Animal Care & Veterinary Technician Supervisor at Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Animal Care & Veterinary Technician Supervisor to lead our dedicated care staff and ensure that all animals receive the highest standard of care and attention. The Supervisor will oversee and manage a team of skilled technical and animal care staff, as well as veterinary services supervisors, who are engaged in specialized tasks requiring advanced technical expertise in the care and handling of laboratory animals used in biomedical research programs.

The Role:

• Manage, supervise, and lead the day-to-day activities of assigned employees.
• Plan work schedules, assign tasks, coordinate workload, and provide priorities.
• Develop, initiate and lead work projects for the development and implementation of process improvements, and policies and procedures that promote Texas Biomed's core values and align with strategic goals.
• Coach, mentor, motivate and lead assigned employees influencing them to take positive action and be accountable for assigned responsibilities.
• Support personal and career development opportunities and advancement.
• Provide guidance and make recommendations concerning talent acquisition and retention, employee relations and employment terminations, performance management (goals, promotions, demotions, reviews, salary adjustments) for relevant teams.
• Assist leaders in identifying opportunities to streamline, improve, and/or automate business processes while actively implementing changes as needed.
• Maintain regular communication with leaders and reporting employees related to upcoming tasks and deadlines and assist as needed.
• Consult leadership regarding human resources and operational concerns.
• Oversee the recording of data for daily reports such as husbandry records (sanitation, feeding, animal observations), clinical observations of animals, case record management, inventory reports, and other task related reporting.
• Assure that assigned staff follow and comply with standards of veterinary care and properly execute IACUC approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and research activities.
• Monitor job performance of reporting employees and ensure the level of work meets expectations for compliance with sanitation, primate housing standards, animal observation and reporting, clinical assistance and care to the veterinary group.
• Manage all aspects of technical and animal care program related duties.
• Administer the technical and animal care training program to include: determining the appropriate training, scheduling training sessions, and maintaining competency requirements.
• Assist in the development and training of SOPs pertaining to the area of technical/ animal husbandry specialization.
• Be knowledgeable of rules and guidelines set forth by regulatory bodies such as OLAW, NIH, IACUC, and USDA.
• Consult with veterinarians on animal husbandry and clinical care to assure the correct personnel and workforce are assigned to tasks; and make suggestions for continual improvement of processes.
• Participate in and prepare for on-site IACUC, USDA and AAALAC inspections and incumbent is responsible for the subsequent coordination of corrective actions.
• Communicate clearly through oral and written means with those supervised, veterinarians, peers and principal investigators.
• Maintain a close working relationship with the veterinary faculty and institutional leaders.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Attend continuing education courses.
• Control inventory by ordering all supplies that are necessary for animal care, clinical care and welfare, as well as office and research/clinical purposes and safety supplies. Assure the availability of equipment for studies.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. An associate degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience working with animals is required. Of those, at least two (2) years must be in a veterinary technician role, ideally in a medical or research setting. Basic technical skills are essential, with advanced technical abilities preferred. Proven supervisory experience is required, preferably overseeing medical or technical staff working with non-human primates.
• Certification/License: Texas Operators Driver's License with good driving record required. AALAS Certification at the LAT level or Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) required. LATg certification preferred.

RESEARCH SKILLS:

• Ability to manage diverse teams demonstrating effective management and supervisory skills – communication, leadership, teaching, mentoring, organization, planning, budgeting, goal setting and meeting objectives.
• Ability to direct and train a team across demanding and changing deliverables; and implement internal process changes to meet updated requirements.
• Knowledge/ability to demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of adaptability; the ability to organize the work of others; and supervise and coordinate the husbandry and technical aspects across multiple segments of a research program involving laboratory animals.
• Must have excellent computer skills; Competent MS Office skills including Outlook, Excel and Word.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed within standard clinical, laboratory and/or office environment which may be on-campus, a pre-approved remote location, and/or a combination of both as needed and determined by business necessity and organizational leaders. Work involves strenuous physical activities of various kinds with continuous exposure to hazardous substances, potentially dangerous situations, unpleasant work conditions such as exposure to unpleasant odors or adverse weather conditions.

Who We Are:

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is one of the world's leading independent biomedical research institutions dedicated to advancing global human health through innovative biomedical research. Texas Biomed aims to unravel the mysteries of infectious diseases through innovative thinking, creative problem solving and cutting-edge technologies. The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) provides broad services in primate research. We are one of seven National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) with specialized technologies, capabilities and primate resources, many of which are unique to the SNPRC.

What We Can Offer You:

• Competitive pay
• 7% Employer-Funded retirement contribution starting day one
• Full insurance benefits
• Holidays, PTO and a paid week off in the last week of December
• Onsite Gym & Medical Clinic!
• We are proud of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging!

Texas Biomedical Research Institute provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

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