Laboratory Veterinarian and Director, Animal Care and Veterinary Services

Job Summary 

Responsible for veterinary support (clinical, diagnostic, surgical, etc.) for teaching and research animals, including those on campus or at field sites, which fall under the Canadian Counsil on Animal Care (CCAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) purview. The incumbent ensures the accreditation status of the animal care and use program is maintained, and supports the overall institutional animal ethics and animal care program and Animal Care and Veterinary Services (ACVS). This position reports the governance and compliance of ACVS to the Director, Research Ethics on a periodical basis and supports the Director of Operations, Faculty of Science in the development and implementation of long-term financial and facility planning for the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Department.

Key Accountabilities 

Strategy Planning and Risk Management 

▪ Develops and implements Carleton University’s policies, committee terms of reference, procedures and best practices to ensure that research, teaching and testing involving animal subjects are conducted in a lawful, ethical and responsible manner – free from conflicts of interest, keeping with principles of fairness as well as with professional and other statutes (e.g. Tri-council, CCAC etc.)

▪ Leads the development of Carleton’s Animal Care and Veterinary Services strategy

▪ Ensures performance metrics are developed, tracked and reported

▪ Ensures that policies and procedures are aligned with university policy, external legislative requirements and leading practices

▪ Identifies operational risks, completes program/service reviews, and develops recommendations and action plans

▪ Ensures legislation, governance structures, policies and procedures are adhered to; contributes to development and alignment of internal policies and procedures

▪ Ensures optimization of information systems and data management processes and outcomes

▪ Ensures the accreditation status of the animal care and use programs by coordinating the preparation of accreditation documentation and activities relating to accreditation (e.g., visits, reports, and responses to CCAC findings and recommendations).

▪ Maintains CU’s certification, registration and compliance of its animal care facility and animal care program with the CCAC, OMAFRA, CFIA and PHAC.

▪ Acts as primary liaison with federal and provincial agencies on animal research issues.

▪ Reviews the documentation for regulatory bodies (e.g., CCAC, OMAFRA, CFIA, PHAC) for certification of CU’s animal facilities.

People Leadership

▪ Ensures an effective organizational model and clarity in roles and responsibilities.

▪ Leads workforce planning and talent strategy

▪ Provides day-to-day leadership and performance management of the function’s leadership team members

▪ Monitors departmental culture and productivity, and intervenes when necessary

Financial Management 

▪ Develops and maintains annual operating and project budget and completes monthly account reconciliation and variance analysis

▪ Approves expenditures and arranges for payments

▪ Purchases goods and services following procurement policy and procedures within limits of authority including specifications, sourcing, request for quotations, evaluations, and implementation

▪ Develops and maintains the Vivarium and Animal Care and Veterinary Services Fee Schedules. Ensures all appropriate fees are charged to the researchers and the resulting invoices are paid.

Stakeholder Relationship 

▪ Establishes and maintains effective communication and coordination with stakeholders, campus partners, and external partners, including consultants, contractors, vendors, to coordinate and complement Animal Care and Veterinary services

▪ Participates on internal committees and working groups, provides input and advice, and undertakes research and information gathering to inform decisions

▪ Collaborates with other managers and professional staff to resolve issues and challenges and to deliver programs and services

Clinical 

▪ Provides veterinary support services for researchers and teaching staff working on campus or at field sites with wildlife, which includes but not is not limited to diagnoses, treatment, disease control among research animals maintained in facilities, and manages the health observations and treatments of research animals.

▪ Responds to clinical cases by examining the animals, making recommendations, communicating with PIs and following the case until resolution, and in some cases, making decisions to stop experiments when animals are experiencing pain or distress beyond the limits of the approved protocols.

▪ Attends to emergencies that may occur within the facility and provides care as needed.

▪ Provides clinical veterinarian support for protocols. Consults with researchers on selection of animal models and procedures during protocol development, advises on the correct use of anesthetics and analgesics, determines endpoints for protocols and may act in an emergency to terminate research.

▪ Supports animal research through training, diagnostic and pathology as well as animal care and husbandry.

▪ Monitors and maintains a rodent health surveillance program.

▪ Conducts post-mortem examination on animals including the performance of  hematology, parasitology, microbiology and clinical pathology laboratory tests and procedures.

▪ Consults with researchers to improve the care and monitoring of animals during studies.

▪ Reviews and advises researchers on appropriate record keeping to ensure adequate monitoring and consistency with regulatory agency requirements.

▪ As ex-officio member of the Animal Care Committee serves as an expert advisor and animal advocate to the ACC; reviews all animal care protocols and advises the ACC on policies, guidelines and best practices in the use of animals in research. Responsible for ensuring scientific merit reviews are conducted for all protocols.

▪ Must be available for afterhours emergencies related to animal welfare.

Animal Care Program Management 

▪ Designs and implements Post Approval Monitoring reviews of approved protocols with staff members and Animal Care Committee.

