Rodent Breeding Manager

Overview

The Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Rodent Breeding Manager provides oversight of transgenic rodent breeding management for laboratory animals housed within the Rodent Breeding Core Facility.

 

The Rodent Breeding Manager is primarily responsible for managing the operational aspects of the rodent breeding facility within Laboratory Animal Resources. This role involves overseeing the daily management of rodent colonies, ensuring the well-being of the animals, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. The Rodent Breeding Manager will coordinate the implementation of breeding plans, manage electronic colony management systems, and provide necessary training and support to the research and technical staff. The Rodent Breeding Manager serves as a subject matter expert for the Rodent Breeding Core Facility, providing oversight of complex transgenic breeding schemes and troubleshooting breeding issues by implementing effective breeding strategies. This position plays a crucial role in facilitating the research objectives of Princeton University researchers by maintaining efficient and effective breeding operations.

 

The Rodent Breeding Manager is responsible for resource management, direct supervision, training, time collection, and HR management functions for all Rodent Breeding Technical staff.

Responsibilities

Manages breeding colonies with the general goal to provide healthy, genetically well-defined mice that are suitable for research in an efficient and cost-effective manner and serves as liaison and subject matter expert in the field for rodent transgenic colony management:• Researches mouse strains’ genotypes and phenotypes to develop the best strategies for setting up and monitoring breeding and optimizing colony production. • Develops timelines in regard to colony production for core investigators and delivers animal subjects to core investigators for experimental use based on their needs. • Tracks pedigrees of strains and develops a strategy for strict genetic quality control including managing and preventing genetic contamination and genetic drift. • Communicates with core investigators regarding their transgenic breeding lines and study needs and informs on the progress of breeding colony management. • Maintains the inventory of animals, ensures mouse order fulfillment, and performs forecasting for PIs. • Maintains appropriate documentation for all duties in accordance with all applicable departmental, institutional, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and SOPs, and based on contemporary professional standards. • Coordinate logistics for the transportation of breeding stock and offspring.

 

• Daily oversight of rodent breeding technical staff• Development and implementation of SOPs and animal facility policies animal care and research staff training • Oversight of the procurement and inventory control of supplies associated with rodent breeding program • 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 staff in various technical procedures (rodent breeding core facility). • Responsible for managing husbandry services for rodent breeding core facility. • Assist with dynamically scheduling and managing rodent breeding technical staff based on actual animal inventories/locations.

 

• Develop standards for evaluating, assessing, and managing performance, productivity, and attendance for rodent breeding technical staff and keep their job descriptions up-to-date in LAR.• Create, revise and update existing SOP’s to reflect current rodent breeding technical 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.

 

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species with specific expertise in complex transgenic breeding schemes and troubleshooting breeding issues.• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laborator