IACUC Coordinator, Contract

Altos Labs•San Diego, CA

4d•$43 - $55

About The Position

The contract IACUC Administrator will be responsible for the day‑to‑day administration and coordination of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Altos Labs™. This role supports a small, high‑standards animal research program with a limited number of protocols and no USDA‑covered species, potentially distributed across multiple Altos sites. You will help ensure that animal research at Altos is conducted ethically and in compliance with applicable standards (including PHS Policy and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals), with the goal of operating at AAALAC‑level quality even without formal accreditation. You will coordinate protocol review processes, committee activities, semiannual program reviews, facility inspections and training; ensure harmonized practices across sites; and serve as the functional lead for Altos’ electronic IACUC management system (e.g., @tune). You will collaborate closely with scientists, attending veterinarian, animal facility staff, and compliance colleagues to support a culture of integrity, animal welfare, and scientific excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or related field (e.g., biology, animal science, biomedical science, or similar).
Experience in animal research administration, research compliance, or laboratory animal science in an industry research environment (e.g., biotech, pharma, or related life sciences company)
Familiarity with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and PHS Policy; willingness to deepen expertise as needed.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks within a part‑time schedule.
Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain regulatory and process concepts to researchers and staff.
Ability to work collaboratively with investigators, veterinary staff, IACUC members, and institutional leadership, and to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively across sites or functions and to support consistent practices in a multi‑site environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior direct experience supporting an IACUC or animal care and use program.
Experience with an electronic protocol management system.
CPIA certification (Certified Professional IACUC Administrator) a plus.
Experience in a small research program or startup environment where one position covers multiple responsibilities.
Experience in an AAALAC‑accredited or AAALAC‑aligned program.

Responsibilities

Coordinate receipt, pre‑review, and routing of animal use protocols, amendments, and continuing/annual reviews; track approval and expiration dates and follow up with research staff as needed.
Organize IACUC meetings including agendas, materials, and minutes; maintain accurate, audit‑ready IACUC records.
Support consistent IACUC processes across Altos sites to ensure standardized procedures and documentation.
Help ensure that IACUC activities align with applicable regulations and guidance (e.g., PHS Policy, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals) and relevant Altos policies; flag key regulatory updates and suggest policy/procedure adjustments.
Coordinate and support semiannual program reviews and facility inspections, prepare draft reports, track findings, and monitor completion of corrective actions to help ensure facilities meet high animal care and use standards.
Collaborate with the IACUC Chair and attending veterinarian to respond to animal welfare concerns, support related investigations, and document follow‑up actions and resolutions.
Support communication, documentation, and tracking of Post‑Approval Monitoring activities.
Serve as a primary point of contact for research staff regarding IACUC policies, protocol preparation, and review processes.
Develop and deliver concise orientation and refresher compliance/process training for research staff and IACUC members (e.g., how to submit protocols/amendments, what the IACUC looks for, and reporting expectations).
Create and maintain clear written guidance (e.g., checklists, SOPs, FAQs, quick‑start guides) to support consistent, high‑quality submissions and reviews.
Lead IACUC‑related communications, including coordinating content for a quarterly animal research/IACUC newsletter and other periodic updates to research staff and stakeholders.
Partner with the IACUC and animal facility leadership to clearly communicate which hands‑on animal care, handling, and procedure training are required for protocol personnel.
Coordinate basic post‑approval monitoring activities (e.g., brief site visits or protocol checks) and work with research and veterinarian to support ongoing adherence to IACUC‑approved practices and continuous improvement where needed.
Maintain and update training modules in the electronic training system (Velocity AT&L) and ensure accurate tracking of training completion records.
Serve as the functional lead for implementation and ongoing use of Altos’ electronic IACUC/protocol management system (e.g., @tune).
Work with the vendor, IT, IACUC, research staff, and other stakeholders to configure practical workflows, forms, roles, and review processes that reflect Altos policies and regulatory requirements.
Oversee initial entry or migration of existing protocols and help ensure records remain accurate and current.
Develop and maintain streamlined templates, reviewer checklists, and standard communications within the system to promote consistency and efficiency.
Provide focused training and front‑line support to research staff, IACUC members, and other users on system use and compliance‑related processes, partnering with veterinary and facility staff for any animal‑procedure content.
Monitor system queues and basic reports to support timely review, follow‑up, and required institutional reporting, and collaborate with leadership and the vendor on periodic updates and improvements
Support related research compliance or program improvement initiatives as needed.