Associate Director, Vivarium Operations

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine•Spring House, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director, Vivarium Operations (North America) provides strategic, operational, and people leadership for North American in-house vivarium operations, with accountability for teams and execution at Spring House, PA and La Jolla, CA. This role is responsible for the oversight of animal husbandry and technical in vivo research support, ensuring consistent, compliant, and high‑quality execution that enables PSTS and SIS scientific programs. The Associate Director leads multi‑site vivarium teams, drives harmonization of operational practices, and partners closely with veterinary and scientific leadership to deliver reliable, ethical, and efficient vivarium operations aligned with portfolio priorities. The role balances day‑to‑day operational excellence with forward‑looking strategy, including capacity planning, workforce development, continuous improvement, and alignment with Global SIS standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in a life science–related discipline (e.g., Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, Biomedical Sciences) required
8+ years of progressive experience in vivarium operations, animal care, and/or technical in vivo research support within an academic, biotech, or pharmaceutical R&D environment
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including direct and indirect management of technical and husbandry staff
Fluency in spoken and written English required
Ability to meet site specific health and vaccination requirements for work in vivarium and laboratory environments

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MS) or higher in a relevant scientific or operational discipline
Laboratory Animal certification (e.g., AALAS LATG, CMAR, CPIA or equivalent) strongly preferred
Formal training or certification in continuous improvement or operational excellence methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean, AIM, DMAIC)
Demonstrated leadership experience in vivarium operations, animal husbandry, and technical in vivo research support within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or academic research environment
Proven ability to lead multi‑site technical and husbandry teams, driving alignment, consistency, and performance across locations
Strong working knowledge of animal welfare regulations and standards, including AAALAC and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Experience supporting complex or specialized in vivo models, including enhanced clinical observation and special care requirements
Track record of driving operational excellence, process harmonization, and continuous improvement in a regulated environment
Ability to translate scientific and portfolio demand into operational plans, staffing strategies, and capacity models
Effective collaborator with scientific, veterinary, EHSS, and functional partners, able to influence outcomes in a matrixed organization
Strong communication, problem‑solving, and data‑driven decision‑making skills

Responsibilities

Provide end-to-end leadership for animal care, husbandry, and technical in vivo research support across North American vivarium operations.
Ensure the consistent delivery of daily animal care and husbandry activities, including health observations, environmental enrichment, sanitation, and facility readiness.
Oversee technical in vivo research support, including execution of approved in vivo procedures in support of scientific studies, ensuring technical rigor, consistency, and compliance.
Support complex and specialized models, including studies requiring enhanced clinical observations, special care, or advanced husbandry and technical capabilities.
Ensure clear operational ownership for study execution support, while scientific study design and data interpretation accountability remain with scientific and veterinary leadership.
Champion a Culture of Care that reflects the highest standards of animal welfare, ethical research, and employee engagement.
Ensure compliance with all applicable animal welfare regulations and guidelines, including the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, AAALAC standards, and internal J&J and SIS requirements.
Partner closely with scientific and veterinary leadership to embed the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) into husbandry practices, technical procedures, and operational decision making.
Lead and develop multi site vivarium teams responsible for husbandry and technical research support across Spring House and La Jolla.
Ensure robust training, qualification, and proficiency assessment for technical and husbandry staff, maintaining consistent capability and readiness across sites.
Build a strong leadership bench through performance management, coaching, succession planning, and career development.
Foster a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning, aligned with the Johnson & Johnson Credo and Leadership Imperatives.
Drive standardization and harmonization of husbandry and technical research support practices across North America sites.
In partnership with Laboratory Operations, ensure facilities, equipment, and materials are fit for purpose and aligned to current and future operational needs.
Act as a key operational partner to in vivo scientists and therapeutic area teams, enabling reliable and compliant study execution.
Engage stakeholders to align technical and husbandry support models with evolving scientific and portfolio requirements.
Collaborate with EHSS, Facilities, IT, Procurement, and other enabling functions to support safe and efficient operations.
Oversee KPIs and performance metrics for husbandry and technical research support operations.
Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation and reporting to support data driven decision making.
Leverage digital tools and systems to enhance operational visibility, planning, and efficiency.
Ensure compliance with workplace safety standards and EHSS requirements.
Serve as Essential Personnel leadership, ensuring continuity of critical vivarium operations during emergencies or business disruptions.