Head of Animal Facility / Head of Animal Facility

Areas of Responsibility

* Direct all operations of the Central Animal Facility, overseeing processes and finances while performing husbandry and other duties when necessary. * Write, maintain, review, and uphold compliance of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility maintenance, equipment use, and animal husbandry procedures. * Lead, motivate, instruct, and supervise laboratory animal caretakers to ensure optimal animal care in accordance with current standards for housekeeping, safety, regulations, developments, trends in animal care, certification programs, and continuing education. * Coordinate and collaborate with Attending Veterinarians regarding:

• Animal health concerns
• Equipment
• Animal vendors
• Diet and bedding procurement
• Detergents and sanitizers
• Preventative medicine scheduling
• Facility improvement renovations
• Animal health, and environmental monitoring programs

* Ensure compliance with the regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, the University's directives, and process specifications. * Participate in building renovation projects. * Serve as the Team Leader for the Emergency Preparedness Plan. * Provide professional consultation for faculty and academic staff regarding research involving laboratory animals and the Central Animal Facility, regularly communicating facility information to users. * Coordinate and collaborate with other heads of animal facilities, EAC, AWOs, and the GM Manager, reporting to the Head of EAC. * Collect and organize information for inspections, visits, and reporting for accreditors and regulators.

Requirements

* Master's degree in veterinary medicine or natural sciences/biology. * A minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience in animal facility management and leadership. * Proven management and prioritization skills across multiple facilities and tasks, with a goal and solution-oriented mindset. * Strong written and verbal communication skills, with keen attention to detail, organizational capabilities, and interpersonal abilities, demonstrating a team-oriented approach. * Proficiency in English; knowledge of German or another national language is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

* Specialization in laboratory animal science. * Familiarity with cantonal and national regulations related to laboratory animals.

What We Offer

* A dynamic and independent work environment within a large, multispecies animal care and use program. * A motivated veterinary team comprising ECLAM and ECVAA diplomates. * Opportunities for further training in laboratory animal science and professional development. * Employment in accordance with cantonal guidelines, offering an attractive workplace in the city of Bern.

For more information, please contact PD. Dr. A. Bergadano at alessandra.bergadano@unibe.ch.

Application Process

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.