Animal Resource Equipment Supervisor, Animal Resources Center

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Animal Resource Equipment Supervisor oversees daily cage wash operations across multiple vivarium locations and provides hands-on tier-one technical support for equipment repairs and routine maintenance throughout the Animal Resources Center. The role supports operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and continuity of animal care services in a large animal research environment. The supervisor leads cage wash personnel, coordinates production and maintenance workflows, monitors safety and compliance, and collaborates with Animal Resources Center leadership and Animal Husbandry staff.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of facility management experience with responsibility for the security and safety of property and personnel.
Experience supervising a team, with demonstrated success in mentoring and leadership.
Experience diagnosing equipment malfunctions, performing systematic troubleshooting, and coordinating preventive maintenance.
Experience repairing equipment to ensure reliability and minimize operational downtime.
Valid driver's license and eligibility to operate university vehicles; a class C operator's driver's license is required.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, move heavy equipment, and stand or walk for extended periods.
Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call hours as required.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising cage wash facilities or large, complex operations.
Experience using electronic work-order systems, service ticketing systems, and maintenance tracking tools.
Knowledge of industrial washers, autoclaves, and sterilization system maintenance and repair, or ability to learn their operation.

Responsibilities

Oversee and coordinate cage wash operations and equipment maintenance across multiple vivarium locations.
Coordinate cage wash production using tunnel washers, rack washers, autoclaves, dump stations, bottle-filling systems, and associated equipment.
Coordinate production workflows and communicate resource needs to leadership.
Conduct facility audits of cage wash operations, equipment functionality, maintenance standards, checklists, logs, and records.
Evaluate workflows and implement process improvements to improve throughput, resource utilization, and operational efficiency.
Monitor equipment performance; coordinate and perform preventive maintenance; troubleshoot equipment issues; perform repairs; and escalate issues as needed.
Coordinate internal and external service calls at the direction of Animal Resources Center management.
Initiate and track work orders and service tickets, documenting and prioritizing equipment issues.
Coordinate transport and distribution of cage wash supplies and equipment between facilities.
Ensure cage wash facility sanitation, safety checks, and temperature and steam monitoring.
Assess and remove damaged or unusable supplies and coordinate disposal.
Work closely with the Operations Assistant Director on equipment maintenance and repairs.
Recruit, hire, schedule, supervise, and provide operational leadership to cage wash personnel.
Provide daily direction, prioritize assignments, and meet staffing and operational needs across locations.
Conduct performance evaluations, support employee development, and administer corrective actions in accordance with institutional policies.
Assist in reviewing and auditing cage wash standard operating procedures for technical accuracy, clarity, and alignment with practices.
Ensure compliance with university safety policies, applicable federal and state regulations, and relevant vivarium standards.
Maintain records of sanitation cycles, autoclave validation, equipment monitoring, safety inspections, and other required activities.
Ensure staff understand and follow PPE requirements and safety procedures.
Prepare for and participate in facility inspections, site visits, internal audits, and compliance reviews.
Perform and document testing, including biological indicators and thermal strips, to verify sanitation and sterilization effectiveness.
Identify deficiencies in operational practices and records, implement corrective actions, and support ongoing compliance.
Manage inventory of maintenance supplies, filters, caging, cage wash chemicals, PPE, and other operational materials.
Monitor outstanding work orders and service tickets, communicate equipment status to affected teams, and follow up on resolution.
Serve as the primary contact for Animal Husbandry staff regarding animal census changes and adjust cage wash production accordingly.
Maintain professional knowledge and contribute to departmental initiatives supporting operational effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Participate in meetings and project discussions regarding facility operations, equipment performance, service needs, and process improvements.
Apply new knowledge and best practices to improve operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and staff performance.
Serve as a backup driver for supply and equipment transport between facilities.