Operations Manager

Temple University's LKSOM: Central Animal Facilities division is searching for an Operations Manager!

Become a part of the Temple family, and you will have access to the following:
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 and so much more!

Salary Grade: T28
Learn more about the "T" salary structure here: https://careers.temple.edu/sites/careers/files/documents/T_Salary_Structure.pdf
A variety of important factors are reviewed by HR when considering salary, including job duties, the applicant's education and experience, all relevant internal equity considerations, department budget, and funding source.

Position Summary
The Operations Manager will report to 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.

Essential Functions:

The ULAR Husbandry Operations Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing daily animal husbandry operations within an AAALAC-accredited laboratory animal facility that houses rodents, aquatics, reptiles, and USDA-covered species. 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.

The Operations Manager duties will include managing and providing oversight of departmental husbandry services section and husbandry training programs; formulating and maintaining compliance with departmental procedures; assisting with budgeting, grant preparation and renovation projects; preparing for regulatory departmental site visits; and supervising staff.

The Operations Manager will also be working 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; providing on-the-job training for new and current husbandry supervisors/managers; assuring equipment is purchased to meet the service function and that all equipment is installed properly; and providing recommendations to the Director regarding husbandry-related cost containment measures and improvements needed in the husbandry section. Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Care and Welfare

• 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
  • 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.

Regulatory Compliance and Accreditation

• 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

Leadership and Staff Management

• 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

Operational Oversight

• 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

SOPs and Quality Assurance

• 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

Facility, Equipment, and Biosecurity

• 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

Inventory and Resource Management

• 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

Safety and Occupational Health

• 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

Communication and Collaboration

• 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

Required Education and Experience
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.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Required Skills and Abilities
*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.

Preferred
*Master's Degree in related life sciences field.
*Experience with Sirius management system or similar.

This position will be on-site.

Temple University: Temple University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Compliance Statement: In the performance of their functions as detailed in the position description employees have an obligation to avoid ethical, legal, financial and other conflicts of interest to ensure that their actions and outside activities do not conflict with their primary employment responsibilities at the institution. Employees are also expected to understand and be in compliance with applicable laws, University and employment policies and regulations, including NCAA regulations for areas and departments which their essential functions cause them to interact.

Temple University's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains statistics, policies, and procedures related to campus safety. Go here to review.

You may request a copy of the report by calling Temple University's Department of Public Safety at 215-204-7900.