Director of Animal Welfare Services

Director of Animal Welfare Services

Job no: 528349
Work type: Officer of Administration
Location: Eugene, OR
Categories: Research/Scientific/Grants, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Department: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: Starts at $95,000 per year
Compensation Band: OS-OA10-Fiscal Year 2021-2022
FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins
October 25, 2021; position open until filled.

Special Instructions to Applicants
With your online application, please provide a resume and a cover letter describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications.

Please submit the names and contact information for three professional references. Candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.

Department Summary
The University of Oregon (UO) holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities (AAU). In 2014, the University launched an ambitious fundraising campaign focused on supporting faculty excellence in teaching and research, creating access for outstanding students, and enriching the student experience. In 2017, the UO received a very generous $500M gift for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, which has resulted in a state-of-the-art research building and the arrival of new research-intensive faculty.

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) serves as an advocate and catalyst within the University for expanding the range and impact of UO's research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. The OVPRI also oversees sponsored programs, research compliance, technology transfer, and research development and administrative responsibility for numerous high-profile research centers and institutes and core research facilities, which provide opportunities for faculty across the university to collaborate on research efforts that are inherently interdisciplinary, and of significant societal importance.

Animal Welfare Services (AWS) is responsible for managing and administrating a centralized program of laboratory animal care compliant with all local, state, and Federal regulations surrounding animal utilization in research, teaching, and testing, including but not limited to the Animal Welfare Act, the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research and Training. AWS is implementing a new electronic submission system for IACUC.

The University of Oregon values diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to hiring individuals who share these values. To be considered, candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the barriers facing women and people of color, and describe their experience and future plans to promote equity and inclusion.

Position Summary
The Director of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) provides support to the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee) in the service of research excellence and compliance with legal requirements, and advice on best practices, including organizing and maintaining IACUC communication and records. This position provides guidance to University of Oregon researchers on best practices for performing research that is compliant with all relevant animal care and use regulations and assists researchers in resolving barriers to compliance, including helping them develop protocols that are likely to obtain IACUC approval and guiding them through the approval process.

The Director facilitates cooperative agreements among the University of Oregon and collaborating institutions for research involving vertebrate animals. The successful finalist will be adept in proactive and solutions-oriented customer service, team-oriented, detail-oriented, and outcomes-focused, and will have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

This position reports to the Associate Vice President for Research Operations and will be responsible to supervise AWS staff.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
  
• Certification as Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA) OR one year of ‘relevant IACUC experience' per PRIM&R and the ability to sit for the CPIA within one year of hire.
  
• Five years of experience working with the ethical principles, federal regulations, agency guidelines, and nationally accepted standards for animal research, as well as other agency-specific requirements, and familiarity with typical university contracts and agreements relating to the IACUC
  
  Professional Competencies
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state reporting criteria associated with animal programs
  
• Highly developed knowledge of humane care, management, and housing of animals with an understanding of standards and guidelines as established by institutional, local, state, national, and international regulations and AAALAC International
  
• Demonstrated ability to maintain knowledge of changing policies, regulations, and guidance and to implement changes into local practices
  
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage employees
  
• Highly developed interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills to interact with a variety of stakeholders
  
• Commitment to transparency, diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism
  
• Ability to promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement
  
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills and ability to set appropriate priorities between multiple concurrent tasks
  
• Proficiency with information technology, including web, word processing, data entry, specialized programs, and managing electronic information
  
• Ability to solve problems independently as well as in a collaborative team environment and represent the university in an appropriate and professional manner
  
• Demonstrated ability to enable new investigative techniques while meeting compliance requirements. Commitment to advancing the university's research goals in creating a facilitative environment for research while navigating an increasingly complex research compliance environment
  
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds
  
  Preferred Qualifications
  
• Animal welfare experience working in a research-intensive institution of higher education with AAALAC accreditation
  
• Thorough knowledge of vivarium methodology and operations
  
• Experience conducting presentations at national and international specialty meetings and/or media relations
  
• Experience as a member of an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
  
• Experience with electronic IACUC protocol submission systems
  
• Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA)
  
• Proven track record of success facilitating progressive organizational change and development within a growing organization
  
• Demonstrated proficiency in a broad range of research compliance areas, including in-depth knowledge of the federal and state regulatory framework governing animal subject research
  
  FLSA Exempt: Yes
  
  All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background inquiry.
  
  The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.
  
  The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
  
  UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.
  
  In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at http://police.uoregon.edu/annual-report.
  
  
  
  To apply, visit https://careers.uoregon.edu/en-us/job/528349/director-of-animal-welfare-services
  
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