Director Animal Resource Center

POSITION OBJECTIVE The Director of the Animal Resource Center provides strategic, clinical, regulatory, and operational leadership for the university's centralized animal care and use program. As the institution's Attending Veterinarian (AV) and senior leader for animal welfare, the director ensures the humane care and responsible use of animals in research and teaching, in full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, AAALAC International accreditation standards, and institutional policies. This position requires a licensed veterinarian with deep expertise in laboratory animal medicine, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to partner effectively with faculty, senior administrators, regulatory bodies, and research staff in a complex R1 environment. This position is subject to compliance regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC guidelines, the State of Ohio Veterinary Practice Act, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration regulatory guidelines, US Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine regulations and other applicable regulatory guidelines. The director may pursue a faculty position at the School of Medicine based on background, interests, and department needs. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Provide vision and direction for the Animal Resource Center, ensuring a high-quality, efficient, and compliant animal care and use program that supports the university's research mission. Lead long-term planning for facilities, staffing, equipment, and programmatic needs, including modernization of vivaria and adoption of emerging technologies. Serve as a key advisor to university leadership on issues related to animal research, regulatory risk, and institutional readiness. Maintain AAALAC accreditation and lead institutional preparation for site visits and program reviews. (30%) Serve as the Attending Veterinarian with authority and responsibility for the health and welfare of all animals used in research and teaching. Oversee and provide clinical veterinary care, including diagnosis, treatment, surgical procedures, anesthesia, analgesia, and euthanasia consistent with current best practices. Develop and implement preventive medicine programs, including quarantine, health surveillance, environmental monitoring, and biosecurity. Provide expert consultation to investigators on animal models, study design, anesthesia/analgesia, surgical techniques, and humane endpoints. (20%) Ensure full compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and all other applicable regulations. Serve as a voting member and primary veterinary advisor to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Oversee post-approval monitoring, semiannual inspections, and program evaluations. Develop, implement, and enforce institutional policies, standard operating procedures, and training programs related to animal care and use. Collaborate with Environmental Health and Safety, research compliance, and other units to ensure integrated oversight of biosafety, occupational health, and research integrity. (15%) Lead and manage a large, varied team of veterinary, husbandry, technical, and administrative staff. Oversee daily operations of multiple vivaria, ensuring high standards of animal care, facility cleanliness, and environmental conditions. Provide strategic oversight of departmental quality assurance, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and continuous improvement in program effectiveness. Manage budgets, cost recovery models, and resource allocation to ensure financial sustainability. Oversee procurement, equipment maintenance, and facility renovations or expansions. Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and user satisfaction. (10%) Build strong, collaborative relationships with investigators across schools, departments, and research centers. Provide guidance on protocol development, model selection, and refinement of animal procedures. Develop and deliver training programs for faculty, staff, and students on animal handling, surgical techniques, and regulatory requirements. Serve as a scientific and educational resource on laboratory animal medicine and welfare. (10%) Foster a culture of compassion, professionalism, accountability, and respect for animals and people. Mentor and develop staff, promoting career growth and high performance. Model transparent communication and collaborative problem-solving. (10%) NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Perform other duties as assigned. (5%) CONTACTS Department: Frequent contact with the executive vice president for research, the Animal Resource Center administrative director, attending veterinarians, managers, veterinary technicians, the Animal Resource Center staff to support animal research operations. University: Frequent contact with the office of research and technology management, principal investigators, environmental health, health services and research personnel conducting animal studies; and regular contact with IACUC staff to support animal research operations. External: Regular contact with IACUC committee members during scheduled meetings and reviews to support animal research operations. Students: Infrequent contact with work-study students to support animal research operations. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY Direct supervisory responsibility for the veterinarians and director of administrative operations. QUALIFICATIONS Experience: Minimum 7 to 10 years of progressive experience in laboratory animal medicine, including leadership of a complex animal care and use program. Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) from an AVMA-accredited institution. Licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the United States, with eligibility for state licensure. Board certification or eligibility in Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM). REQUIRED SKILLS Comprehensive knowledge of federal regulations and standards governing animal research, including the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, AAALAC requirements, and relevant DEA/FDA guidelines. Demonstrated ability to ensure veterinary and regulatory compliance across a research animal program. Proven leadership experience, including team management, decision-making, and solving complex operational or compliance challenges. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a decentralized, faculty-driven research environment. Experience serving as an Attending Veterinarian at an R1 university or academic medical center. Experience managing multi-facility vivaria and large technical teams. Experience with non-human primates, large animals, or ABSL-2/3 environments (as applicable). Experience leading strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational development for an animal care and use program. Proven ability to build institutional partnerships and engage effectively with senior research leadership. Ability to meet consistent attendance. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face-to-face. Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest. Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies. WORKING CONDITIONS General office working environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr