Director, Transgenic and Knockout Mouse Core Facility Faculty - Cellular, Molecular and Genetic

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition benefits

Retirement planning

Well-being resources

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond seeks a Director of the Mouse Core within the School of Medicine to lead animal model creation and genome-editing services for GEMMs.

The role oversees regulatory compliance, grants support, teaching and mentorship, and financial management across a multi-user facility, engaging faculty, staff, and external collaborators.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in genetics, molecular biology, or related field.
• Deep expertise across GEMM technologies and mouse genetics.
• Strong administrative and budgeting experience in a multi-user facility.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and operational direction for the Mouse Core.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and grant support for the core.
• Lead teaching and mentorship related to genetically modified mice.
• Manage budgeting, billing, and multi-user facility operations.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in genetics, molecular biology, or related biomedical field

Job description

Advertising Summary:

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located inthe heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’ssponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationallyrecognised for patient care and education. Virginia CommonwealthUniversity is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit:

School of Medicine

Department:

Cellular, Molecular and Genetic Medicine

Department Summary:

The Department of Cellular, Molecularand Genetic Medicine is dedicated to unraveling the fundamentalbiology that supports health and drives disease. Our faculty,trainees and students tackle some of the most pressing challengesin biomedical science, from the molecular and genetic roots ofdisease to the complexities of whole-body physiology.
Our foundational studies are driving the frontiers of scientificdiscovery, pushing the boundaries of what we understand aboutbiology, disease and the human body. From our labs in downtownRichmond to research collaborations around the world, our work isgenerating new knowledge, influencing the direction of biologicalscience and redefining what is possible in biomedicalresearch.
We are proud to be a community of passionate educators and mentors,deeply committed to empowering the next generation of scientistsand leaders. With alumni enjoying successful careers across a broadspectrum of industries, our rigorous training programs offerstudents a transformative education that drives innovation todayand creates lasting impact for tomorrow.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to lead animal modelcreation at a large (>$500M in research awards) Carnegie R1research university. This is an exciting opportunity to work with ahighly respected and experienced team with a long history ofserving the university’s research community. The Director mustpossess comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the Core’soperations. This role supports a diverse active user base acrossVCU—predominantly within the School of Medicine (SOM), but also servicing the School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, and others,as well as external investigators. The Director ensures theseamless delivery of major core services, including breeding colonymanagement (the facility's largest service line), cryopreservation,rederivation/IVF, and the production of new genetically engineeredmouse models (GEMMs).

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Scientific & Operational Direction

• Core Oversight: Prioritize and supervise all dailytechnical functions, project timelines, and operational workflowswithin the Core; management of three direct reports
• Investigator Consultation: Meet with faculty andinvestigators to discuss new projects, design custom geneticstrategies, and provide regular status updates on ongoingprojects
• Institutional Grant Support: Provide customized lettersof support for faculty grant submissions, assist investigators withbudget preparation, and directly participate in grant andmanuscript writing
• Importation & Logistics: Collaborate with theDivision of Animal Resources (DAR) to manage mouse line importationand rederivation. Assist investigators with identification ofexisting mouse models and with the logistics for procurement fromsources such as the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center(MMRRC) and various international sources of mouse lines
• Specialized Grant Leadership: Serve formally as theDirector of the Mouse Core for key institutional researchgrants
• Technical Innovation: Keep the facility at the cuttingedge of genome-editing capabilities by tracking emergingmethodologies and staying active within professional networkssuchas the International Society for Transgenic Technologies(ISTT)
• Institutional Engagement: Attend and contribute torelevant Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center meetings, includingScientific Steering Committee meetings and External Advisory Boardmeetings, ensuring alignment of Core activities with institutionalpriorities and strategic goals

2. Administrative & Financial Leadership

• Regulatory Compliance: Serve as the PrincipalInvestigator (PI) on two Institutional Animal Care and UseCommittee (IACUC) protocols and maintain compliance as the PI onthe Virginia Board of Pharmacy license
• Grant Reporting: Support institutional grant mechanismsby managing deliverables for the Massey Comprehensive Cancer CenterSupport Grant (CCSG), including compiling annual progress reportsand driving the 5-year renewal process
• Financial Oversight: Direct budgeting and financial costaccounting, including the annual A21 cost accounting processes andmonthly financial dashboard certifications
• Complex Billing Management: Oversee and execute theCore's multi-stream billing framework

3. Teaching & Mentorship Responsibilities

• Didactic Instruction: Develop and deliver formallectures on genetically modified mice in several university courses(e.g., “Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetics”)
• Specialized Training: Provide ad-hoc lectures focused onoperational best practices in Mouse Breeding Colony Management
• Hands-on Mentorship: Provide direct, one-on-onescientific and technical training to graduate students, postdocs,and laboratory trainees utilizing the Core's services

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced scientific degree (preferably Ph.D.) in genetics,molecular biology, or a related biomedical field
• Deep, comprehensive scientific and technical expertise acrossall facets of GEMM technologies
• Proven administrative capacity to manage complex budgets,multi-user facility operations, and institutional complianceprotocols
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment ofrespect, professionalism, and civility with a population offaculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences,or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior direct experience managing or directing a successfulTransgenic and Knockout Core Facility or similar shared resourcelab
• Demonstrated record of collaborative grant writing andpeer-reviewed publications

Salary Range:

Commensurate

Benefits:

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package, that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave,generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options,tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts,well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career developmentand advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Restricted Position:

No

Sensitive Position:

Yes

ORP Eligible:

Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement:

Other

Rank:

Open

Tenure:

Ineligible

Months:

12 months

Contact Information:

Contact Email: [e-mail]