The Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research. It is responsible for animal and veterinary care and all research animal resources at Princeton University. The LAR Facility Manager assists with providing optimal animal resources, including animal housing facilities, animal husbandry services, technical services, and expertise in laboratory animal technology, and assures compliance with regulatory requirements and institutional policies for animal care and use. Responsible for dynamic scheduling of all husbandry operations based on real-time animal inventories and managing cage inventories at Hopewell Research Facility (HRF). All animal technicians, including lead animal technicians, will report directly to the LAR Facility Manager at this location. The LAR Associate Director will oversee the LAR HRF Facility Manager. The LAR Facility Manager (HRF) and LAR Facility Manager (Princeton University Campus) are jointly responsible for monitoring environmental and watering controls, time collection, HR functions for all LAR animal care staff, and coordination with the HRF property management company. Assists the LAR Associate Director with new animal research facility designs, renovations, commissioning, and monitoring of the LAR operating budget. This role provides leadership and oversight and assists with long-range planning to ensure that all areas operate at the highest standards possible. This role maintains continued compliance with the guidelines set forth by the various regulations (AWA, USDA, etc.), accreditation (AAALAC), IACUC, and University standards. She/he is an integral member of the LAR management team, comprised of the Executive Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director of Vet Services, Facility Manager, Business Manager, and Staff Veterinarian within LAR. This position provides redundancy at the Supervisory level, where needed.
This position will serve as a departmental liaison for research faculty and vendor relationships in the expanding LAR research program into HRF.
- Daily oversight of husbandry staff; development and implementation of SOPs and animal facility policies; animal care and research staff training; oversight of the procurement and inventory control of all husbandry supplies; placing purchase orders in the absence of purchasing coordinator; assuring that appropriate records and files related to quality assurance and equipment maintenance are appropriately maintained. Training for LAR and facility in various technical procedures (rodent breeding core facility). Responsible for managing husbandry services in HRF. Assist with dynamically scheduling and managing animal husbandry staff based on actual animal inventories/locations.
- Oversee day-to-day centralized cage wash operations. Ensure allocation of correct caging inventories across all LAR facilities. Oversight of the Logistics Lead Technician and loading dock staff. Oversite and coordinate with the HRF property management staff – HVAC, security, janitorial services, and facility repairs.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local Animal Welfare legislation and regulations; sound judgment on balancing optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory compliance. Handle assignments and change priorities as circumstances may dictate. Represent LAR in research animal-related construction projects and renovations to HRF. Assist with commissioning and validating new facilities to include all systems necessary for a fully functional facility that shall be designed to comply with the Animal Welfare Act and meet or exceed requirements indicated in the most recent Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the "Guide") and continued AAALAC accreditation. This includes Pest Control, HVAC, Hood Testing, Emergency Power, Lighting, Electrical Systems, Plumbing, Automatic watering, and Cage Washer equipment.
- Develop standards for evaluating, assessing, and managing performance, productivity, and attendance for husbandry staff and keep their job descriptions up-to-date in LAR. Create, revise and update existing SOP’s to reflect current husbandry practices and procedures and implement adjustments based on IACUC Policies and Guidelines and AAALAC recommendations.
- Strategic Planning - Participate in developing of strategic direction and planning for LAR.
Communicate and build commitment to this strategic direction among LAR staff, Principal Investigators (PIs), animal research staff, and department administrative staff.
Maintain close communications with PIs, animal research staff, and department managers in order to escalate changes and issues that might impact the strategic goals of LAR to the Director of LAR.
- LAR Electronic Management System – ensure that facility census counts and special services requests are reviewed and submitted accurately and on a timely basis to the LAR business office. Train new users in the use of the electronic management system for animal receiving, census taking, printing cage cards and other husbandry related functions.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Essential Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED, or graduation from a vocational or technical school
- 7-9 years related experience or equivalent combination of education & experience
- Experience managing a laboratory animal facilities or equivalent experience
- Demonstrated supervisory knowledge, including motivational techniques and professional development/training methods
- Demonstrated program management knowledge including basic statistical methods, budget development and oversight, and knowledge of local, state and federal regulations for the workplace
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to helping others reach their full potential
- Willingness and able to work with laboratory animals, infectious agents, hazardous chemicals and radiation, and use all appropriate safety measures in working with those agents.
- This position also requires that an individual is able to lift 50lbs.
Required Licenses, Certifications, Registrations:
-American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification:
-Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG)
Additional Technical Requirements:
- Advanced knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to animal care/use in research
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with all levels of personnel
- Ability to receive, handle and maintain confidential information
Preferred Additional Qualifications:
- 7+ years of laboratory animal medicine experience.
- Three (3) years of lead, management or supervisory experience.
- Previous experience with regulatory processes and associated audits
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.
If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.
The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.