City : Hamilton

Category : Other

Industry : Education

Employer : McMaster University

About McMaster University

Ranked as one of the world’s top 70 universities, McMaster University is known for teaching and research excellence. Our purpose is the discovery, communication, and preservation of knowledge. We seek to create a Brighter World through research, focused on the health and well-being of all. Through our teaching, research, and scholarship, we are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence. We value integrity, quality, inclusiveness, and teamwork in everything we do. We inspire critical thinking, personal growth, and a passion for lifelong learning. We serve the social, cultural, and economic needs of our community and our society.

About the Central Animal Facility

Located within the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Central Animal Facility is a primary service division whose purpose is to serve the McMaster research community and ensure all animals housed at our eight sites are cared for ethically and humanely. Facilities are distributed across McMaster campus and Hamilton Hospitals.

The animal facilities under the auspices of McMaster University are required to comply with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines and be licensed under the Animals for Research Act overseen by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

New Leadership Opportunity

The Faculty of Health Sciences is seeking a Director to provide leadership to the Central Animal Facility and the current seven satellite locations, while providing support to the McMaster University research community as it relates to the use of animals in biomedical research and teaching in a large-sized, complex department.

The Director oversees the operational management of the animal facilities that fall under McMaster University’s umbrella. The position oversees the management of the staff, animal facility physical plant structure, equipment upgrades, maintenance and storage, the day-to-day operations and deployment of the various budgets. This position provides consultation on new construction of animal facilities and, under the guidance of the University Veterinarian, helps to ensure the highest standards of care and husbandry are provided to animals used in research and teaching at McMaster University. The Manager, Finance and Administration is accountable to the Director for those functions associated with developing, implementing, and maintaining those facilities.  This includes fee-for-service, cost recovery, and subsidized functions.  This position also requires liaising with faculty members, government agencies, and partner institutions with services, supplies and governance.

Core Accountabilities

In a collaborative team environment, which embraces the values of integrity, teamwork and inclusivity, the Director will serve as a leader and is accountable for the following:

Operational Leadership

• Directing the day-to-day operations of eight animal facilities, including the Central Animal Facility, Psychology, Life Sciences, Juravinski Cancer Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Nuclear Research, McMaster Innovation Park and DBRI facility. This involves overseeing three budgets (CAF, Axenic/Gnotobiotic and Stem Cell Unit), preparation and allotment, as well as providing numbers for DBRI and Science for their budget preparation and allotment.
• Reviewing the animal inventories at all facilities to provide guidance to the Technical Manager to ensure existing workloads are in line with the staff complement.
• Overseeing and developing new and existing SOP's for operation of the facilities and equipment, ensuring regular revisions are occurring as needed and the database is maintained.
• Overseeing the staffing resources to assure the University Veterinarian that resources are in place to control animal disease and health monitoring. The incumbent ensures that the day-to-day operations are maintaining animal regulatory compliance at all animal facilities.
• Overseeing the animal-based training program under the guidance of the University Veterinarian and directing the Training Coordinator’s duties.
• Directing the regularly scheduled management meetings and overseeing staff meetings to ensure proper information is disseminated to staff providing the daily care for the animals.
• Direct and participates with management staff in on-call rotations for all McMaster University animal facilities, 365 days per year, 24 hours per day.

Strategic Planning/HR

• The incumbent participates in new construction and renovations of any animal facilities and ensuring compliance within guidelines and legislation, managing equipment needs and maintenance, and ensuring staffing resources. This includes hiring and supervision of managers and technical staff, approving job descriptions and overseeing the handling of union issues and other Human Resources issues with staff as they may arise.
• Adapting into the existing program ongoing changes in technology and science that pertain to animal-based research.

Relationships

• Meet/assist with Principal Investigators to facilitate set-up and assess equipment and facility needs for grant applications.
• Maintaining a relationship with suppliers for animal care goods and services.
• Maintaining a relationship with Facilities Services and physical plant staff to ensure maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Compliance, Security & Ethics

• Directing the implementation and control of security measures at all animal facilities and ensuring the Administrative Manager provides an annual update of the Crisis Management Program to ensure ongoing ability to respond appropriately in alignment with the University’s animal care and use program on behalf of the University Veterinarian and AREB.
• Ensuring due diligence is met in regards to staff completing all required occupational health and safety training to work at McMaster University. As well, ensuring that safety inspections are completed as required.
• Participating as a management representative on the Animal Research Ethics Board (AREB) or ensuring management representation is in place on AREB. Serving on other boards as required such as the Presidential Biosafety Advisory Committee (PBAC), FHS Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), FHS Academic Administrators Committee, Emergency and Disaster Management Committee upon invitation.
• Hold the roll of Alternate Qualified Person in Charge for distribution of controlled drugs required by the Bureau of Drug Surveillance. Ensuring records and infrastructure meet the needs of external regulatory agencies.
• Ensuring environmental parameters required in animal facilities are met and the equipment required to meet these parameters is in place as budgets and requirements allow.

Are you the right candidate?

This role requires a minimum of 5 years leadership experience, preferably in a Laboratory Animal Facility in a unionized environment. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor Degree in Science, Zoology or animal biology related field, as well as Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Science certification at the Master’s level, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration or related field, as well as the following qualifications:

• Strong strategic planning, budgeting and cost recovery, procurement, business development, contract negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• A proven leader with demonstrated experience achieving positive results managing a team and performing a range of Human Resources functions including hiring, performance management, workforce planning, and overseeing day-to-day operational work activities.
• Superior leadership competencies, strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to develop collaborative relationships with a diverse group of clients.
• Veterinary experience and similar experience working within an animal facility is considered an asset.
• Knowledge to the establishment and maintenance of a shared equipment programs, including fee structures to cover costs.
• Understanding and knowledge of purchasing of veterinary supplies in bulk or through an institutional pharmacy.
• Understanding of how to store drugs and biologics centrally under secure and controlled conditions.

Important Considerations

• This position will be primarily in-person, with flexibility to work remotely approximately 1 day per week, dependent upon operational needs.
• The position will share rotational on-call duties with other management staff (approximately one weekend, in three) for emergencies, staffing and physical plant issues. Most issues can be handled remotely, with documented protocols on managing them.

What We Offer
In addition to joining a top ranked university, McMaster offers a very competitive total compensation package that includes but is not limited to:

• Employer Paid benefits such as Extended Health, Dental, Emergency Out-of-Country Travel Coverage & Basic Life Insurance.
• Participation in a Group Retirement Savings Plan.
• Training, coaching and professional development opportunities
• Employee tuition assistance for continuous development and education
• Opportunity to be a part of an academic environment working alongside professionals who share a passion for learning
• Progressive paid annual vacation plan