Animal Facility Manager

Agenda Life Sciences; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job description

Animal Facility Manager

LOCATION: Liverpool
SALARY: £38,249-£45,413
REF: ALS3036

We have an exciting opportunity for an Animal Facility Manager to undertake the day-to-day management and operation of a Life Sciences Support Animal Facility. The successful candidate will be the primary point of contact for Project and Personal Licence holders within the centre and will provide advice and guidance on Home Office regulations. You will be required to provide a professional, high welfare and legislatively compliant service to researchers and a positive, safe working environment for all technical staff.

Basic Requirements:

1. IAT membership and Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience
2. Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) training and qualifications
3. Good understanding of the control and management of disease transfer and biosecurity
4. Highly competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications
5. Home Office Licence modules A,B and C (previously 1-4)
6. Hold a degree, or equivalent in a relevant animal science subject.
7. Experience in all aspects of management and maintenance of an animal unit
8. Familiarity with Health and Safety requirements, COSHH, risk assessment and animal allergy policies
9. Ability to work weekends and participate in out of hours call out
10. Experience of working under ASPA within an animal facility

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Manage a team of technicians who are responsible for the daily husbandry and welfare of animals
2. Liaise and communicate with licensees and the named vet to ensure the highest level of health care is provided and maintained for all animals
3. Order equipment and consumables on the universities e-procurement system
4. Manage staff rotas, overtime and annual leave on the LJMU Software
5. Regularly attend health and safety committee meetings, reviewing any relevant issues to the facility
6. Be an active member of the Animal Facility Steering Group, which meets quarterly and manages the activities and oversees the use of the animal unit for research and teaching purposes
7. Attend laboratory practicals where rodents from the LSSU are being used by undergraduates. Demonstrate handling techniques and husbandry to the students
8. Manage a large, multi-user research space which incorporates office space, wet lab, animal housing, surgical and procedural rooms
9. Ensure the waste stream is adequate, compliant and any delays in collection are quickly acted upon to prevent backlog
10. Act as NACWO for the day-to-day care of animals and for all regulated and non-regulated projects conducted within the facility
11. Supervise honours students using the LSSU, carrying out induction and reviewing risk assessments before commencement
12. Be the first point of contact for project and personal licence holders, to provide advice and answer queries relating to Home Office regulations
13. Coordinate the research conducted within the facility including use of facility space
14. Assess study plans to ensure appropriate allocation of resources and liaise with researchers and technical staff
15. Recruit, organise and manage a team of technicians, creating work schedules and assignments and ensuring sufficient staff cover to care for animals at all times
16. Manage staff performance including probations, staff review and development and identifying necessary training