Operations Manager - Central Animal Facilities

Temple University • Philadelphia, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Temple University’s LKSOM: Central Animal Facilities division is searching for an Operations Manager! This role reports to the ULAR Director and is responsible for a wide variety of senior level managerial/supervisory duties within the University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The Operations Manager will plan, direct, and oversee daily animal husbandry operations within an AAALAC-accredited laboratory animal facility. This role ensures the highest standards of animal welfare, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and staff performance while supporting Temple University’s research mission. The position serves as a key operational leader and liaison among husbandry staff, veterinary services, investigators, facilities, collaborating departments, and compliance teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an animal or related field of life sciences and at least six years of experience in an animal research facility within an academic/pharmaceutical/ contract research organization.
• AALAS/RLATG certification and/or ILAM certification and/or AALAS/CMAR certification.
• Demonstrated ability to work with both large and small animal species.
• Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations and policies concerning the care of laboratory animals.
• Demonstrated ability to create, maintain, revise and enforce departmental SOP's, policies, and guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to manage mid-level supervisors.
• Demonstrated employee management skills with an emphasis on time management, problem solving, conflict resolution, cultural diversity, adaptability, and creativity.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Strong communication (verbal/written), along with demonstrated presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, along with the ability to interact with a diverse constituent population.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize and troubleshoot husbandry-related equipment.
• Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency with MS Office Suite, including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and provide budgetary projections.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in related life sciences field.
• Experience with Sirius management system or similar.

Responsibilities

• Manage and provide oversight of departmental husbandry services section and husbandry training programs.
• Formulate and maintain compliance with departmental procedures.
• Assist with budgeting, grant preparation and renovation projects.
• Prepare for regulatory departmental site visits.
• Supervise staff.
• Work with principal investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and technicians to resolve research needs and issues relating to the housing and care of laboratory animals.
• Provide on-the-job training for new and current husbandry supervisors/managers.
• Assure equipment is purchased to meet the service function and that all equipment is installed properly.
• Provide recommendations to the Director regarding husbandry-related cost containment measures and improvements needed in the husbandry section.
• Ensure all husbandry practices meet or exceed standards outlined in The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (USDA), PHS Policy, AAALAC expectations, and Institutional SOPs, policies and procedures.
• Oversee daily husbandry care activities for all species, including USDA-covered species.
• Ensure appropriate environmental enrichment, social housing, and species-specific care.
• Identify, escalate, and resolve animal welfare concerns in collaboration with relevant parties.
• Maintain continuous readiness for USDA inspections and AAALAC site visits.
• Support IACUC activities, including semiannual inspections, post-approval monitoring, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure accurate documentation, records, and logs required for regulatory compliance.
• Implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) related to inspections or audits.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate husbandry supervisory and technical staff.
• Ensure adequate staffing coverage, including weekends, holidays, and emergency situations.
• Coordinate onboarding, training, and competency assessments for husbandry personnel, alongside the ULAR Training Manager.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, professionalism, and humane animal welfare.
• Manage daily husbandry operations, including feeding, watering, sanitation, cage washing, and room turnover.
• Develop and manage staffing models based on census, species, and workload demands.
• Ensure consistent implementation of ULAR SOPs across all animal areas.
• Coordinate with veterinary and research staff to support study timelines.
• Develop, review, and revise husbandry-related SOPs and work instructions.
• Ensure staff compliance with approved SOPs.
• Conduct routine internal audits and quality assurance checks.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Ensure proper operation and maintenance of animal rooms, equipment, and support spaces.
• Oversee sanitation equipment (e.g., cage washers, autoclaves) in collaboration with facilities teams.
• Enforce biosecurity, traffic flow, and infection control practices.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and disaster response planning.
• Manage husbandry-related inventory, including feed, bedding, enrichment, and PPE.
• Forecast operational needs and control costs within budgetary guidelines.
• Coordinate vendor relationships and procurement processes.
• Ensure compliance with institutional occupational health and safety programs.
• Promote safe animal handling, ergonomics, and injury prevention.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and implement corrective actions.
• Serve as a primary liaison between husbandry staff, veterinary staff, business office, investigators, and leadership.
• Communicate operational updates, expectations, and changes effectively.
• Participate in leadership meetings and institutional planning activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Tuition remission - eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree TUITION FREE
• A generous retirement plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager