Assistant Director of Animal Care

Description

In general, is responsible for the daily operation and management of the Animal Resources Facility, Animal Resources, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport including 1501 Kings Highway Facility, Stonewall Large Animal Facility, Sears Research Facility (to be constructed). This person must have good management, communication, and organizational skills, as well as a strong ability to think critically. A high level of technical computer skills is also required. This person must be able to work independently and to establish priorities for the on-going work of this department. This position is supervised directly by the Executive Director of Animal Resources.

Regular attendance is required to perform the functions of this position.

Incumbent will maintain a customer-oriented awareness in acknowledging and responding to needs as they occur that customer satisfaction is met at all times.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

50% MANAGEMENT

• Assures that all animals housed within all animal facilities owned and operated by the LSU Health Science Center Shreveport are maintained in accordance with The Guide, and in accordance with Federal, State and local regulations.
• Creates and maintains Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) that govern the husbandry care of each species of animal housed within all facilities, that govern the operation of each piece of major equipment within all animal facilities, and that govern the general upkeep of all facilities.
• Interfaces with investigators to resolve any animal husbandry problems and to discuss special husbandry needs.
• Monitors environmental conditions within all parts of all animal facilities.
• Is responsible for maintaining the security of all animal facilities.
• Is responsible for maintaining all equipment, both moveable and non-moveable, insuring all in proper working order.
• Is responsible for the inventory of all equipment assigned to Animal Resources to include disposal of any and all equipment no longer needed in the operation of the facility.
• Is responsible for initiating any construction, renovations, or repairs to all animal facilities. This responsibility includes the coordination of any construction, renovations, or repairs with the Physical Plant Department, with investigators who may be impacted by such activity, and with any contractors involved.
• Is responsible for the shipping of animals out of all animal facilities to investigators in other institutions, both domestic and international.
• Is responsible for the receipt of animals into all animal facilities from investigators in other institutions, both domestic and internation.
• Is responsible for the daily operation and security of both Biosafety Level 3 Facilities, one within the main Animal Resource Facility (Biomedical Research Institute Building ) and the second located in the Medical Education Wellness Center.
• Handles all requests for access badges to the entire animal facility. As part of this procedure, completion of ACUC mandated training and enrollment in the institution’s Occupational health Program is required. The Assistant Director confirms this prior to providing a tour of the facility which is the final step prior to requesting an access badge. Completes a semi-annual update of all access badges issued to ensure the access list is current and requests elimination of those badges of employees who have left the institution.
• Supervises the Manager of the Animal Resource Facility when active.
• Will supervise the lead animal technician, BSL-3 Facilities located it the both the BRI and the Medical Education and Wellness Center.

15% COMPLIANCE

• Maintains a ledger depicting the number of animals used on each approved animal use protocol. This includes animals purchased from commercial vendor supplies as well as animals bred in-house.
• Participates in the monthly Risk Assessment Meeting at which time all newly approved animal use protocols and modifications to animal use protocols are reviewed to identify any hazardous agents that the animal care staff may be exposed to. From this meeting, SOPs are created to deal with any potential exposure for each animal protocol approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). The created SOP has a life span of 3 years, the same as the protocol to which it applies. Upon ACUC approval of a new replacement protocol, a new SOP is generated to support the newly approved protocol.
• Interfaces with investigators to resolve any animal husbandry problems, to discuss special husbandry needs and to develop SOPs for providing husbandry care under special conditions.
• Maintains a master file of all such SOPs.
• Maintains an annual data file on expiring protocols.
• Prior to the expiration of an animal use protocol, contacts the principal investigator to ascertain what that individual intends to do with the animals assigned to the expiring protocol. If the animals are to be retained on a new animal protocol, creates new cage cards reflecting the new protocol information.
• Conducts facility tours for all faculty and research staff as part of animal protocol approval and access to the animal facility.

15% FINANCIAL

• Writes specifications for all purchases of facility equipment.
• Writes specifications for all “blanket purchase” orders that deal with recurring expenses such as animal feed, animal cage bedding veterinary supplies, etc.
• Writes specifications for all maintenance contracts that deal with the Facility.
• Assists the Purchasing Department by locating potential sources of supply for animals to be purchased for use within the animal care and use program of this institution.
• Supervises the computation of the monthly per diem charges that are assessed each principal investigator for the housing of animals purchased by them on animal use protocols and housed in the Animal Resource Facility.
• Participates in discussions with the Director and Business Manager in the preparation of the annual budget for Animal Resources.
• Monitors the expenditures and income parts of the annual budget for Animal Resources and makes recommendations in order that the division stays within budget for any fiscal year

10% PERSONNEL

• Recruits personnel to fill vacant positions in the animal husbandry staff.
• Coordinates all personnel actions (leave, disciplinary actions, job evaluations, etc.) for those individuals under his/her supervisory authority.
• Handles all disciplinary actions

5% TRAINING

• In compliance with the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC) and the United States Department of Agriculture, provides training for the various levels of certification of those individuals under his/her supervisory authority and maintains records of that training.

MARGINAL FUNCTONS

5% OTHER

• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Applicant must mee one of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in business, education, veterinary science, animal science, medical or a related field with at least five (5) years of professional post-graduate experience in a professional setting.
• Certification or willingness to achieve certification within 1 year of hiring.
• 5 years of management experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Computer familiarity; personnel management experience; budget experience; exhibits good writing and verbal skills; experience in animal facility design, construction and maintenance; has completed the institutes of laboratory Animal Management (ILAM) (a course of study offered by the America Association fo Laboratory Animal Science) or willingness to undertake course.
• Familiarity with SoftMouse database.

Additional Position Information

PSN/PER Number: PSN 55827/PER 724/ATS 5593

Salary Range: $135,000 - $160,000

Primary Location: Shreveport, LA (on-site position)

About the School

The LSU Systems Office has provided LSU Health-Shreveport employees with excellent benefit options designed with you and your dependents in mind. Our Benefits Section is available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to help answer any questions you might have about these benefits.

LSU Health is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

• Salary is commensurate with experience and training
• Generous Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Optional Retirement Plans

Applicant Instructions

Locate and click on the Apply Online button located at the bottom of the screen, enter your contact information, and upload your resume/CV. If you need assistance applying electronically, please telephone 318-675-5589.

If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you will need special accommodations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $135,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Shreveport, LA 71103 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Shreveport, LA 71103: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $135,000 - $160,000