Senior Technologist / Team Lead

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

JOB SUMMARY

As the Senior Technologist / Team Lead at our Raleigh, NC location, you will provide daily direction and operational guidance to ensure achievement of departmental goals and communicate progress to supervisor. You will perform specialized production duties to maintain and monitor the health, production and physical environment of animals within isolators, micro-isolator cages or barrier rooms. You will provide training to departmental staff on all technical skills and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). You will act as team leader for designated area(s).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provide daily direction, schedule, prioritize workload and review work of assigned group to ensure accuracy and adherence to pertinent departmental policies, SOPs, safety procedures and biosecurity protocols.
• Provide leadership and motivation to departmental personnel. 
• Assist in ensuring optimum performance of group function. May recommend and implement techniques to improve productivity, increase efficiencies, cut costs, take advantage of opportunities, and maintain state-of-the-art practices.
• Coordination and scheduling of activities of the assigned group through hands-on technical support and delegation
• Act as team leader for designated area, perform specific departmental projects, and coordinate other operations staff as directed.
• Coordinate production and shipping activities of assigned group, including SOPs and OORs.  Assist in the performance of production and shipping activities as necessary.
• Responsible for complying with all SOPs pertaining to specific area.  Provide input into the creation and revision of SOPs and assist with the implementation and training of new SOPs.
• Perform specialized duties in the following areas:  packing and shipping animals to customer; performing value added services; biospecimen orders and introducing supplies.
• Perform production duties, ensuring proper breeding procedures and maintaining appropriate levels of assigned specialized rodent breeds, including inbred and outbred strains.
• Monitor animal health by observing animal behavior, physical appearance, and physical environment.  Identify and report any abnormal findings. Monitor animal health visually and by swabbing.
• Monitor performance of team-members and provide daily feedback to supervisor.  Assist with follow thru of disciplinary and personnel related concerns.
• Assist with training and development of departmental staff on all levels of animal husbandry, production and tasks including feeding, watering and cleaning cages as required.  
• Assist with training and development of departmental staff on specialized tasks in the following areas; packing and shipping animals to customer; providing technical training to departmental personnel; performing value added services, biospecimen orders and introducing supplies.
• Responsible for collecting health monitoring swabs and following health monitoring schedules.
• Maintain the biosecurity of the animal physical environment by following SOPs related to introduction and removal of supplies/animals, isolator inspection and supply inspections.
• Assist in the maintenance of physical environment, departmental equipment, and biosecurity in accordance with SOPs. Communicate findings and concerns to supervisor. 
• Maintain accurate departmental and isolator records.  
• Lead the preparation of reports, order inquiries, and completion of customer paperwork.  Communicate with Customer Service department as needed.
• Perform general housekeeping, adhere to safety procedures and follow ergonomic practices and stretching schedule.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree (A.A./A.S) or equivalent in Biological Science, Animal Husbandry or related discipline.
• Four to six years related experience and/or training.
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• AALAS certification at the Technician level or its equivalent preferred.
• Ability to communicate and follow verbal and written directions accurately.  Ability to multi-task. Organizational skills and attention to detail re