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Vivarium Operations Associate II -Technology/Husbandry

Employer
Novartis
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Dec 15, 2022

View more

Discipline
Other
Position Type
Full Time
Organization Type
Pharma

Job Details

Job Description

6,000! That’s the number of associates with Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). This division is the innovation engine of Novartis, focusing on powerful new technologies that have the potential to help produce therapeutic breakthroughs for patients.

Job Description:
This role is an experienced and professional animal care and vivarium operations position responsible for supporting research by providing high quality & consistent animal care/husbandry, vivarium operational service support and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards within a multi-building, multi-discipline research program. In addition to animal care, this position will have oversight of our digital caging/equipment technology platform as it relates to specialized activities/projects. This position supports from the organizational and technical point of view, in vivo digital caging technology experiments requested by the DAs to be run internally as well as, specialized skill in setting up, running such experiments, and decontaminating the equipment afterward.
We anticipate this role will consist of the following: 50% digital caging technician and 50% animal husbandry.
Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:
• Primarily responsible for daily husbandry to animals (predominantly rodents, some small animal USDA), clinical observations, maintenance of the animal facilities (sanitation of animal rooms & equipment), receipt of incoming animals & supplies, maintenance of relevant facility records, fulfilling research requests, animal transfers and relocations.
• This role will be the dedicated expert on onboarding, experimental conduct and technical maintenance of digital caging technology.
• Performance and oversight of specialized/specific technology based vivarium projects/equipment (e.g. Digital Vivarium Caging (DVC) and Actual Analytics.
• Direct interfacing with the Global Lead on Emerging technologies to observe animals’ behavior and extract relevant data for biomarker development.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with all institutional and regulatory protocols, policies, and guidelines. Ensure facility/animal records. Make appropriate decisions/judgement regarding operational standards/situations.
• Responsible for pursing continuous learning/professional development opportunities and enhancing/expanding skill set as time allows.
• Driven by the needs of our scientific partner/collaborator, limited routine technical procedures on animals may also be assigned.
• Other duties and responsibilities as may be required.
• Provide and ensure consistent and high-quality on-site animal care and vivarium maintenance
• Effectively gain certification and proficiency on all applicable operational and technical skills on emerging technologies/equipment as required
• Team oriented and interactive. Foster peer/team development and performance
• Strong attention to completion of tasks in an efficient/consistent manner
• Ensure compliance with all internal and external regulatory agencies in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• Continuously pursue educational and professional development opportunities to enhance and expand relevant skills and knowledge
• Delegate work through appropriate time management, team evaluation and schedule maintenance.
• Identify and resolve on-site vivarium operational issues/challenges
• Coordinate detail-specific operational/technical support
• Oversee and conduct operational/emerging technology projects
• Train and evaluate new associates to proficiency on applicable techniques
• Identify and coach high and low performers

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals in need of a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or disability for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $66,000.00 and $99,000.00 per year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Minimum Requirements

What you will bring to the role:
Education: • GED or High School degree required, 2-year degree in Veterinary Technology, 4-year Science degree, or a combination of experience with higher education preferred
• LAT Certification desirable or pursued after start
• Working knowledge of federal, state, local (Animal Welfare) laws and departmental SOPs
• Thorough understanding and comprehension of operational standards, processes, equipment, etc. as they relate to operational responsibilities.

Languages: • English
Experience: • Extensive experience (3 - 5 years) working with animals or performing animal husbandry in a research setting.

Qualified candidates will have well developed interpersonal and communication skills, a strong commitment to providing and ensuring quality animal care and vivarium operations in accordance with Laboratory Animal Care regulations/standards and ability to trouble shoot situations based on previous experience. Candidates must be reliable, focused on attention to detail, work independently as well as in a dynamic team environment. Experience required in small project advancement/team interactions. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and move heavy objects. Must be able work from a standing position for prolonged time periods and perform repetitive motion tasks. Able to work weekends, holidays and during inclement weather.
• Strong commitment to providing humane, consistent, and high-quality daily care to research animals
• Strong interpersonal skills (transparency, professionalism, communication)
• Strong sense of personal accountability, reliability and integrity
• Team-oriented and interactive. Fosters peer/team development and performance
• Organized, effective time management, detail-oriented, thorough and consistent
• Ability to independently identify and resolve standard vivarium operational issues/challenges
• Independently identify, run and complete operational projects
• Self-starter requiring no daily oversight
• Open to supporting transitional operations and schedule changes
• Committed to professional development and continuous learning
• Knowledge
• Thorough knowledge of animal care expectations/responsibilities
• Proficient computer and software skillset
• Thorough knowledge of facility operational parameters and standards
• Recognition of typical/atypical animal health and behaviors
• Effective time management/prioritization for operational expectations/responsibilities
• Knowledge of Federal, state and local Animal Welfare regulations and recommendations
• LAT or higher certification desirable
• Skills/Abilities
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal required, presentation desirable)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook required, database use desirable
• Able to lift 50 lbs., move heavy objects, work from a standing position for prolonged periods and perform repetitive motion tasks
• Able to perform standard and complex animal care/operational responsibilities. o Able to work weekends, holidays and during inclement weather

Why Novartis?
766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we’re proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people’s lives.

We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.

We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world’s toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying!

Imagine what you could do here at Novartis!

Company

At Novartis, we are reimagining medicine.

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We use innovative science and technology to address some of society's most challenging healthcare issues. We discover and develop breakthrough treatments and find new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible.

Novartis has one of the industry’s most competitive pipelines. Many of these projects, which include new molecular entities as well as additional indications and different formulations for marketed products, are for medicines that could significantly advance treatment standards for patients worldwide.

We have entered an exciting era in health and biomedical innovation. Powered by our incredible colleagues, supported by our flexible-hybrid working model, new AI powered learning, personal growth and career platform and a refreshed commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion, we are well-poised to help lead this transformative moment for our industry and for ourselves. Join Us!

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