Advertising Summary: The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) and the Division of Animal Resources (DAR) invite applicants to apply for an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Assistant Vivarium Manager. This is a full-time, restricted University and Academic Professional position based within DAR facilities.
The Assistant Vivarium Manager assists with overseeing the daily operations of an assigned vivarium, ensuring the humane care and well-being of laboratory animals in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, as well as university policies and procedures. In the absence of the Vivarium Manager, this position serves as the manager’s designee, providing operational continuity, staff oversight, and ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, with scheduled hours between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Weekend and holiday work may be required based on departmental needs.
Unit: VP Research MBU
Department: Animal Care Facility
Department Summary: Welcome to VCU ... a world unlike any other.
We combine learning, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the 30 “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs.
Here, your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay and mission-driven work. We advance a conscientious drive to support a climate where excellence and success for all people are valued and differences are celebrated.
Together, we can be unstoppable!
Office of Research & Innovation, Division of Animal Resources invites applicants to apply for an outstanding opportunity to join our Husbandry Team as an Assistant Vivarium Manager.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Conduct accurate daily observations and reporting of animal health and cage elements for multiple species housed within DAR vivaria (food, water, and bedding). Provide basic animal husbandry (i.e., cage, water and food change), cage/animal census, and room/vivarium/cage wash housekeeping activities. Participate in staff training and employee health and safety programs. Follow the VCU Code of conduct to offer a consistently high quality of customer service. When the Vivarium Manager is not available, will act in their stead. Supervise daily activities within the assigned vivarium / vivaria, following the applicable federal, state, local and university policies. Direct daily activities of animal care technicians ensuring that husbandry tasks are completed correctly and in a timely fashion (e.g., receiving animals, feeding and watering). Direct daily activities of animal care technicians ensuring that husbandry tasks are completed correctly and in a timely fashion (e.g., receiving animals, feeding and watering, when the Vivarium manager is unavailable.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Ability to follow both oral and written instructions required.
- Significant experience working in an animal care facility, either in laboratory or clinic.
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs. easily.
- Be able to stand for long periods of time up to one hour.
- Interact with animals for long periods of time.
- Required to handle animals safely and to coexist with animals.
- Be able to disinfect walls, floors, and cages; to daily inspect rooms and determine when supplies are needed.
- Must be able to properly handle and apply chemicals safely during room cleaning processes.
- Required to wear any protective clothing or materials as needed.
- Must be able to observe and respond to situations in an appropriate manner.
- Required to be able to meet deadlines.
- Minimum of 3 years working with laboratory animals required.
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications
- AALAS certification at LAT level preferred, or 5 years laboratory animal husbandry experience, or ALAT certification and 3 years laboratory animal husbandry experience.
Salary Range: $54,000-$57,0000
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
University Job Title: 34031N - Asst Vivarium Manager RS 1
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Niki Boyd
Contact Email: tsboyd@vcu.edu
