LARC Supervisor

University of Texas at Dallas; Richardson (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BCBS PPO Medical insurance - 100% paid

Paid time off

Paid Holidays

Tuition Benefits

Dental/Vision/AD&D

Job summary

University of Texas at Dallas is seeking a Facility Resources Supervisor for the Lab Animal Resource Center to lead daily vivarium operations, supervise husbandry staff, and ensure humane animal care and regulatory compliance. The role partners with IACUC, veterinarians, and research faculty to support biomedical research initiatives.

Responsibilities include staffing, training, maintaining inventory, documenting health records, and coordinating with researchers on protocol compliance,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and at least five years of basic animal care.
• ALAT certification or ability to obtain within one year of hire.
• A CVA or CVT may be considered in lieu of ALAT certification.
• Preferred degree in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related field.
• Experience in university or academic research settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor LARC husbandry staff, including training and evaluations.
• Oversee daily vivarium operations: animal care, cage processing, sanitation, and environmental monitoring.
• Manage inventory and procurement of supplies, maintaining cost-effective records.
• Provide hands-on technical support to researchers: animal handling, breeding, health surveillance.
• Maintain accurate documentation: census, health records, breeding logs, and compliance reports.
• Coordinate researcher orientation, animal ordering/imports, and conflict resolution with LARC management.
• Respond to after-hours emergencies and participate in on-call rotation.
• Collaborate with veterinary staff and IACUC on protocol compliance and inspections.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Database systems

Facility management

Team supervision

Education

High school diploma or GED

ALAT certification

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science/ Biology/ Veterinary Tech

Tools

Cayuse

Vivarium management software

Environmental control systems

Job description

Job Summary

The Facility Resources Supervisor serves as a critical leadership position within the Lab Animal Resource Center (LARC) at UT Dallas. This role is responsible for overseeing daily facility operations, supervising husbandry and technical staff, and ensuring the highest standards of humane animal care, facility maintenance, and regulatory compliance. The supervisor supports the university's growing biomedical research enterprise by facilitating efficient resource management, technical assistance to investigators, and effective collaboration with the IACUC, veterinarians, and research faculty. All activities within this position align with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, IACUC policies, and federal, state, and institutional regulations.

Minimum Education and Experience

High school diploma or GED. Five (5) years of basic animal care experience. Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification or ability to obtain within one (1) year of hire. A Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVA) credential or Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) may be considered in lieu of the ALAT certification.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Preferred Experience

• Minimum 4-6 years of progressive experience in laboratory animal care and vivarium operations, or clinical setting.
• Experience in a university or academic research setting.
• Familiarity with vivarium/clinical management software, environmental control systems, and/or IACUC protocol management tools (e.g., Cayuse).
• Knowledge of additional research models or specialized housing (e.g., quarantine procedures).

Other Qualifications

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor a team of LARC husbandry technicians, animal care staff, and support personnel. This includes recruitment support, training and development (including AALAS certification pathways), performance evaluations, scheduling, and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Oversee all aspects of daily vivarium operations, including animal husbandry, cage processing, sanitation, waste management, and environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, noise levels).
• Assist LARC leadership in maintaining facility resources and inventory: procure and maintain adequate supplies of feed, bedding, PPE, cleaning agents, and specialized equipment; develop cost-effective procurement strategies and maintain accurate records.
• Provide hands-on technical support to researchers, including animal handling, restraint, basic procedures, breeding support, weaning, and health surveillance.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation, including animal census reports, health records, breeding logs, facility maintenance logs, and compliance reports for IACUC, leadership, and regulatory agencies.
• Serve as a key point of contact for facility access, researcher orientation/training, animal ordering/imports, and conflict resolution in coordination with the LARC management, coordinator and research administration.
• Respond promptly to after-hours, weekend, and holiday emergencies involving animal welfare, facility systems failures, or security concerns (participating in on-call rotation).
• Collaborate with veterinary staff, IACUC, and the Office of Research and Innovation on protocol compliance, facility inspections, program audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote and enforce occupational health and safety standards, including proper use of PPE, biosafety practices, and participation in the UTD-UTSW Occupational Health Program.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, equipment upgrades, process improvements, and enhanced animal welfare practices (e.g., environmental enrichment).
• Perform other duties as assigned to advance the mission of the LARC and support UT Dallas research objectives.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a service-oriented approach toward researchers and colleagues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, database/record-keeping systems, and basic facility management tools.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Ability to lift and carry up to 30-pounds; perform repetitive motions; stand, walk, and bend for extended periods.
• Work in a controlled environment with exposure to animal allergens, chemicals, noise, and varying temperatures.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as required for animal care continuity.
• Participation in an on-call rotation for emergencies.

Additional Information

Remote work not available for this position.

What We Can Offer

• Competitive Salary
• Tuition Benefits
• Internal Training
• BCBS PPO Medical insurance - 100% paid for full-time employees
• PPO and DHMO Dental Insurance Plan - PPO plans include ortho benefits
• Long and short-term disability
• TRS Retirement Plan - defined benefit plan offering lifetime annuity upon retirement
• Voluntary Retirement Plan Options - additional savings opportunities with Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans and Deferred Compensation Plans
• Dental/Vision/AD&D
• Paid time off
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Winter Break
• Fertility Benefits

All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program.

Visit https://hr.utdallas.edu/employees/benefits/ for more information.

Important Message

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.

2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.