Offer Description
The CaixaResearch Institute is set to become a leading international research centre in the translational study of immunology and the most prevalent diseases. The centre will conduct its own research focused on studying how the immune system works when it interacts with pathologies, such as neurological, oncological, metabolic and infectious diseases, as well as analysing related environmental factors.
The Institute’s mission will be accomplished by prioritising a multi- and interdisciplinary approach, the development of cutting-edge technologies and the transfer of results to society. The Institute will establish the necessary procedures to guarantee that all the activities carried out by its community will comply with the values of transparency, accountability, scientific excellence, integrity and ethics, equity and inclusion.
Position Summary:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the effective organization and management of the facility, ensuring high standards of animal care and welfare, regulatory compliance, appropriate use of resources, and a reliable service to the Institute's research groups.
During the establishment of the new animal house, the Animal House Manager will contribute to defining operational workflows, equipment and infrastructure requirements, procedures, and regulatory readiness. Once operational, the role will coordinate the facility team and activities, manage capacity and resources, and act as the main operational point of contact between the Animal House and its users.
The ideal candidate will combine solid experience in laboratory animal facilities with strong organizational, people-management, and service-oriented skills.
Key responsibilities and duties
- Manage the day-to-day operation of the Animal House, ensuring the facility provides a reliable, efficient, and high-quality service.
- Coordinate the animal care and technical team, including work organization, responsibilities, schedules, training, and development.
- Oversee animal husbandry, breeding, colony management, health monitoring, and associated activities, ensuring appropriate standards of animal welfare.
- Manage facility capacity and resources, including animal rooms, cages, equipment, consumables, and technical requirements.
- Coordinate with research groups to plan animal housing and experimental requirements and ensure that requests are compatible with available capacity and facility procedures.
- Contribute to the setup and commissioning of the new Animal House, including operational workflows, equipment requirements, SOPs, documentation, and preparation for regulatory authorization.
- Ensure compliance with applicable animal welfare, biosafety, health and safety, and regulatory requirements.
- Work closely with the designated veterinarian, animal welfare and ethics bodies, biosafety structures, and other relevant institutional functions.
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve SOPs, records, operational procedures, and quality standards.
- Support implementation of the 3Rs and identify practical opportunities to improve animal welfare and experimental practices.
- Coordinate maintenance, servicing, and appropriate use of Animal House equipment and infrastructure, working with internal teams and external providers as necessary.
- Monitor facility usage and relevant operational indicators and contribute to budgeting, capacity planning, procurement, and resource allocation.
- Collaborate with other scientific platforms when coordination is required for research activities involving animals.
- Act as the main operational contact for Animal House users, supporting good communication between research groups and facility staff.
Requirements
Research Field: All
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Minimum experience
- At least five years of relevant experience in a laboratory animal facility or equivalent environment.
- Demonstrated experience in the coordination or management of animal facility operations and staff.
Minimum education and field of expertise
- Master's degree in veterinary science, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Appropriate training and/or accreditation in laboratory animal science and animal welfare.
Technical skills
- Extensive experience in laboratory animal care, husbandry, breeding, and colony management.
- Experience organizing the day-to-day operation of an animal facility, including staffing, capacity, equipment, consumables, workflows, and user requirements.
- Good knowledge of animal welfare and the 3Rs principles: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.
- Knowledge of the regulatory framework applicable to animals used for scientific purposes, particularly Directive 2010/63/EU and Spanish Royal Decree 53/2013, and associated institutional procedures.
- Experience with animal facility or colony management software and good general digital proficiency.
- Experience developing and maintaining SOPs, operational documentation, and records.
- Familiarity with genetically modified animals and common research models would be valued.
- Advanced level of English and Spanish. Catalan will also be valued.
Soft skills
- Strong organizational and people-management skills.
- Ability to coordinate and motivate technical and animal care staff.
- Strong service orientation and ability to work effectively with researchers.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Practical problem-solving ability and good judgement in operational situations.
- Ability to prioritize competing demands and manage resources in a research environment.
- Proactive attitude and commitment to continuous improvement.
Languages: English (Excellent), Spanish (Good).
Additional Information
Benefits
- An Inspiring Mission: Contribute to a new, innovative institute driving groundbreaking discoveries and being part of a team committed to advancing biomedical research with a focus on immunology’s transformative potential.
- A Supportive Culture: Work in an inclusive environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
- Professional Development: Permanent position with a competitive salary along with a benefits package, and opportunities to grow your career through mentoring, networking, and specialized training.
- Positive working environment: Experience a supportive and inclusive culture that facilitates work-life balance and promotes collaboration among all employees.
Selection process
- Preselection based on CV and relevant experience.
- Initial online call, technical interview, on-site interview, final interview.
- Job offer communicated to the selected candidate after completion of the process.
Work Location
Barcelona, Spain
