarker analysis techniques, assay development and validation.
• Proven track record of project leadership.
• Experience with client communication.
• Home Office Personal Licence covering surgical procedures and hands‑on surgical experience in rodents (e.g., aseptic techniques, post‑operative care).
• Eligibility and willingness to be appointed as a NTCO and/or NACWO under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), subject to Home Office approval.
• Understanding of use of anaesthetics and analgesics.
• A strong scientific and practical background in data analysis and experimental design.

What We Offer You

IQVIA Laboratories provides a competitive benefits package starting from day one of employment. Covering the below categories:

• Financial & Retirement
• Health & Wellness
• Work-Life Balance
• Additional Perks

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com

IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and ma