Preclinical Research Team Lead (Animal Research)

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 Overview

We are seeking a Research Team Lead to provide technical leadership and operational support for preclinical research studies. In this role, you will serve as a lead technician, oversee daily study activities and lab animal care, mentor other research technicians, and help ensure the successful execution of research projects while maintaining compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations and company procedures.

This position is ideal for an experienced research technician who enjoys hands-on work, team leadership, and contributing to the advancement of scientific discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and perform technical activities across a variety of research studies, including complex and specialized protocols.
• Conduct clinical observations, collect biological samples, administer test substances, and monitor animal health and well-being.
• Ensure accurate collection, review, and documentation of study data in compliance with GLP, study protocols, and SOPs.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, training, and mentorship to research staff.
• Assist with study planning, start-up activities, scheduling, and coordination across research teams.
• Support staffing activities, including onboarding, training, coaching, and performance development.
• Partner with scientific and operational teams to improve processes, develop new techniques, and drive operational excellence.
• Assist with internal and external audits, inspections, and quality initiatives.
• Ensure laboratory equipment, work areas, and research environments are maintained according to company standards.
• Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, or a related scientific discipline.
• 4+ years of experience in laboratory research, animal science, preclinical research, or a related scientific environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of GLP regulations and laboratory procedures.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and data management systems.

Preferred

• GLP experience.
• AALAS LAT certification.
• Experience leading or mentoring technical teams.
• Knowledge of study design, protocol execution, and laboratory animal care.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and move materials, equipment, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand, sit, and perform detailed technical procedures for extended periods.
• Ability to work with laboratory animals and utilize fine motor skills during research procedures.

Work Environment

This role is based in a laboratory and research setting and involves working with laboratory animals, research equipment, chemicals, and biological materials. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required.

Additional Information

This position may require overtime, weekend, holiday, and after-hours coverage based on study and operational needs.

The pay for this position is $33.50/hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to View email address on us.fitly.work. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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