Husbandry Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Husbandry Manager leads the day-to-day operations of the animal care program and is accountable for the welfare of the nonhuman primate (NHP) colony, the performance of the husbandry team, and compliance with all applicable regulations and internal SOPs. This role manages supervisors, team leads, and technicians; partners closely with Veterinary Services, Behavior & Welfare, QA, Facilities, and Client Services; and drives a culture of safety, compassion, and continuous improvement aligned with the Animal Welfare Act, USDA regulations, AAALAC standards, and The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

DUTIES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own operations across animal care areas; ensure schedules, staffing, and resources meet colony needs.
• Lead and develop supervisors, team leads, and technicians; set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and coach for results.
• Ensure exceptional animal welfare, sanitation, feeding, enrichment, and documentation to SOP/GLP/AAALAC standards.
• Partner with Veterinary Services on health observations; escalate concerns promptly.
• Oversee training, onboarding, and competency signoffs.
• Plan and execute audits/inspections; maintain audit readiness and support corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Use metrics (e.g., compliance scores, rechecks, incident trends) to identify risks and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate census, housing, and sanitation records; verify data integrity in colony/animal management systems.
• Recruit, select, and retain talent; support a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment.
• Collaborate cross-functionally (Behavior & Welfare, QA, Client Services, Facilities) to meet operational and client commitments.
• Perform routine animal care and husbandry as needed to support operations.

SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee Husbandry staff, scheduling, ordering supplies

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in an animal vivarium/regulated research environment required; direct NHP experience required.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience supervising supervisors/leads and multi-shift teams required.
• Demonstrated experience with USDA/AAALAC compliance, SOP program management, audits/inspections, and CAPA leadership.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Must be able to read, write, and interpret documents including task descriptions, standard operating procedures, and other instructions.
• Bilingual for Spanish is preferred, but not required
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong analytical and organizational skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Proof of measles vaccination or updated titers prior to animal contact.
• Current tuberculosis screening prior to animal contact; annual TB screening required.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and to stand/walk for extended periods; ability to kneel, crouch, or climb as needed.
• Visual acuity to safely handle chemicals, cleaners, biologics, and sharps; successful N95 respirator fit test per SOPs.
• Required to shower into barrier facilities and wear appropriate PPE as described by SOPs.
• Ability to work in ambient temperatures that may exceed 90°F and outdoors as required.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to disinfectants, chemicals, biologics, infectious agents (BSL-1/BSL-2), animal dander, and dust.
• Work in normal scientific laboratory and vivarium conditions; may encounter unpleasant odors; strict adherence to EHS practices required.