Veterinary Research Supervisor

MPF Federal; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MPF Federal seeks an on-site supervisor for animal care support on BSL-2 poultry research projects. You will lead a contract technician team, perform caretaker duties, and serve as the primary contact for CO, COR, and Veterinary Services.

The role requires hands-on leadership and strict adherence to biosafety protocols. Responsibilities include scheduling to ensure 7x365 coverage, delivering reports and plans, and coordinating onboarding and security clearances.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years in animal care and use with leadership/management.
• BSL-2 agricultural animal care research management experience.
• Willingness and physical ability to perform hands-on caretaking.
• Effective written and verbal communication using scientific terminology.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day delegation and scheduling of technicians to cover 7 days a week.
• Maintain collaboration with the COR; provide progress updates and resolve bottlenecks.
• Own contract deliverables: Monthly Status Report, QC Plan, lessons learned, kickoff minutes, and QASP.
• Oversee onboarding, background checks, and continuity-of-operations/disaster-recovery planning.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Communication

Scheduling

Job description

Serves as the on-site working supervisor and designated representative for animal care support to BSL-2 poultry research projects at the client facility. Provides overall management and coordination of the contract technician team while personally performing caretaker duties. Acts as the primary point of contact for the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Veterinary Medical Officer/Attending Veterinarian, and the Veterinary Services team.

Key Responsibilities

Direct day-to-day delegation and scheduling of technicians to satisfy 7-day/365-day coverage within the 40-hour-per-person weekly cap. Maintain a collaborative working relationship with the COR; provide timely progress updates and proactively resolve bottlenecks. Own contract deliverables: Monthly Status Report, Quality Control Plan (due at kickoff), lessons-learned reports, kickoff meeting and minutes, and the QASP (draft at kickoff, final four weeks later). Oversee onboarding, background-investigation initiation, and continuity-of-operations/disaster-recovery planning.

Security & Suitability

Must pass the client's required background investigation (a moderate-tier federal suitability investigation) prior to unsupervised work; contractor/employee bears fingerprinting and associated costs. Must complete required federal employment and facility ID/badging forms; a government PIV/credential is issued upon favorable adjudication.

Biosecurity & Physical Conditions

No contact with outside avian species; must sign and honor the client No Avian Contact Form / avian-exclusion attestation (excludes backyard poultry ownership, bird hunting, and similar avian exposure). Willing to comply with barrier-research entry/exit protocols: multiple showering, scrubs, and proper donning/doffing of PPE. Able to repetitively lift up to 50 lbs and tolerate dust, temperature extremes, disagreeable odors, feed augers, autoclaves, and related equipment. Comfortable handling diseased animals and performing or assisting with euthanasia in accordance with IACUC and AVMA guidelines. Able to pass an annual occupational-health physical assessment. Annual flu vaccination is encouraged but not required. N95 respirators are not required in BSL-2 spaces (no fit-test needed).

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of 7 years of experience supporting animal care and use, leadership, and management (7 years is the minimum acceptable threshold). BSL-2 agricultural animal care research management experience (prioritized over formal education/degrees). Willingness and physical ability to perform hands-on animal caretaking as a working supervisor, not oversight only. Effective written and verbal communication using scientific and medical terminology.

Preferred Qualifications

Direct poultry research or poultry breeder flock management experience. Prior experience leading contract or federal animal-care teams in a regulated (IACUC/AWAR) environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MPF Federal 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, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical benefits, PTO, holiday pay and more.