Senior Officer, Animal Operations

Competition 1968

This position is part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Administrative and Professional Officer Agreement, this position has a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary range of $69,169 to $115,281.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the University of Alberta’s Animal Care and Use Program

The University of Alberta’s Animal Care and Use Program, under the direction of the University Veterinarian, is responsible for providing support to the animal-based research and teaching community associated with the University of Alberta and its affiliates through its veterinary services team, Research Integrity Support compliance team, and its animal facilities. The University of Alberta is committed to providing excellence in support to all UA faculty, staff and trainees with accountability, communication, cooperation, customer service and integrity. 

The North Campus Animal Services Facility is composed of three operationally consolidated animal facilities, namely, the Health Sciences Facility, the Biosciences Facility and the Centre for Prion Diseases and services to Alternate Animal Housing sites, encompassing over 100,000 square feet (~9200 sq.M) on the University’s North Campus.

Position Summary

The Senior Officer, Animal Operations, NCAS, provides strategic and operational leadership for animal care services at the North Campus Animal Services (NCAS) facilities. Reporting to the Director, Operations this role ensures the delivery of efficient, high-quality, and compliant animal care services that align with the University of Alberta’s mission of research excellence. This position is instrumental in integrating strategic program planning with operational execution to meet the diverse and evolving needs of the research community, while maintaining adherence to Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) standards and institutional policies.

Operating within a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment, the Senior Officer is responsible for managing and optimizing the performance of animal care staff across multiple facilities, including the Health Sciences Facility, the Biosciences Facility, and the Centre for Prion Diseases. The role involves strategic resource planning, development and implementation of animal care protocols, and ensuring compliance with regulatory, health, safety, and welfare standards.

Duties 

Operations Management

• Strategic Leadership of Operations: Oversee and coordinate daily operations across NCAS facilities, ensuring the seamless integration of animal care services with ongoing and future research projects. Develop and implement operational plans to address current needs and anticipate future challenges.  Includes directing and participating in on-call rotations for animal facilities.
• Staff Leadership and Development: Provide direct supervision and mentorship to animal care technicians, team leads, and support staff. Set clear performance expectations, deliver constructive feedback, and support professional development to foster a skilled and motivated workforce.
• Resource Optimization: Strategically allocate staff, equipment, and facility resources to support a wide range of research projects and timelines. Monitor and adjust resource plans to meet evolving research priorities while maintaining service quality and compliance standards.
• Operational Problem-Solving: Act as the primary decision-maker for resolving complex operational issues related to animal care, welfare, and facility functionality. Proactively address challenges and escalate unresolved issues to the Director as necessary.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Monitor facility operations to ensure strict adherence to CCAC and institutional policies. Conduct regular reviews and audits to uphold animal welfare standards, operational consistency, and research support quality.

Strategic Program Planning

• Support Strategic Goals: Collaborate closely with the Director to define and implement strategic initiatives, ensuring NCAS facilities remain aligned with the University’s long-term goals for animal research.
• Develop Programs and SOPs: Create, update, and implement operational protocols and programs that support high standards of animal care, compliance, and researcher satisfaction. Develops a comprehensive training program for new staff and an enhanced skills development program for experienced staff.
• Drive Innovation: Identify and implement new technologies, equipment, and best practices that enhance operational efficiency, animal welfare, and research support.
• Team Objectives and Development: Set performance objectives and deliver professional development opportunities for the animal care team to meet evolving industry and institutional standards.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Coordinate with university veterinarians, research staff, and other departments to ensure the integration of new processes and respond to changing research demands.

Compliance and Safety

• Adherence to Regulatory Standards:  Ensure all NCAS operations meet or exceed CCAC guidelines, provincial and federal animal care regulations, and university policies and mitigating compliance risks.
• Safety Culture and Training: Develop and reinforce a strong safety culture, providing training and resources for staff to maintain high standards in occupational health and animal welfare.
• Risk Management: Conduct regular facility and operational risk assessments, implementing improvements or corrective actions as needed and collaborating with health and safety offices for compliance.
• Emergency Preparedness: As part of the Senior leadership team of NCAS, contribute to the establishment of emergency protocols, including on-call response processes for issues such as system failures, animal health crises, and environmental or equipment emergencies.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Primary Contact for Researchers: Serve as the main point of contact for investigators, providing support on protocols, facility capabilities, and specialized service requests, including equipment or staffing needs.
• Internal and External Relationship Building: Foster strong working relationships with researchers, veterinary staff, and other stakeholders, ensuring collaborative problem-solving and responsive service.
• Communication and Outreach: Regularly communicate facility policies, updates, and operational changes to staff and researchers, ensuring transparency and alignment with institutional objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead initiatives to adapt and enhance service offerings based on researcher feedback, new technologies, and evolving standards in animal care.
• Compliance Support: Serves as or delegates appropriately the role of facility participation on the University’s Animal Care and Use Committees, providing representation of the facility perspective to the ethical review of AUPs conducted within the NCAS.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences, Animal Biology, or related field and a business, management or leadership certificate.  Master’s-level CALAS certification or industry training, along with CALAS membership is preferred.  Laboratory Animal Management certificate provided by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Management (ILAM) through the AALAS education program would be a valuable asset.
• Experience: 5-7 years of experience, in a supervisory capacity in animal care, colony management, husbandry, biosecurity, training management required.  Experience including handling of diverse species and relevant research protocols in an academic research setting.
• Leadership and Supervisory Skills: 5-7 years of experience managing diverse, unionized teams, including hiring, training, performance management, and strategic leadership in a complex environment. Knowledge of Collective Agreements and HR best practices is essential.
• Strategic and Operational Planning: Proven experience experience, with a track record of implementing improvements to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and meet evolving research needs.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with faculty, veterinarians, research staff, and external stakeholders to support the animal care program. Proven ability to work within a collaborative framework, engaging with university veterinarians and other research support teams to meet shared goals without direct reporting authority. Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving in a team setting, able to navigate complex relationships within a research institution.
• Organizational and Project Management: Exceptional organizational, time management, and project management skills, with the ability to make decisions under pressure while handling multiple priorities.
• Confidentiality and Compliance: Adheres strictly to confidentiality standards and university policies, including annual Conflict of Interest Declaration, Criminal Records Check, and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.