Department: Ctr for Comparative Medicine
Salary/Grade: NEX/12

Job Summary:

Supervises daily cage wash & animal husbandry activities ensuring 100% adequate & appropriate coverage for all operations & those activities are completed accurately & on time by physically verifying, at the end of current shift, that daily scheduled work has been properly completed.  Ensures that CCM & investigator's staff adhere to all NU, local, state, &/or Federal rules & regulations & that all actions are completed by strictly & consistently following applicable CCM SOPs including safety procedures & guidelines.  Acts as supervisor & completes all associated activities in his/her absence.  Supports other operational areas as requested by senior management.  Provides, on a rotational basis, weekend/holiday coverage as on-site contact person for both husbandry & veterinary staff.

Specific Responsibilities:

Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift, push and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to work staggered shift schedule, overtime, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Must successfully maintain physical condition that will assure efficient performance of tasks, including successful completion of physical examination. This position requires the individual to be available to work on both the Chicago and Evanston campuses as coverage needs dictate.
• Must be enrolled in the university’s occupational health program which entails filling out a health questionnaire. The health questionnaire is submitted to the university’s occupational health provider for review. Must be willing to undergo job related background check.

Supervises daily cage wash activities:

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.  
• Verifies daily at the end of current shift, that all tasks related to cage wash are completed by staff by reviewing production records & sanitization logs; physically verifying that activities have been properly completed; resolving standard problems; & immediately escalating larger problems to management.
• Maintains all operations such that supplies are distributed as needed throughout facility to ensure a smooth and continuous work flow.
• Ensures that equipment is functioning properly, coordinates & oversees necessary maintenance & reports malfunctions to management.

Supervises daily animal husbandry activities:

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.  
• Verifies daily that all tasks related to animal husbandry operations are completed by staff by reviewing animal room activity sheets; physically verifying that activities have been properly completed; resolving standard problems; & immediately escalating larger problems to management.
• Completes all associated documentation accurately & on-time.
• Schedules staff for cage changing & room assignments ensuring adequate & appropriate coverage for all shifts, weekends, & holidays & that staff is rotated in a timely manner.  
• Euthanizes animals according to CCM policy.  
• Interacts with investigators’ staff daily.
• Ensures that bar code scanning in regard to census activities is completed accurately & on time.
• Completes daily animal husbandry activities as necessary in the absence of staff.
• Ensures that equipment is functioning properly, coordinates & oversees necessary maintenance & reports malfunctions to management.

Supervises daily incoming animal activities:

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.  
• Verifies that all tasks related to incoming animals are completed by staff daily, verified by continually updating & maintaining appropriate documentation.
• Completes all associated documentation accurately & on-time.
• Schedules staff for incoming, delivery &/or animal transfers.
• Ensures that all discrepancies are resolved interacting with staff & procurement, receiving & census as appropriate.
• May drive van to transfer animals.

Assists management:    

• Verifies daily attendance of employees ensuring that they are accurately & in a timely manner recording work time & time off including arrival, break, departure, sick, holiday & vacation time.
• Writes & implements SOPs as needed.
• Writes & conducts annual performance evaluations for husbandry staff.
• Provides input for staff development & improvement plans.
• Supervises employees, identifies inappropriate behavior, writes & implements corrective actions as needed.
• Monitors & addresses Building Management System (BMS) & Watchdog alarms in absence of CCM management.
• Provides oversight in the event of emergency &/or absence of CCM management.
• Assists in developing & implementing CCM OJT programs that ensure proper animal care and welfare.  Participates in CCM, NU, local &/or national meetings, management classes, OJTs, etc.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or its equivalent is required along with a minimum of 3 years animal husbandry or equivalent experience (with AALAS certified LAT) or 2 years experience with AA/AS/BS.
• AALAS certified LAT
• Valid state drivers license if driving animal transport van.
• Leads junior level technicians & ensures that all animal caretaking activities are completed by strictly & consistently following applicable CCM SOPs.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.