Associate Director Operations CMARC

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The Comparative Medicine and Animal Resources Centre (CMARC) is housed within the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, its mission is to provide world class university-wide care built on professional dedication to animal welfare and veterinary services, in support of the University’s research mission. 

Reporting to the University Veterinarian and Associate Vice Principal (AVP), Animal Care, the Associate Director provides operational leadership and oversight for animal care services, equipment and infrastructure of all CMARC facilities. The incumbent works closely with the Associate Vice-Principal, Animal Care and University Veterinarian as well as the Director, Veterinary Care & Technical Services, and the Associate Director of the Animal Compliance Office to ensure alignment of operations with the unit’s strategic direction. Responsible for designing and implementing key initiatives and best practices, as well as overseeing CMARC’s operations, facilities, and systems to ensure that animals used in research and teaching are cared for and used in accordance with university requirements, provincial compliance policies, and guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC).  Directly Supervises a team of professional and technical staff.

Responsibilities:

Operations

• Participates in the hiring process, performance dialogue, trial and probationary reviews. Verify work, provides training and coaching as need to staff. Approves absences and vacation requests.
• Responsible for daily oversight of animal husbandry of a variety of species.
• Ensures CMARC’s facilities are in compliance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care, Tri-Agency regulations, and all local, provincial and federal regulations.  
• Assist in the evaluation of staff performance, providing ongoing staff mentoring and counseling as required.
• Investigate and address any client and staff concerns, implementing changes as required, monitoring effectiveness of solutions, and communicating recommendations to the AVP Animal Care.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate standard operating procedures to provide superior quality animal care.
• Act as the main contact for operational and finance/grant application inquiries for 4 faculties including Medicine and Health Sciences, Science, Dentistry, and Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
• In collaboration with the AVP Animal Care/University Veterinarian ensures and prepares effective communication within CMARC and with McGill’s research community.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, a collegial attitude, and ability to successfully work with faculty, staff, and students.

Strategy

• Key contributor in the development of annual and multi-year strategic objectives for CMARC, including key performance indicators, and quality metrics.  Assess and ensure key performance indicators are met within each of CMARC’s functional units.
• Partake in the development of CMARC’s strategic plan alongside the Associate Vice-Principal, Animal Care and University Veterinarian as well as the Director, Veterinary Care & Technical Services, building on internal audit recommendations and external organizational review.
• Implement the strategic plan in close collaboration and alignment with the VPRI leadership team and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and expertise to faculty, researchers, and staff across McGill, applying knowledge of best practices for leading research animal care institutions.
• Develops personal growth opportunities for direct reports by defining objectives, and providing guidance where needed.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• In collaboration with HR, defines the desired culture and cultivate it through leadership actions including strategies, and key results that prioritize culture-building.

Finance

• In collaboration with the AVP Animal Care, and CMARC Finance Officer, participates in the development of yearly operating budgets that support CMARC’s operational needs.
• Ensure that spending controls are in place, spending is tracked per species and resources are used as planned.

Equipment and Infrastructure (E&