Associate Director, Global Animal Behavior

Zoetis; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoetis in Kalamazoo, MI, seeks the Associate Director of Global Animal Behavior to lead enterprise-wide behavioral science, build the scientific foundation for welfare, and translate findings into practical programs across global research sites.

You will lead a team of three behavior technicians and one behavior scientist, collaborate with veterinarians and IACUCs, and drive data-driven strategies to improve animal welfare and research reproducibility.

Qualifications

• DVM or VMD from AVMA-accredited institution required.
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) required, or active board eligibility.
• Ph.D. in animal behavior, comparative psychology, or behavioral neuroscience with substantial applied laboratory animal behavioral science experience will also be considered.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in animal behavior science in a research setting (pharma, biotech, academic, or CRO preferred).
• Experience developing and delivering behavioral science training for research and animal care audiences.
• Prior people leadership experience including mentoring scientific staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership and strategic direction enterprise-wide for animal behavior and welfare science.
• Develop and maintain the scientific framework for behavioral welfare assessment and enrichment across sites.
• Translate research into organizational programs and standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of three behavior technicians and one behavior scientist.
• Oversee design and delivery of behavioral intervention programs across species.
• Drive data-informed methodologies to reduce stress and variability in research animals.
• Translate behavioral data into actionable recommendations to improve welfare and reproducibility.
• Serve as SME for policy development and SOP reviews.

Skills

Animal behavior

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Welfare science

Research ethics

Education

DVM or VMD

DACVB Diplomate or board-eligibility

PhD in related field (considered)

Job description

The Associate Director, Global Animal Behavior is the organization's enterprise-wide behavioral science leader, responsible for building and advancing the scientific foundation for animal behavior and welfare across all global research sites. This role translates behavioral science into practical programs, standards, and data-driven approaches that reduce stress, improve animal welfare, and enhance the reproducibility and quality of research outcomes. The AD leads a team of three behavior technicians and one behavior scientist, and serves as a cross-functional expert partner to veterinarians, researchers, IACUCs, and the broader Global Animal Welfare leadership team.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Global Behavior & Welfare Science Leadership

• Serve as the global SME in animal behavior and welfare science, providing scientific leadership and strategic direction enterprise-wide.
• Develop and maintain the scientific framework for behavioral welfare assessment, environmental enrichment, positive reinforcement training, and stress reduction across species and sites.
• Translate emerging research and best practices into organizational programs and standards.
• Represent behavioral science expertise in internal governance forums and external professional contexts as appropriate.

Specialist Consultation

• Provide expert consultation to veterinarians, research scientists, animal care teams, IACUCs, and oversight bodies on animal behavior, welfare assessment, and study design.
• Advise on behavioral indicators of pain, distress, and compromised welfare to support humane endpoint determination and protocol refinement.
• Partner with the AD of Veterinary Services to integrate behavioral welfare into site-level veterinary care and welfare event investigations.
• Partner with the Director, Global AW & 3Rs Program Lead on Refinement and 3Rs implementation.
• Direct the global animal behavior program, setting priorities, standards, and measurable goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of three behavior technicians and one behavior scientist.
• Oversee design and delivery of behavioral intervention programs including environmental enrichment, positive reinforcement training, and social housing initiatives.
• Ensure consistent program implementation across global sites, adapted to species, model, and local context.

Data-Informed Stress Reduction & Research Quality

• Drive data-informed methodologies to identify, measure, and reduce stress and behavioral variability in research animals.
• Establish behavioral metrics and assessment frameworks; direct the team in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting behavioral data.
• Translate behavioral data into actionable recommendations to improve animal welfare and research reproducibility.
• Serve as behavioral science SME for Global Animal Welfare policy and SOP development and review.
• Design and deliver behavioral science training globally for research staff, animal care teams, and veterinary personnel.
• Provide expert input to AW risk assessments, protocol reviews, and IACUC deliberations.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Global-Local Alignment

• Partner with veterinary, research, animal care, and AW risk management teams to embed behavioral science in global practice.
• Translate global standards into locally effective practices across sites.
• Support the Executive Director, Global Animal Welfare in advancing a globally aligned, science-based approach to behavior and welfare.
• Translate behavioral data into actionable recommendations to improve animal welfare and research reproducibility.
• Serve as behavioral science SME for Global Animal Welfare policy and SOP development and review.Design and deliver behavioral science training globally for research staff, animal care teams, and veterinary personnel.
• Provide expert input to AW risk assessments, protocol reviews, and IACUC deliberations.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Global-Local Alignment

• Partner with veterinary, research, animal care, and AW risk management teams to embed behavioral science in global practice.
• Translate global standards into locally effective practices across sites.
• Support the Executive Director, Global Animal Welfare in advancing a globally aligned, science-based approach to behavior and welfare.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• DVM or VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution required.
• Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) required, or active board eligibility.
• Ph.D. in animal behavior, comparative psychology, or behavioral neuroscience with substantial applied laboratory animal behavioral science experience will also be considered.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive experience in animal behavior science in a research setting (pharma, biotech, academic, or CRO preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in behavioral welfare assessment, environmental enrichment, and positive reinforcement training across research species.
• Track record of translating behavioral science into practical programs that improve animal welfare and/or research outcomes.
• Experience developing and delivering behavioral science training for research and animal care audiences.
• Prior people leadership experience, including mentoring scientific staff.
• IACUC protocol review, AW policy development, or regulatory compliance experience preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep scientific expertise in animal behavior and welfare science, applied practically across diverse species and global sites.
• Strong data analytical skills; able to design behavioral assessment frameworks and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent scientific communication skills across veterinary, research, oversight, and leadership audiences.
• Collaborative, cross-functional working style with the ability to influence across a global, matrixed organization.
• Strategic thinker with the operational discipline to implement programs consistently at the site level.
• Genuine commitment to animal welfare science and its role in advancing ethical research and scientific quality.

Working Conditions

• On site presence in Kalamazoo and Richland with regular interaction with research sites globally.
• Travel up to 10%, domestic and international.
• Regular hands-on interaction with research animals across a range of species expected.
• This job description describes the general nature and level of work and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

About Zoetis

At Zoetis, our purpose is to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals. As a Fortune 500 company and the world leader in animal health, we discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other technologies for companion animals and livestock. We know our people drive our success. Our award-winning culture, built around our Core Beliefs, focuses on our colleagues' careers, connection and support. We offer competitive healthcare and retirement savings benefits, along with an array of benefits, policies and programs to support employee well-being in every sense, from health and financial wellness to family and lifestyle resources.

Notice

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