Position Purpose:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Animal Care and Veterinary Services, the Associate Director, Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the delivery of animal care and research support services across the University's animal care facilities. The role is responsible for ensuring efficient, high-quality operations that support the institution's research, teaching, and compliance activities involving animals.
The Senior Manager leads managers and supervisors responsible for the operational delivery of animal care and research support services across the University's animal care facilities. The role oversees operational planning, service delivery, workforce management, labour relations, financial stewardship, health and safety, and continuous improvement within delegated authority. Working closely with the Senior Director, researchers, veterinarians and institutional partners, the Associate Director implements program priorities, optimizes operational resources, and promotes high-quality service delivery, animal welfare and compliance with institutional requirements.
In this role, your responsibilities will include:
Operational Leadership
- Provide operational leadership for assigned facilities and functions
- Implements operational plans, priorities, and service delivery standards aligned with institutional objectives and enhance operational performance, efficiency, service quality, and resource utilization.
People Leadership and Human Resources
- Lead, mentor, and develop managers and supervisors responsible for veterinary technicians, animal care technicians, and support staff.
- Oversee strategies for workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
- Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and service excellence.
- Provide leadership in human resources matters, including collective agreement administration, grievance management, and employee and labour relations.
Service Delivery & Stakeholder Partnerships
- Collaborate with researchers, veterinarians, academic units, and institutional partners to ensure services effectively support research and teaching activities.
- Evaluate service requirements and implement improvements to meet evolving client and organizational needs.
- Promote a client-focused approach to service delivery.
Health, Safety & Risk Management
- Ensure a safe working environment through the implementation of health and safety policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Oversee operational risk management activities and support business continuity planning.
- Promote a culture of safety, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance.
Financial & Resource Management
- Manages delegated operating budgets, workforce resources, and facility requirements.
- Ensure effective allocation of human, financial, and physical resources to meet operational and research needs.
- Identify opportunities for cost containment and operational efficiencies.
Compliance, Accreditation & Quality Assurance
- Coordinate operational compliance and quality assurance activities within the animal care program, in collaboration with the Senior Director, veterinary team, Animal Care Committee, Animal Ethics and Compliance, and other institutional partners.
- Support accreditation activities, implementation of approved procedures, post-approval monitoring processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
What you will bring:
- Degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Business, or a related field.
- Veterinary degree (DVM/VMD or equivalent) with relevant laboratory animal medicine experience or an MBA are an asset.
- Registration as a Registered Member of Laboratory Animal Technologists (RMLAT) with the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS) is an asset.
- 10 years of experience in a related field.
- Experience in laboratory animal care, veterinary services, research animal operations, or a closely related regulated environment is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience managing large and diverse teams.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
- Experience overseeing animal care, research support, laboratory operations, or comparable regulated operational environments is an asset.
- Thorough knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, and standards governing occupational health and safety, animal care, and research operations.
- Comprehensive knowledge of animal care and use governance, CCAC standards, provincial animal research legislation (OMAFA), Animal Care Committee processes, post-approval monitoring, animal welfare principles, risk management and research administration practices is an asset.
- Experience managing operating and capital budgets, resource planning, and operational performance metrics.
- Demonstrated success implementing continuous improvement, operational excellence, and change management initiatives.
- Ability to communicate effectively in both official languages.
