Operations Manager

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Animal Husbandry, Animal Research, Budgeting, Coaching, Corrective Action, Cost Control, Documentation, Grant Writing, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Medicine, Onboarding, Operations, Operations Management, People Management, Problem Solving Skills, Procedure Implementation, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Sanitation, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Training Program, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Public Health Service, Veterinary Medicine
LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
POSTED
10 days ago
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

About the Company

T

Temple University