Assistant Director, Facilities & Operations

UVA Health•Charlottesville, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Virginia’s Center for Comparative Medicine is seeking an Assistant Director, Facilities & Operations. This position works closely with the Attending Veterinarian/Executive Director of the Center for Comparative Medicine to provide executive oversight of facilities, husbandry, equipment, transportation, and operational support services across all vivaria on Grounds. The position is responsible for strategic leadership and day-to-day operational oversight of animal care facilities and associated support functions, ensuring that the physical plant, husbandry operations, equipment systems, and logistical services effectively support the University’s research mission. This position is multifaceted and includes operational leadership, facilities oversight, personnel management, regulatory support, and program development. In partnership with the Attending Veterinarian/Executive Director, the Assistant Director develops, implements, and manages programs related to vivarium operations, husbandry, sanitation, equipment maintenance, transportation, environmental monitoring, and facility readiness. The Assistant Director ensures that all operational activities are conducted in accordance with institutional standards and applicable USDA, PHS, and AAALAC requirements. This individual reports directly to the Attending Veterinarian/Executive Director, Center for Comparative Medicine. The Assistant Director provides direct leadership to the Senior Vivarium Operations Managers and the Equipment/Transportation Manager, and is expected to promote operational excellence, consistency across sites, and a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement throughout the program. The mission of the Center for Comparative Medicine is to support biomedical research and teaching that utilizes laboratory animals. The Center does this in a manner that promotes the policies set by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), whose charge is to oversee compliance by personnel at the University of Virginia with federal regulations and guidelines.

Requirements

GED/High School Diploma or higher required.
5+ years of relevant experience working with laboratory animals and 3+ years managing laboratory animal staff.
LAT level certification through American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) or higher.
Compliance with UVA Health Policy OCH-002.

Nice To Haves

Veterinary degree (DVM/VMD) from an AVMA-accredited school of veterinary medicine or ECFVG (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates) certification with post-graduate work experience at an ACLAM-recognized laboratory animal medicine training program or equivalent
Licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the United States. Ability to obtain Virginia license within 6-months.
Board certification through the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM)
Demonstrated experience managing multiple operational units, supervisors, or managers in a complex animal research program.
Certification such as CMAR, LATG or equivalent is preferred.
Experience overseeing multi-site vivarium operations in an academic, biomedical research, or pharmaceutical setting.
Strong knowledge of vivarium facilities management, husbandry operations, cage wash systems, sanitation workflows, environmental monitoring, and equipment programs.
Knowledge of USDA regulations, PHS Policy, AAALAC standards, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Experience with capital planning, renovation or construction projects, and vendor or contractor coordination in animal research environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and implement process improvements across large or complex programs.

Responsibilities

Providing executive oversight of facilities and operations for all Center for Comparative Medicine vivaria on Grounds.
Supervising the Senior Vivarium Operations Managers and Equipment/Transportation Manager, while supporting operational leadership, staff development, performance management, and accountability within those teams.
Overseeing daily husbandry and vivarium support operations to ensure high-quality animal care, operational consistency, and effective service delivery across facilities.
Directing facility operations related to sanitation, cage wash, equipment flow, traffic patterns, space utilization, environmental conditions, and operational readiness.
Overseeing equipment management programs, including preventive maintenance, repair coordination, equipment lifecycle planning, inventory management, and replacement strategy for husbandry and vivarium support equipment.
Overseeing transportation and logistics programs related to animal movement, supply distribution, equipment transport, and other operational support needs.
Working closely with the Attending Veterinarian/Executive Director to support facility planning, renovations, capital improvements, startup of new research programs, and response to infrastructure or operational issues.
Coordinating with Facilities Management, Environmental Health and Safety, vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely maintenance, repair, construction, and operational support of vivarium spaces.
Assisting in the development and implementation of disaster preparedness, business continuity, and emergency response plans for vivarium operations.
Supporting biosecurity, access control, quarantine, and operational practices that protect animal health and the integrity of the research environment.
Assisting with the development, review, revision, and implementation of standard operating procedures, workflows, and training programs related to husbandry, sanitation, equipment, transportation, and facility operations.
Monitoring operational compliance with USDA regulations, PHS Policy, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and AAALAC standards as they relate to facilities, operations, and husbandry.
Supporting inspections, site visits, post-inspection corrective actions, and other quality assurance or accreditation activities.
Assisting with operational budget planning, expenditures, equipment procurement, supply management, and resource allocation related to vivarium operations.
Partnering with veterinary, husbandry, and research teams to identify operational needs and implement practical, compliant, and efficient solutions.
Participating in leadership meetings, strategic planning, and other institutional initiatives relevant to comparative medicine operations.
Providing functional leadership for vivarium operations in the absence of the Attending Veterinarian/Executive Director, as delegated.