Senior Manager, Animal Resources

Colossal is seeking a Senior Manager of Animal Resources who will perform a wide range of technical and administrative activities. Those activities serve to support Colossal’s effective animal care operations including husbandry operations, record keeping, regulatory compliance, and vivarium operations. This role ensures compliance and standards are met with regulatory and accrediting bodies. The Senior Manager will support the Animal Husbandry Team by ensuring they have the tools and support to perform their responsibilities and deliver high animal welfare standards. 

**This position is based in Dallas, TX, with ~20% travel required. Relocation assistance is available.**

Duties and Responsibilities:

Colossal is looking for a talented, experienced animal care and research leader with proven expertise for the following duties: 

• Responsible for the overall management and coordination of an animal research facility including animal care, management, welfare, and the allocation of resources to support the overall research goals
• Manage and lead a team of animal care professionals in their efforts to provide optimal welfare 
• Act as or coordinate with the Attending Veterinarian to ensure all aspects of animal health are at or above the high standards set forth by Colossal and all accrediting bodies
• Responsible for maintaining and managing medical supplies and equipment.
• Coordinate with contract veterinarians to schedule and plan all animal medical procedures.
• Review requests from researchers and coordinate scheduling to ensure needed supportive care is provided by the animal care team. Engage productively with research teams to achieve programmatic goals while ensuring best outcomes and compliance.
• Ensure that species-specific environmental, nutritional and social enrichment programs are executed in an effective and sustainable manner.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor the maintenance schedule for medical & diagnostic equipment, inventory of in-house testing supplies, and facilitate required regulatory inspections.
• Provide leadership support & workflow evaluation for veterinary medical and diagnostic procedures.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory agencies including overseeing and/or participating in all IACUC meetings as well as ensuring smooth coordination for new IACUC requests
• Budget Management: Responsible for operating facility and care needs within operating costs. Prepare and monitor annual budgets on a quarterly basis.
• Bio-surveillance: Ensure species appropriate quarantine and quarterly bio- surveillance testing programs are followed to protect colony health.
• Biosecurity: Oversee staff training to reduce risk of introduction of agents of concern. Organize and manage rooms by health status to promote biosecurity.
• Proficiency with computerized medical and animal care record keeping systems.
• Develop, evaluate, implement, & ensure compliance of departmental SOPs.
• Lead department projects as assigned.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt quickly as the needs of the animal collection develop
• In-depth and current knowledge of diagnostic equipment and technologies

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Expertise in managing operations with an emphasis on veterinary and animal care.
• Knowledge of and connections in the field of wildlife medicine and animal husbandry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Practiced interpersonal and critical thinking skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong emotional intelligence and passion for building relationships across all levels of an organization and with outside partners.
• Ability to function well in a growth-oriented, nimble environment.
• Proven leadership skills, including a successful track record of leading teams.

Education and Experience:

• BA/BS in biological sciences or related field. 
• Preferred Licensed Veterinary Technician or DVM
• 10+ years working in the veterinary and animal care field with 3+ years in a leadership role.