Director of Laboratory Animal Resources

Binghamton University•Binghamton, NY

63d•$95,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Binghamton University Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) is responsible for the animal care and use program campus-wide and provides support services to faculty and students. Binghamton University is proud to maintain AAALAC accreditation. LAR is located within the Division of Research. The Director of Laboratory Animal Resources reports directly to the Associate Vice President for Research Ethics, Security, and Compliance, who serves as the Institutional Official. This position ensures the necessary support for the daily care needs of the animals is met, monitoring all use of animals by university personnel, and ensuring the highest standards of animal care are always present. The Director of Laboratory Animal Resources helps provide assurance of compliance with regulatory and accreditation bodies and fosters strong communications with investigators, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the animal care staff. The Director of LAR is charged with supporting a program of appropriate veterinary care.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
At least five (5) years of applicable related work, administrative, facilities managerial experience
Experience supervising employees
Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and organizational and interpersonal skills
Management and prioritization of multiple facilities and tasks
Problem solving and working across departments in a fast paced and dynamic environment
Ability to apply independent ethically sound judgment, discretion and initiative in performing administrative functions
Computer skills and competencies in Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

Master's degree
Working knowledge of state and federal regulations and accreditation related to Laboratory Animal Resources as applied in a university setting
Experience in working with unionized employees
Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community
Ability to follow all university policies, procedures, and guidelines including but not limited to safety, civility, information security, unions, and non-discrimination policies and procedures

Responsibilities

Recruit, hire, motivate, instruct, and supervise the LAR laboratory animal caretakers to provide optimal animal care with respect to the current standards for housekeeping, safety, regulations, developments, and trends in animal care, certification programs, and continuing education.
Attend, participate, and/or lead LAR staff meetings.
Provide professional consultation for faculty, academic staff, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in connection with research involving the use of laboratory animals.
Supervises research by graduate and professional students as required.
Serve as the Science V Building Administrator, the primary liaison with the University's Police Department, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Department of Physical Facilities, and other related offices.
Serve as the Team Leader for the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the LAR program and facilities.
Serve as the primary resource and respondent for establishing per diem rates.
Responsible for the administration of all departmental funding according to institutional and the Research Foundation practices and policies.
Serve as the primary purchasing agent for LAR. Identify and evaluate vendors and resources for animals, animal transportation, animal equipment, and supplies.
Serve on the Space Committee and assign all animal holding room space, and key/access to individual holding and procedure rooms.
Serve as the primary contact for all facilities and equipment upkeep, repairs, and improvements, and maintenance contracts.
Provide information and guidance regarding the development, renovation, and/or construction and use of institutional space intended for vertebrate animal use.
Monitor and analyze new legislation, federal or State and local regulations, guidance documents, and program initiatives. Maintain knowledge of current trends and changes to inform the Associate Vice President for Research Ethics, Security, and Compliance of effective strategies for dissemination.
Assure best practices for compliance with regulatory, accrediting, and funding agencies. Continually review and evaluate the facilities for compliance with AAALAC, USDA, NY State Department of Health, and the US Public Health Service. Make/coordinate corrective/restorative action with appropriate departments.
Write, maintain, review, and uphold compliance of all SOPs for facility maintenance, LAR equipment use and maintenance, and animal husbandry procedures.
Continually assess the efficiency and effectiveness of internal policies, processes, and records to inform decisions regarding operational effectiveness and improvement opportunities.
Partner with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety to provide institutional oversight for the use of controlled substances in research.
Identify and review the accuracy and completion of facility and animal care records (procurement, care and use, euthanasia, daily activity, water quality, equipment, etc.), and coordinate/retrieve records and findings with Physical Facilities, Environmental Health and Safety, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and regulators/accreditors.
Coordinate, communicate, and work with the Attending Veterinarian regarding: animal health concerns, equipment, animal vendors, diet and bedding procurement, detergent and sanitizers, preventative medicine scheduling, facility improvement renovations, animal health, and environmental monitoring programs. Perform husbandry/other duties when necessary.
Resolve questions or conflicts and provide clarifications regarding regulatory policies and/or procedural matters related to LAR.
Collect and organize information for, and participate in inspections, visits, and writing reports for accreditors and regulators, including: USDA, AAALAC, NY State, and OLAW.
Collaborate in the interview/recruitment process for all faculty hires that intend to use animal models in their research and/or teaching by providing insight into the LAR support structure and function.
Collaborate with and assist authorized personnel using the facilities to install equipment in compliance with biosafety and operating procedures.
Communicate facility information to occupants regularly during renovations, improvements, and repairs.
Serve as a knowledgeable resource for best practices, procedures, and facility information for the IACUC with full knowledge of all research and teaching protocols, IACUC policies, and reports.
Collaborate with the Division of Research staff and administration to ensure an integrated research support effort.