Animal Resource Equipment Supervisor, Animal Resources Center

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

4d•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. The role supports operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and continuity of animal care services at the Animal Resources Center, which manages centralized animal facilities and satellite locations. The supervisor leads cage wash personnel and coordinates workflows, equipment maintenance, sanitation, supplies, service requests, and compliance activities. The position works closely with the Operations Assistant Director and Animal Husbandry staff, and serves as a backup driver for transporting supplies and equipment between facilities. Work takes place in an animal research facility and may involve wet, noisy, warm, humid, odorous, or extreme-temperature environments, along with potential exposure to animals, allergens, biological hazards, chemicals, and electrical or mechanical hazards. Hours and shifts may vary; occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call hours may be required.

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.
Use of required protective clothing and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

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 to verify operations, equipment functionality, maintenance standards, and completeness of records and documentation.
Evaluate workflows and implement process improvements to improve production throughput, resource utilization, and efficiency.
Monitor equipment performance; coordinate and perform preventive maintenance; troubleshoot issues; perform repairs; and escalate issues as needed.
Coordinate internal and external service calls at the direction of ARC management.
Initiate and track work orders and service tickets, ensuring equipment issues are documented and prioritized.
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 to assist with equipment maintenance and repairs.
Recruit, hire, schedule, supervise, and provide operational leadership for cage wash personnel across assigned facilities.
Conduct performance evaluations, support employee development, and administer corrective actions in accordance with institutional policies.
Provide daily direction and prioritize assignments to meet staffing and operational needs across multiple locations.
Assist in reviewing and auditing cage wash SOPs for technical accuracy, clarity, and alignment with operational practices.
Ensure operations comply 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 established 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.
Review operational practices and records, identify deficiencies, implement corrective actions, and support continuous 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, and follow up to support timely resolution.
Serve as the primary point of contact for Animal Husbandry staff regarding animal census changes and adjust cage wash production accordingly.
Maintain professional knowledge, participate in meetings and project discussions, and apply best practices to improve operations, equipment reliability, and staff performance.
Serve as a backup driver for supply and equipment transport between facilities.