Colony Operations Team Lead

Colgate; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Paid parental leave

Minimum 15 days PTO

Job summary

Colgate is seeking a Colony Operations Team Leader in Topeka, Kansas to oversee operational activities in animal care facilities. This role includes team leadership, resource planning, and ensuring compliance with established policies.

The ideal candidate has an Associate's degree or higher, extensive experience in high-standard environments, and excellent leadership and communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Minimum Associate's degree in relevant field.
• 5+ years experience in regulated environments like animal care.
• 2+ years experience in managing and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational oversight for animal care personnel.
• Plan and allocate resources to meet daily care schedules.
• Ensure compliance with safety and welfare policies.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Attention to detail

Education

Associate's degree in relevant field

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science or related

Tools

Google Applications

Microsoft Office

Job description

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinary professionals worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries, our extensive product line includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods. We believe all animals should be loved and cared for. This is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in their life.

A career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive provides a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that values work/life effectiveness.

Travel Required

Up to 10% of time.

Location

Topeka, Kansas, United States. On-site. No relocation assistance offered.

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries, specializing in oral care, personal care, home care, skin care, and pet nutrition. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals.

Job Summary

The Colony Operations Team Leader provides operational oversight and direction throughout the canine and feline animal colonies, ensuring performance management and development for animal care personnel, and efficient allocation of human resources to achieve research objectives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Serves as the primary leadership partner for the Colony Team Coordinator while maintaining an open-door presence for the ACRT team.
• Resource Planning: Plans and allocates resources and ensures staffing coverage to achieve daily animal care schedules and deliver area KPIs.
• Safety and Compliance: Establishes a safe work environment and ensures strict compliance with facility policies, Hill’s Global Animal Welfare Policy, and Animal Colony Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Performance Analysis: Analyzes and reports shift performance data (KPIs, data integrity, sanitation schedules), identifies opportunities for improvement, and conducts shift meetings to communicate goals.
• Training and Development: Empowers the team through training, coaching, and feedback to ensure the development of technical skills in animal handling, health assessments, and research data collection, while also coaching technicians and team coordinators to work through interpersonal challenges and strengthen leadership capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Research Strategy: Acts as the primary liaison between the colony and key partners—including scientists, test schedulers, IT, wearables, and maintenance to serve as the point person for study feasibility.
• Operational Oversight: Works with the Team Coordinators to maintain an active presence on the floor at all times to oversee cleaning, sanitation, feeding, and enrichment activities.
• Problem Solving: Facilitates strategic problem-solving, including implementation of complex or novel research protocols and scheduling to maintain adequate coverage 365 days a year.
• Process Improvement: Drives continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, address ergonomic issues, reduce waste, improve operational efficiency, and promote animal well‑being.
• Technical Integration: Utilizes technology (e.g., FMS, PAWS, PAWS mobile app) to coordinate effective daily feeding and data collection.
• People Management & Development: Conducts 1‑on‑1s and performance reviews; creates individual development plans (IDPs); manages conflict resolution; leads the search, selection, and onboarding of new talent.
• Workforce & Attendance Management: Oversees the timekeeping and vacation request systems, monitors attendance patterns, and ensures the attendance policy guidelines are applied consistently.
• Other job functions as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum Associate's degree (Associates of Science, Registered Veterinary Technician, or similar).
• 5+ years of experience in a regulated, high-standard environment such as animal care, research facilities, medical/clinical operations, or manufacturing/operations.
• 2+ years’ experience in managing and leading teams.
• Proficiency with Google Applications (Docs, Sheets, Drive) and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule supporting a 365-day operation, including routine weekend/holiday rotations.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Technology, Biology, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements such as USDA, KDA, FDA, AAFCO, or AALAS standards.
• Experience with animal health, behavior, and research protocols, as well as continuous improvement methodologies.

Expected Areas of Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for coaching staff and communicating upwards about data collection anomalies or technical problems.
• Excellent ability to multi-task and prioritize duties.
• Proficient computer skills including Google and Microsoft Office applications; aptitude for learning BI reporting.
• Excellent at identifying underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts for analysis.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent at using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with regulations, policies, or standards.
• Teamwork orientation.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to work comfortably with both cats and dogs.
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, and lift up to 50 lbs repetitively.
• Must be able to tolerate working conditions including loud noise, heat, humidity, and animal odors for extended periods.
• Ability to work safely with industrial chemicals and detergents required for maintaining colony hygiene.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $95,000.00 - $105,000.00 USD. Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for executive‑level roles.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions, a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days for salaried employees, 13 paid holidays, and paid sick leave adjusted based on role and location.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We develop strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.