Vivarium Operations Specialist

$84,450 - $104,250/Yr

Arc Institute - Palo Alto, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Palo Alto, CA

51-100 employees

About the position

The Arc Institute is seeking a Vivarium Operations Specialist to join the Vivarium Operations team within the Scientific Operations function. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting research efforts across multiple labs at Arc, while ensuring a high standard of compliance and regulation. This position is integral to maintaining the welfare of research animals and supporting the scientific community at Arc. In this role, you will lead Arc's colony management program, which includes maintaining and overseeing breeding colonies of research animals and helping to establish and maintain an animal database. You will serve as the administrator for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), responsible for maintaining all IACUC record-keeping, performing inspections, and fulfilling other duties as needed. Additionally, you will provide in vivo training for researchers and staff, covering essential skills such as rodent handling, anesthesia, euthanasia, aseptic surgery, and specialized training techniques like injections and oral gavage. Your responsibilities will also include maintaining inventories of vivarium supplies and keeping track of expiration dates, performing facility and equipment sanitation to ensure compliance with industry standards, and managing communication with husbandry vendors and staff. You will be deeply involved in day-to-day issue resolution and communication with investigators, graduate students, and staff regarding vivarium operations, animal health, non-compliance, and husbandry. Alternate responsibilities for Vivarium Operations functions may be assigned as needed, along with other duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Arc's colony management program by maintaining and overseeing breeding colonies of research animals.
• Establish and maintain an animal database.
• Serve as the administrator for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and maintain all IACUC record-keeping.
• Perform inspections and other duties as needed for IACUC compliance.
• Provide in vivo training for researchers and staff, including rodent handling, anesthesia, euthanasia, aseptic surgery, and specialized training.
• Maintain inventories of vivarium supplies and track expiration dates.
• Perform facility and equipment sanitation to ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Communicate and manage husbandry vendors and staff effectively.
• Resolve day-to-day issues and communicate with investigators, graduate students, and staff regarding vivarium operations, animal health, and non-compliance.
• Alternate responsibilities for Vivarium Operations functions as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in biology or animal sciences or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum four (4) years of experience working with laboratory animals (rodents), with at least two (2) years experience with colony management, animal health, and vivarium operations.
• Computer skills required using several applications: Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Softmouse.
• Ability to meet physical demands of the job - long periods of standing, sitting, walking, and lifting moderately heavy items (approx. 50 lbs.).
• Ability to work independently as well as be a team player.
• Excellent organization, communication and record-keeping skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Current AALAS certification (ALAT, LAT, or LATg).
• Knowledge of the principles of disease transmission, prevention and control and how they relate to colony management.

Benefits

• Annual discretionary bonus based on individual and institute performance factors.