Animal Husbandry. Assistant Manager

Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Case Western Reserve University’s Animal Resource Center is hiring an Assistant Animal Husbandry Manager to oversee animal care operations and ensure high standards for research animals.

You will supervise technicians, coordinate cage sanitation, maintain records, and support investigators while adhering to AAALAC and USDA guidelines; strong leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of related experience; supervisory experience preferred.
• High school education required; LAT certification preferred.
• Must pass physical examination and health screenings.
• Able to comply with AAALAC, USDA and PHS guidelines.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily activities of animal facility staff and cagewash technicians.
• Maintain records and inventories of animals and supplies for billing and compliance.
• Coordinate with researchers and veterinary staff on animal care and health reporting.
• Assist in prioritizing work and supervising during manager absences.
• Provide training and evaluate new equipment and caging processes.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Leadership

Communication

AAALAC compliance

Basic computer skills

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $22.13 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Assistant Animal Husbandry Manager- Animal Care is a member of the Animal Resource Center (ARC) management team responsible for assuring that operations within the ARC run smoothly and the highest level of care and attention is given to the animals and to research.

Assistant Animal Husbandry Managers assist the manager in overseeing the care for animals and the sanitation of equipment for the animals.

Working under limited supervision, the assistant manager supervises the daily activities of animal and cagewash technicians in assigned animal facility/rooms and assumes some of the duties of the manager in their absence. Responsibilities include all husbandry activities, cage sanitation/preparation/quality control, animal health reporting and follow up, animal receiving, training and supervising technicians, providing excellent customer service to principal investigator staff, maintaining good working relationships with principal investigator staff, maintenance and contractor personnel, prepping facility for site visits and following strict guidelines according to standard protocols including maintaining records and inventories of animals and supplies (i.e. bedding, food, caging, water bottles, etc.); required to complete tasks in assigned area. This position is subject to compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Public Health Service and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform all aspects of the animal receiving process, which includes reviewing delivery schedule, printing cage cards, reviewing animal orders, receipt of animals, delivery and inventory documentation. (12%)
• Maintain records/documentation including, animal supply inventories, breeding records, etc. Furnish administrative services with accurate inventory records to be used for billing. Submit animal health reports so investigators can be notified and desired course of action can be taken. (10%)
• Act as a liaison with research personnel and provide assistance and support on issues that arise in the animal facilities. (8%)
• Evaluate workflow and make recommendations to the managers for adapting operations to improve interaction between husbandry personnel and cage preparation personnel. (8%)
• Assist in the supervision of the cage sanitation activities of the department. Step in as supervisor in the absence of one or more of the managers. (8%)
• Assist in determining priorities and implementation of work assignments in the absence of one or more managers. (6%)
• Provide routine treatments and collect specimens following specific instructions from veterinary staff. (6%)
• Assist in the training of new personnel and in the evaluation of new caging and related equipment. (6%)
• Supervise the daily activities of assigned animal facility and/or animal rooms, review work of technicians, reassign work when needed, assist technicians with problems and address performance and attendance issues. (6%)
• Perform duties of animal/cagewash technician in rooms that are assigned. (6%)
• Provide feedback to managers about work performance of the temporary employees to facilitate their decision about hiring to permanent status. (6%)
• Assist in execution of policies, procedures and methods developed by the management staff and assists to ensure maintenance of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) standards for housing and care. (6%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assume some of the duties and responsibilities of the husbandry manager in their absence, especially weekends and holidays. (4%)
• Be proactive, take responsibility, assisting when technicians are out on vacation, or sick. (4%)
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned. (4%)

CONTACTS

Department: Continuous contact with the other employees to assist with daily job assignments. Daily contact with the animal husbandry manager regarding ongoing activities and standard operating procedural issues. Daily contact with training and compliance staff, clinical veterinarians, veterinary technicians to ensure animal husbandry and cage wash operations function smoothly.

University: Daily contact with investigative staff regarding daily investigative needs, special animal care needs to provide quality animal care and excellent customer service within the Animal Resource Center.

External: Frequent contact with vendors/contractors to manage deliveries and escort contractors throughout the Animal Resource Center facility.

Students: Occasional contact with graduate and research students who are performing medical research in the Animal Resource Center. Will provide the students with the husbandry and cagewash resources needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Supervise animal and cagewash technicians.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: 5 to 8 years of related experience. Prefer supervisory experience of groups of 6 or more individuals.
• Education: High school education required. Prefer AALAS certification at the LAT level.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Competent, accountable, motivated, proactive, a problem solver, have a positive attitude, a good communicator, remain focused on task at hand, ability to serve as a role model.
• Ability to adapts and implement change, accepting that change is inevitable and embraces change with innovation, courage and resiliency.
• Must have supervisory skills. Leadership ability. Ability to share information subordinate need to successfully perform their duties and ability encourage candid and open dialog.
• Ability to promote key values.
• Ability to build teams. Understands the importance of mentoring and coaching employees. Ability to show enthusiasm for helping other improve or develop new skills.
• Ability to use sound judgement; to apply knowledge of the business and tasks and use common sense and analysis to make the best decision.
• Must demonstrate compliance with Case Western Reserve University animal research and care (ARC) policies and procedures and compliance to regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC guidelines and other applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Must demonstrate compassion for animals within Case Western Reserve University facilities and dedication to the Animal Resource Center's mission. Must handle animals with care and respect at all times.
• Previous experience working with animals preferred.
• Must pass physical examination, including tuberculin test and/or chest x-ray (to be repeated periodically).
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will work in the Animal Resource Center facility, working directly with animal cage and cage equipment cleaning machinery and with animals. Hazards to health and safety are minimized by prior training and instruction in proper handling animals and operation of equipment. Health hazards associated with this position and working in an ARC facility include: exposure to animal bites, scratches, kicks and zoonotic diseases; odors, noises and temperatures associated with animals; working with soiled animals and cages; cuts from broken water bottles and sharp edges of cages; burns from steam and hot water used in cleaning procedures; dermatitis resulting from exposure to strong cleaning compounds and insecticides and organic chemicals; exposure to radiation from isotope-injected animals (generally trace amounts); and strain or accident associated with frequent moving of heavy up to 60 lbs equipment, animals, feed sacks and bagged or baled bedding. Where appropriate, the nature of this position may require the use of a respirator (must have prior health evaluation) or surgical mask. This position also requires baseline evaluation of hearing and vision. Training and personal protective equipment (hearing, eyewear, gowns, respirator and gloves) will be provided. It is necessary to complete the job before leaving work; animal care cannot be held over to the next day and providing the highest level of care to animals is essential to ARC¿s mission. Animal care is a 7-day per week, 365-days per year job. All tasks must be performed to fulfill guidelines and regulations according to USDA and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC2011), which is the main resource used by AAALAC's Council on Accreditation. This position may be required to drive or travel to satellite facilities at MetroHealth Medical Center and the VA Medical Center. The nature of this position requires baseline hearing and the use of a respirator. This position may require working some weekends and holiday shifts. Case Western Reserve University's animal facilities are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) and is managed according to the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals¿" appropriate Federal Animal Welfare Regulations, and the Public Health Service ¿Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

NOTE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information. Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.