Manager, Vivarium (Operations)

Department Overview

The Vivarium Manager oversees the operations and specialized infrastructure of laboratory animal research facilities, maintaining standards of animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and research support. Programs supported by DCM utilize a large variety of laboratory research animals, including but not limited to, fish, amphibians, birds, and a wide range of rodent and non-rodent mammalian species. Ensuring adherence to AAALAC, USDA, and OLAW standards - as well as federal and state statutes - the Manager coordinates closely with veterinarians, researchers, the IACUC, and senior DCM leadership. Additionally, they partner with OHSU and CBRE project teams to manage renovations and maintenance, ensuring optimal environments for laboratory animals and critical research infrastructure. This position interfaces with all departmental members and members of the OHSU research community.

Function/Duties of Position

Staff Management

• Direct and coordinate the assignment, supervision, and training of equipment sanitation, material handling, logistics, animal transport, and facility maintenance staff.
• Regularly adjusts assignments and workloads to meet operational demands.
• Routinely inspects all aspects of animal support operations for completion and thoroughness.
• Provides detailed instructions to team members and promotes collaboration between husbandry, veterinary, and administrative staff.
• Actively engages with research staff on facility infrastructure projects and initiates corrective actions when necessary.
• Promotes adherence to proper husbandry and animal welfare standards and protocols.
• Manage employee recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, performance reviews, and work assignments.
• Approves leave, encourages professional growth, and provides coaching and mentoring.
• Implements disciplinary actions as appropriate.
• Plan for staffing levels, promotions, recognition, and individual development plans.

Develop and administrate quality assurance programs

• Identifies and resolves operational deficiencies related to animal welfare.
• Evaluates and monitors performance of DCM equipment and assets, ensuring timely repairs, replacement.
• Establishes and promotes adherence to rigorous preventative maintenance schedules.

Environmental Animal Health Management

• Coordinates and executes responses to support and infrastructure concerns impacting animal health.
• Ensures all stakeholders are promptly notified of planned or emergency system disruption.
• Identifies and mitigates risks to animal well-being and research integrity.
• Works closely with departmental leadership on emergency response plans to ensure animal wellbeing and the stability of vivarium environmental systems.
• Documents and reports deficiencies in care to senior management, veterinary staff and IACUC. 

Regulatory compliance

• Maintains NIH, USDA, and AAALAC standards, as well as applicable federal and state regulations.
• Collaborate with OHSU Design and Construction teams to lead remodeling and renovation projects for animal research facilities.
• Ensure all upgrades meet specialized welfare requirements.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five years of relevant experience in an animal research or veterinary environment and 3 years of management/supervisory experience or equivalent combination of both.

• Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations pertaining to laboratory animal care and use.

• Knowledge of animal health and husbandry practices in a laboratory environment, animal behavior, sanitation processes, aseptic techniques and environmental conditions that affect laboratory animals.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Team building and conflict resolutions skills, the ability to multitask and manage workflows with frequent interruptions and changes while remaining flexible and adaptable to change.

• Ability to effectively and proactively manage staff within the guidelines of a union contract and use personnel resources appropriately.

• Computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel spread sheets and e-mail communication software.

• Skill in providing effective leadership for a large, diverse group of employees.

• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification at any level and/or Institute for Laboratory Animal Management (ILAM) certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (e.g. Biology, animal science, etc.).
• AAL