Animal Resources Supervisor

University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, San Francisco is seeking an Animal Resources Supervisor to oversee daily operations of the animal husbandry unit across multiple facilities in San Francisco. You will ensure proper husbandry, sanitation, caging, and compliance with department, campus, and government regulations, while guiding staff and maintaining records.

The role requires leadership experience, strong knowledge of regulatory environments, and ability to manage workflows, safety protocols, and

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of animal care and safety and regulatory environments.
• Working knowledge of facility management.
• Basic skills in animal husbandry, record‑keeping and inventory control.
• Basic skills in leadership, interpersonal communication, motivation of staff and team‑building.
• Basic analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Computer competency.
• Basic ability to identify behavioral or health issues with animals.
• Able to work on weekends and holidays, and rotate to different facilities.

Responsibilities

• 60% – Daily Operations: Supervises daily unit operations ensuring proper husbandry and care while complying with regulations and guidelines.
• Supports achievement of unit goals and development of SOPs and programmatic issues.
• 20% – Supervisory and Leadership: Guides unit technicians, hires staff, trains and conducts performance reviews.
• 15% – Animal Health, Restraint and Handling: Identifies issues and oversees feeding and veterinary procedures.
• 5% – Record Keeping: Compiles inventory, logs, and records for regulatory and internal purposes.
• 5% – Miscellaneous: Advises investigators and assists in cost planning and time‑in‑motion studies.

Skills

Animal husbandry

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Record-keeping

Inventory control

Computer literacy

Problem solving

Staff scheduling

Job description

Job Description

Supervises the daily operations of the animal husbandry unit across several facilities, ensuring the animal husbandry, sanitation, caging and maintenance of structures is in compliance with regulations and guidelines set by the department, the campus and governmental agencies. Ensures duties of staff are performed in compliance with established protocols.

Job Summary

Supervises the daily operations of the animal husbandry unit across several facilities, ensuring the animal husbandry, sanitation, caging and maintenance of structures is in compliance with regulations and guidelines set by the department, the campus and governmental agencies. Ensures duties of staff are performed in compliance with established protocols.

Department Overview

The Laboratory Animal Research Center (LARC) supports the research programs of the faculty by providing all services associated with the care and use of more than 150,000 laboratory animals, consisting of at least fourteen different species housed in several animal facilities throughout the city of San Francisco. Services include the daily care of laboratory animals in accordance with protocols approved by the UCSF Institutional Animal Care and use Committee (IACUC); the design and implementation of animal disease prevention programs; training of research personnel involved in the use of animals; assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and assisting investigators with animal related procedures. The Animal Resources Supervisor has overall responsibility for these services for the animal husbandry unit.

Responsibilities

60% – Daily Operations

• Supervises daily unit operations and through the work of subordinate staff ensures that research animals receive proper husbandry and care and that the unit is in compliance with regulations and guidelines set by the department, the university, governmental agencies (USDA, NIH, state, local and federal laws) and AAALAC standards.
• Ensures compliance with safety regulations and performs administrative coordination and support, which includes reviewing all area operations and records.
• Supports achievement of unit goals, making technical judgments and recommendations to management. Provides input on the development of standard operating procedures as well as on programmatic issues.
• Supervises and performs sanitation procedures for assigned cage wash stations. Perform animal care technical duties such as routine animal care tasks, technical and experimental assistance, feed animals, clean animal rooms, provide enrichment, and transport animals.
• Places work orders and maintains records. Orders chemicals / detergents for cage wash operations. Makes recommendations for equipment purchases, performs equipment and supply inventory.
• Coordinate routine maintenance procedures; assess condition of caging and equipment and make recommendations for replacement / repair; and monitor, inspect, troubleshoot and request maintenance on cage washing equipment / sterilizers in accordance with regulatory procedures and established protocols.
• Maintains supply inventory and equipment.
• Keeps animals clean and comfortable. Oversees cleaning and disinfecting indoor and outdoor assigned areas following established protocols.

Supervisory and Leadership

20% – Supervisory and Leadership

• Provides guidance to unit technicians. Hires technical staff, assures integration of new unit staff; trains and provides guidance and feedback to promote safety, increase productivity, and promote career development. Conducts personnel reviews.
• Provides problem‑solving support for unit workflow issues; prepares or oversees preparation of work schedules; supervises and corrects staff performance and / or attendance issues that may result in a disciplinary action.

Animal Health, Restraint and Handling

15% – Animal Health, Restraint and Handling

• Identifies behavioral or health issues with animal(s) under care and reports to veterinarian or supervisor any changes or unusual behavior or physical issues that need attention.
• Supervises technical staff according to established protocols; perform feeding, veterinary care procedures according to protocol or veterinary staff orders.
• Oversees training of technical staff in proper techniques for handling, restraint and observation.
• Supervises proper care and handling of infected animals and materials to prevent the transfer of infections and diseases.
• Assists and advises investigators with procedures and handling needed for their research.
• Coordinates pick‑up and delivery of animals and supplies to and from various campus sites.

Record Keeping

5% – Record Keeping

• Compiles and reports to Animal Resource Manager, inventory on animals housed in LARC facilities.
• Supervises incoming animal log and ID cards, feed logs, verifies milling dates on feed to ensure freshness.
• Oversees the distribution of work orders to the appropriate area.
• Supervises the review and oversight of records needed for various assurances to animal welfare regulatory agencies and UC‑IACUC.

Miscellaneous

5% – Miscellaneous

• Consults and advises investigators and lab personnel for short‑ and long‑term planning
• Assists in development of data as to labor costs, feed consumed and supplies for cost accounting.
• Participates with the AVC budget office in conducting cost studies to determine amount of feed, bedding supplies, and time‑in‑motion studies involved in establishing per‑diem rates.
• Must participate in medical monitoring programs as prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Program.
• Must participate in preventive medical programs, which may include TB screening, tetanus booster and blood testing, immunizations, medical surveillance, and physical examinations to meet the state, federal and UC requirements.
• Must be able to work with all assigned species, understanding and accepting that some species may present a zoonotic risk.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of animal care and safety and regulatory environments.
• Working knowledge of facility management.
• Basic skills in animal husbandry, record‑keeping and inventory control.
• Basic skills in leadership, interpersonal communication, motivation of staff and team‑building.
• Basic analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Computer competency.
• Basic ability to identify behavioral or health issues with animal(s) under care and report to vet or supervisor any changes or unusual behavior or physical issues that need attention.
• Able to work on weekends and holidays, work occasional and variable hours/day.
• Flexibility to rotate as needed to all facilities and other job‑related functions and to work under different supervisors.
• Attendance at animal technician training classes at department’s discretion.
• No smoking, eating or drinking in animal areas.
• Three or more years of experience in an animal husbandry program of similar nature or related work experience.
• Demonstrated one or more years of leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of University personnel policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html