Position: Floor Leader (Must have AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician certification – Level I LAT or Level II LATG)

Description: Under the direction of the Project Manager and the Assistant Project Manager(s) the Floor leader will be responsible for all activities required for the proper care and maintenance of FDA/CBER animals and facilities. This person shall be responsible for coordinating/supervising all Animal Caretaker services performed under this contract. This position will require knowledge of record keeping, animal related technical and husbandry procedures, facility operation including cage wash, animal health and disease and sanitation processes including autoclaving. This position will assist with training animal technicians and caretakers in the various means of proper animal husbandry and care. Shall receive animal observation record sheets for health issues and notify researchers of these issues. Shall follow up on health issues with animal care staff. This position will also perform routine animal husbandry.

Requirements: Candidate must have a high school diploma and shall be knowledgeable of and able to perform all animal caretaker duties. Must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in laboratory animal husbandry. Level I shall be certified at the Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) and Level II shall be certified at the Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) – at the time of employment by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. All employees are considered essential and must report to work even in inclement weather. Weekend and holiday duties required and will be scheduled accordingly.

Duties:

• Assisting the Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager(s) in that all contract terms and conditions are met on time, within established cost limits and at acceptable performance levels.
• Assisting the Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager(s) in compiling, preparing, and distributing applicable required reports and deliverables.
• Establishing liaison/communications with research personnel to gauge satisfaction with performance/accomplishment of support/service requests, implementing corrective actions as required should performance be rated as marginal or substandard.
• Ensuring that proper veterinary care and treatment for FDA/CBER animals is maintained.
• Assuring that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALAC accreditation of the FDA/CBER animal facilities.
• Assisting, when requested, in experimental planning and logistics/scheduling of projects.
• Ensuring adherence of contract staff to established FDA/CBER SOPs.
• Assisting the Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager in maintaining a competent technical and management staff.
• Monitoring the performance of all subordinate personnel, praising quality performance, or providing counseling or additional training/supervision for individuals with deficient performance, to maintain a high level of quality and services.
• Assisting the Project Manager(s) in establishing, maintaining, and documenting an employee-training program.
• Assisting the Project Manager in oversight/awareness of each team member’s strengths and technical abilities, identifying areas requiring additional training or expertise to broaden the scope of support services available.
• Assuring that personnel are aware of and compliant with FDA/CBER policies, regulations, safety, and security procedures.
• Scheduling, assigning, and supervising established daily work routines.
• Assisting in anticipating/planning for changing workloads/schedules, assuring that there is sufficient staff, equipment, and
• Assuring that records, logbooks, and other project records are appropriately and contemporaneously maintained.
• Assisting with/overseeing the QA/QC program.
• Working in concert/cooperation with FDA/CBER compliance assurance entities(FDA Safety and FDA/CBER IACUC committees).
• Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of animals at FDA/CBER animal facilities.
• Maintaining a broad general knowledge and competence in lab animal science husbandry, technical procedures, and facility management.
• Assisting the Project Manager(s) in issuing requests, with sufficient lead time, for food, bedding, supplies, and new or replacement equipment.
• Assisting/performing restraint of anesthetized and un-anesthetized laboratory animals including but not limited to non-human primates and rabbits for blood collection, immunization, or other technical/veterinary procedures.
• Performing routine animal husbandry and cage wash functions as needed.
• Establish work schedules, make assignments, and monitor work performance of contract related/required tasks.
• Assisting the Project Manager/Assistant Project Manager(s) in provide for specialized training or cross training of contract staff to maximize staffing/delivery of service flexibility.