▪ Establishes and develops standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the animal care program, daily operations of the animal facilities ensuring compliance with policies and procedures set forth by the university and outside governing agencies.

▪ Designs, develops and maintains animal care training programs, including a surgical training program which includes but is not limited to: Stereotaxic surgery (with and without implants, stereotaxic infusions), injection techniques (e.g., subcutaneous, intravenous, intra peritoneal), bleed techniques (e.g., cardiac, submandibular, saphenous), mini pump insertion/retrieval, suturing techniques, etc.

▪ Inspects animal facilities and generates reports for the ACC and Director of Operations, Faculty of Science to ensure humane care and use of animals in research and teaching; ensures that all animal facilities are maintained in compliance with accreditation standards.

▪ Performs other duties as assigned

Job Requirements 

Core Knowledge, Education and Experience 

▪ Knowledge of management practices in people management, strategic planning and risk management, policy development, financial management and stakeholder relationship management

▪ Knowledge of administration, accounting, communications and human Resources Management

▪ Knowledge of operational management and leadership concepts practices including program/service delivery models, policy development, planning, budgeting, performance measurement management, and human resources

▪ Knowledge of animal vivarium program design, delivery, assessment, and evaluation methodologies, processes, and practices

▪ Knowledge of relevant governing legislation, collective agreements, policies and procedures

▪ Knowledge of office as well as the broader university academic units, departments, and divisions

▪ Knowledge of office productivity software and databases, internet browsers and search engines, discipline-specific software, enterprise software, and technology devices

▪ Knowledge of cultural competency and diversity

▪ Knowledge of and experience with regulatory matters pertaining to ethics of animal care and use in research, teaching, and testing (e.g., Animals for Research Act, CCAC, and Tri-Council)

▪ Knowledge is used to lead animal care vivarium

Education 

▪ Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine with a license to practice veterinary medicine in the Ontario as a member in good standing of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.

Experience 

▪ Minimum of five years of previous experience in the animal veterinary experience including clinical experience, laboratory, animal medicine, and science, out of which at least minimum two years of leadership and management experience. Knowledge of and experience with regulatory matters pertaining to ethics of animal care and use in research, teaching and testing (e.g., Animals for Research Act, CCAC, and Tri-council)

Communication and Stakeholder Management 

▪ Builds, maintains, and interacts across a range of internal and external stakeholders with focus on provision of program, process, service, and direction, and problem resolution

▪ Consults with relevant stakeholders, understands content and context, provides advice and guidance related to program and services

▪ Resolves escalated issues and complaints

▪ Uses change management skills and emotional intelligence to resolve challenging interpersonal dynamics

▪ Fields and responds to challenging interactions with a range of stakeholders understanding policy and procedure and the perspective and position of management

▪ Develops plans and reports and conveys information for information sharing and recommendations for decision making

Problem Solving and Decision Making 

▪ Problems, issues and challenges are complex operational issues that require the consideration of multiple interests and data/information leading to the creation of unique solutions

▪ While many problems / issues have short term solutions, actions and decisions have the potential for long term consequences that require the development of options and assessment of implications before developing a preferred course of action

▪ There is full autonomy and independence to make all day-to-day operational decisions, operating within the context of overarching university policy and direction

Impact 

▪ Impacts the health and safety of animal care and veterinary services

▪ Impacts efficiency and effectiveness of development and delivery of programs and services

▪ Contributes to financial stewardship through account and budget monitoring, forecasting, projections, and reporting

▪ Manages potential liability and risk for the university in relation to health and safety of animal care and veterinary services

Leadership and Development of Others 

▪ Provides day-to-day leadership of the unit’s staff

▪ Leads and participates in recruitment and selection, promotions, and transfers

▪ Delegates workload, assigns tasks, manages schedules and leaves, and recommends training and development

▪ Provides day-to-day coaching, mentoring, direction, and support

▪ Evaluates performance, gives feedback, and undertakes disciplinary actions within limits of authority

▪ Oversees hiring, training, supervision and evaluation of ACVS staff. Develops and maintains internship and studentship programs for trainees

Physical, Visual, Auditory, and Concentration Demands 

▪ On-going requirements for computer-based work and attendance at meetings

▪ Lifting of heavy items over 50lb on a regular basis, monitoring environmental parameters and animal health, by visual, olfactory and auditory inspection.

▪ Some tasks may require standing for long periods of time while providing husbandry to the animals

▪ Some tasks may require a hunched posture when performing or teaching, rodent surgery or certain laboratory techniques

Working Environment 

▪ Works in animal care, the vivarium and in laboratory environments with exposures to biological and chemical agents

▪ Occasionally works in uncomfortable heat, with high odours, and moisture.

▪ Required to wear PAPR mask at times to reduce allergens and bio contaminants

Tagged as: animal care, veterinarian