Director of Vivarium Operations

Astera Institute•Emerybille, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Astera Neuro is building a new state-of-the-art vivarium in the East Bay to support its neuroscience programs, including a substantial optogenetics and advanced imaging portfolio. This role requires a senior operations leader to take full ownership of the facility, encompassing the establishment of regulatory infrastructure, setup of the physical space, and the hiring and management of a large team of animal care staff. The position offers the unique opportunity to shape the facility during its design and construction phases. The role involves two main phases: the spin-up phase, where the individual will influence facility design and commissioning, establish permits and regulatory registrations, qualify vendors, develop SOPs, and hire/train the team; and the operational phase, where they will manage daily vivarium operations, including staff leadership, husbandry oversight, vendor and budget management, and ensuring continuous inspection readiness. The ideal candidate prioritizes safety and compliance as foundational elements for ambitious scientific endeavors.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of progressive experience in vivarium or laboratory animal facility operations.
Minimum of 6 years in a facility leadership role.
Background in animal science, biology, veterinary technology, or a related life science, or equivalent experience.
A track record of establishing or significantly reorganizing a vivarium program, including direct experience with a new facility startup, major expansion, or renovation.
Experience hiring, developing, and managing a large, multi-level animal care organization of 20 or more staff, including supervisors.
Hands-on knowledge of rodent husbandry, breeding, and colony management.
Deep working knowledge of the regulatory landscape: USDA APHIS, PHS Policy and OLAW, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, AAALAC standards, and IACUC processes.
AALAS LATG certification, or LAT certification with LATG in progress.
Strong project and operations management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks and timelines.
Excellent communication skills with researchers, vendors, regulators, and senior leadership.

Nice To Haves

Experience securing USDA, OLAW, or AAALAC registrations for a brand new program from the ground up.
Experience working with architects, engineers, and commissioning agents during vivarium design or construction.
Familiarity with optogenetics and in vivo imaging workflows, including laser safety, light tight rooms, care of animals with chronic optical or electrode implants, and support for two photon or holographic stimulation experiments.
Experience with non-rodent species or NHP facilities.
Familiarity with vivarium management or colony tracking software.
Experience growing an organization from a small founding team into a larger, structured department.
Experience managing a facility operating budget and capital equipment planning.
CMAR certification.
Experience presenting facility operations and readiness updates to executive leadership.

Responsibilities

Build the regulatory infrastructure from the ground up, including site permits, USDA APHIS Class R registration, PHS Assurance through OLAW, the path to AAALAC accreditation, and the IACUC infrastructure, in collaboration with the attending veterinarian and outside regulatory consultants.
Lead the vivarium build-out by partnering with architects, engineers, and the construction team through design and construction to ensure facility systems and equipment meet program requirements.
Source and qualify vendors for caging, feed, bedding, enrichment, supplies, and waste handling.
Plan and execute commissioning activities before animal arrival.
Own the operational readiness plan, sequencing permits, staffing, training, equipment, and SOPs against the construction schedule to ensure timely occupancy.
Develop a comprehensive SOP library covering husbandry, sanitation, biosecurity, environmental monitoring, emergency response, and occupational health.
Hire, train, and lead a multi-level animal care organization of 20 or more staff, including supervisors, and build the team structure and career paths as the program scales.
Oversee daily husbandry, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and animal health programs in coordination with the attending veterinarian.
Manage the facility budget, including ordering and inventory for animals, supplies, and equipment.
Oversee colony tracking, breeding records, and census reporting.
Maintain all permits, registrations, and accreditations on a current basis.
Run the occupational health and safety program to ensure continuous inspection readiness for IACUC, USDA, and AAALAC.
Coordinate with PIs and research staff on protocol scheduling, procedure room access, and training.
Build reporting mechanisms to provide scientific and executive leadership with clear visibility into facility operations.