Research Colony Operations Manager

Position Summary/Description:

The Colony Manager leads the daily operations of the canine and swine research colonies at the Francis Owen Blood Research Laboratory (FOBRL) to ensure predictable colony performance, high standards of animal welfare, and seamless integration of clinical care and research activities. Serving as a working operational leader, this role supervises technicians involved in animal care while providing advanced technical expertise in emergency care, hemostasis management, and breeding execution. The position collaborates closely with the Associate Director, Director/Principal Investigator (PI), veterinarians, and research teams to translate study requirements into coordinated colony workflows, scheduling, and documentation that support timely clinical decision-making. The Colony Manager leads SOP development, electronic medical record (EMR) integration, and resource optimization to improve efficiency, strengthen cross-team communication, and maintain regulatory compliance while promoting a professional and transparent team culture. The Colony Manager functions as the operational integrator of clinical, research, and colony systems to support long-term, consistent, high-quality program outcomes.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum four years of experience supporting large animal research or clinical programs, including participation in regulated research environments.
• Experience with canine and/or swine colony operations, including breeding coordination, breeding techniques, whelping, maternal and neonatal care.

Essential Skills:

• Clinical & Technical Capability: Demonstrated veterinary technician experience supporting large animal clinical care and research procedures, including emergency response and medication administration.
• Operational Coordination: Ability to organize and coordinate daily colony activities, maintain accurate records, and support population planning within research and space constraints.
• Supervision: Experience providing day-to-day direction, training and mentorship to technical staff and reinforcing consistent professional and clinical practices.
• Documentation & Compliance Awareness: Ability to follow and support SOPs, maintain documentation, and work within regulated research environments (e.g., IACUC, USDA, AAALAC, DEA).
• Collaboration & Communication: Ability to work effectively across veterinary, husbandry, and research teams, using clear communication and sound professional judgment.

AA/EEO Statement:

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.