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Title: Animal Quality Assurance Specialist

Org Unit: Education and Quality Assurance

Work Days: Monday-Friday

Weekly Hours: 35.00

Exemption Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $69,100.00 - $76,400.00

*As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices

Position Summary

Assists with the conduct and implementation of a government mandated training program for investigative staff using animals for research and teaching. Monitors and reports on matters of compliance with regard to applicable federal, state, institutional, and departmental regulations. Provides audits of in vivo research activities and hazardous agent use, tracks issues of in vivo research noncompliance and re-educates staff regarding protocol and regulatory compliance. Assists with regulatory matters of institutional concern for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Job Responsibilities

+ Conducts quality assurance reviews of animal resource program and laboratories to monitor and ensure compliance with federal, state, institutional and departmental regulations. Reports findings and develops methods to correct items of non-compliance.

+ Participates on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), provides protocol and amendment review, assists in protocol development and performs semi-annual facility and laboratory inspections.

+ Prepares reports to the IACUC on matters of non-compliance and develops plans for satisfactory resolution.

+ Interacts with Federal and NY State officials when inspecting the animal facilities. This includes escorting the inspectors within the facilities and in determining resolutions to inquiries or compliance matters.

+ Assists with training and review of operational procedures prior to study initiation for investigative staff utilizing biological, radionuclides, human xenografts, and/or chemical hazards to ensure appropriate safety precautions.

+ Disseminates information to staff to ensure compliance with project details and safeguards.

+ Conducts orientation, seminar, and wet-lab trainings for staff responsible for using animals in research and/or working in the vivarium.

+ Assists with the development, implementation, and recording of training activities.

+ Keeps abreast of developments in methods, standards, and requirements for training and post approval compliance monitoring for animal research as well as all current laws, regulations, and policies governing animal research, teaching, and testing.

+ Authors and assists in the development of institutional policies and Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to education, quality assurance, and hazardous agent use.

+ Meets regularly with Environmental Health and Safety to review and compose Protection and Control forms for hazardous agents.

+ Meets with investigative staff to conduct scheduled audits and/or re-training of in-vivo animal protocol procedures.

+ Conducts routine assessments of animal holding rooms/suites utilizing hazardous agents, to ensure projects are conducted as prescribed.

Education

+ Bachelor's Degree

Experience

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education/experience.

Approximately 4-7 years of experience in laboratory research utilizing animal models, laboratory animal technical skills, hazardous agent use, and teaching.

LAT or Veterinary Technician License required within 1 year of hire, LATg preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

+ Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written).

+ Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Suite and database applications.

+ Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail.

+ Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact with multiple constituencies and exercise "people skills".

+ Must be capable of functioning independently with minimal supervision.

Licenses and Certifications

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Occasional heavy lifting up to 50lbs

Must be able to handle fractious animals

May include occasional on-call assignments, weekends and holidays

Potential exposure to animal bites and scratches, needles and other sharp instruments, infectious agents, radiosotopes, toxic chemicals, and radiation

Exposure to a variety of animal species/workplace allergens

Weill Cornell Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, click here (https://careers.weill.cornell.edu/about-weill-cornell/wcm-eeo-statement) .