Rodent Breeding Manager - Military veterans preferred

Rodent Breeding Manager

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2025-20817
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research and Laboratory

Overview

The Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Rodent Breeding Manager provides oversight of transgenic rodent breeding management for laboratory animals housed within the Rodent Breeding Core Facility.

The Rodent Breeding Manager is primarily responsible for managing the operational aspects of the rodent breeding facility within Laboratory Animal Resources. This role involves overseeing the daily management of rodent colonies, ensuring the well-being of the animals, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. The Rodent Breeding Manager will coordinate the implementation of breeding plans, manage electronic colony management systems, and provide necessary training and support to the research and technical staff. The Rodent Breeding Manager serves as a subject matter expert for the Rodent Breeding Core Facility, providing oversight of complex transgenic breeding schemes and troubleshooting breeding issues by implementing effective breeding strategies. This position plays a crucial role in facilitating the research objectives of Princeton University researchers by maintaining efficient and effective breeding operations.

The Rodent Breeding Manager is responsible for resource management, direct supervision, training, time collection, and HR management functions for all Rodent Breeding Technical staff.

Manages breeding colonies with the general goal to provide healthy, genetically well-defined mice that are suitable for research in an efficient and cost-effective manner and serves as liaison and subject matter expert in the field for rodent transgenic colony management:
• Researches mouse strains’ genotypes and phenotypes to develop the best strategies for setting up and monitoring breeding and optimizing colony production.
• Develops timelines in regard to colony production for core investigators and delivers animal subjects to core investigators for experimental use based on their needs.
• Tracks pedigrees of strains and develops a strategy for strict genetic quality control including managing and preventing genetic contamination and genetic drift.
• Communicates with core investigators regarding their transgenic breeding lines and study needs and informs on the progress of breeding colony management.
• Maintains the inventory of animals, ensures mouse order fulfillment, and performs forecasting for PIs.
• Maintains appropriate documentation for all duties in accordance with all applicable departmental, institutional, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and SOPs, and based on contemporary professional standards.
• Coordinate logistics for the transportation of breeding stock and offspring.

• Daily oversight of rodent breeding technical staff
• Development and implementation of SOPs and animal facility policies
animal care and research staff training
• Oversight of the procurement and inventory control of supplies associated with rodent breeding program
• Placing purchase orders in the absence of purchasing coordinator
• Assuring that appropriate records and files related to quality assurance and equipment maintenance are appropriately maintained.
• Training for LAR staff in various technical procedures (rodent breeding core facility).
• Responsible for managing husbandry services for rodent breeding core facility.
• Assist with dynamically scheduling and managing rodent breeding technical staff based on actual animal inventories/locations.

• Develop standards for evaluating, assessing, and managing performance, productivity, and attendance for rodent breeding technical staff and keep their job descriptions up-to-date in LAR.
• Create, revise and update existing SOP’s to reflect current rodent breeding technical practices and procedures and implement adjustments based on IACUC Policies and Guidelines and AAALAC recommendations.

• Strategic Planning - Participate in developing of strategic direction and planning for LAR.
• Communicate and build commitment to this strategic direction among LAR staff, Principal Investigators (PIs), animal research staff, and department administrative staff.
• Maintain close communications with PIs, animal research staff, and department managers in order to escalate changes and issues that might impact the strategic goals of LAR to the Director of LAR.

ESSENTIAL Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species with specific expertise in complex transgenic breeding schemes and troubleshooting breeding issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team and ability to share husbandry and breeding management knowledge with other animal care staff, students and new researchers.
• Proven ability to work independently and communicate well with different levels within the organization, and work well with a diverse team for a common goal consistent with the mission of the Laboratory Animal Resources department.
• Proficient knowledge of federal, state and local Animal Welfare legislation and sound judgment how to balance optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may dictate.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well person to person as well as by email.
• Ability to follow-up tasks from beginning to completion and carry out duties in accordance to supervisor deadlines and university policies.
• The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a background check.

The following tasks and skills that would be necessary for any person to fulfill while working in Laboratory Animal Resources:
stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day;
sit for up to 2 hours per day;
lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% day);
push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 – 66% of the work day);
use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day);
kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 – 66 % of the work day);
knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday);
lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height;
lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead;
work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions;
possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical agility.

PREFERRED Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience, and Other Education

• AALAS certification at the Laboratory Animal Technologist Level (LATG)
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Applications including Outlook and other software applications used in animal research and compliance such as an electronic animal management system.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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