Associate Group Leader / In Vivo Unit Manager

IQVIA; Portishead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Financial & Retirement

Health & Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Additional Perks

Job summary

IQVIA Portishead seeks an experienced Unit Manager to lead an in vivo facility responsible for small rodent work. You will ensure ASPA compliance, hold a Home Office PIL, supervise husbandry and staff, and support study delivery with clinicians and NACWOs.

Daily site presence and strong organisational skills are essential. You will drive continuous improvement, manage audits, and coordinate with colleagues to maintain high welfare standards and compliant operations in a fast-paced CRO

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in biological or life sciences.
• Demonstrable lab-based industry experience in CRO/biotech environments.
• Proven leadership or supervisory experience overseeing smaller teams.
• Practical knowledge of animal facilities: husbandry, biosecurity, environmental controls, welfare assessment.
• Strong communication skills for professional relationships with peers and reports.
• Home Office Personal Licence covering rodents.
• Eligibility and willingness to be NACWO under ASPA, subject to Home Office approval.
• Willingness to travel to Portishead daily and provide out-of-hours NACWO support.
• Advantageous: MSc/PhD in related fields, ex vivo biomarker analysis familiarity.
• Proven project leadership and client communication experience.
• Surgical licence coverage and hands-on rodent surgery experience (ASPA).
• Eligibility and willingness to be NTCO/NACWO under ASPA.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and people management for a small rodent animal unit.
• Ensure ASPA compliance and all Home Office, institutional, and ethical requirements.
• Hold Home Office PIL and perform licensed procedures as required.
• Oversee animal welfare, husbandry, health monitoring, and environment.
• Support staff training, performance management, and rosters.
• Maintain records on animal use, staffing, training, and compliance.
• Collaborate with scientists, veterinarians, NACWO, and Named Persons to support study delivery.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of facility processes and SOPs.
• Support internal and external audits and inspections.
• Stay updated on animal welfare initiatives and liaise with external sites.

Skills

Leadership

Home Office Personal Licence (rodents)

NACWO eligibility under ASPA

NTCO eligibility under ASPA

Data analysis & experimental design

Client communication

Staff training & performance管理

SOPs & regulatory readiness

Education

Degree, HND, or equivalent in biological or life sciences

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 maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create connections that accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments. Everything we do is part of a journey to improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.

To get there, we seek out diverse talent with curious minds and a relentless commitment to innovation and impact. No matter your role, everyone at IQVIA contributes to our shared goal of helping customers improve the lives of patients everywhere.

Thank you for your interest in growing your career with us.