Job Description

DIRECT HIRE

MUST HAVES:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Animal Science, Management, or equivalent experience with 10+ years of experience in the biomedical/animal research industry
• 8+ years of management experience in operations or animal facility leadership
• Hands-on experience working with lab animals (animal production experience strongly preferred)

Overview

The Laboratory Manager of Animal Operations is a hands-on operational leadership role overseeing day-to-day activities across two animal facilities within the Denver, PA site:

• Denver, PA Campus: Rodents & Poultry (barrier environment, shower-in required )
• Robesonia, PA (Texter Mountain): Rabbits (no shower-in required)

This role directly supports lab animal operations involving rodents, poultry, and rabbits . (NHPs and the surgery suite fall under a different Operations Manager). You will provide visible, floor-based leadership focused on safety, quality, compliance, staffing, and overall operational performance. The role requires strong communication, a high level of situational awareness, and comfort spending significant time in animal housing and barrier areas.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Floor Presence

• Lead daily operations at both Denver and Robesonia campuses.
• Maintain a highly visible leadership presence on the floor.
• Ensure exceptional animal care and compliance with all animal welfare standards.
• Oversee barrier operations:
• Rodents & poultry: Shower-in required.
• Rabbits: No shower-in required.
• Ensure the facility is consistently audit-ready and adheres to all regulatory and accreditation requirements (USDA, AAALAC, SOPs, etc.).

People Management

• Directly manage two Operations Supervisors (one per site) and potentially an administrative staff member.
• Support hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, communication, and continuous improvement.

Financial & Business Operations

• Own operational budgets, cost control, and forecasting activities.
• Monitor KPIs, productivity metrics, and operational performance targets.
• Support customer visits, regulatory inspections, and internal/external audits.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align operations with business strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Regularly partner with:

• Veterinary teams
• Supervisors
• Quality Assurance
• HR / Talent Acquisition
• Customer Service
• Facilities & Engineering
• Senior Leadership

Compliance, Quality & Safety

• Maintain high standards of safety, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive quality improvements and ensure consistent adherence to SOPs.
• Support risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and business continuity planning.

Schedule & Work Environment

• Full on-site role with daily presence required.
• Approximately 50% in meetings/office and 50% in barrier/animal areas .
• Standard hours generally align with 7 AM–4 PM, depending on department needs.
• Expected travel: 2–3 times per year .

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Animal Science, Management, or equivalent experience.
• 8–10 years of management experience in operations or animal facility leadership.
• 10+ years of experience in the biomedical/animal research industry.
• Hands-on experience working with lab animals; animal production experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and oversee complex operations.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Comfortable with a highly hands-on leadership role in animal facilities.

Preferred

• Advanced studies in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies.

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