Animal PRC Spec Lead

Department: Ctr for Comparative Medicine
Salary/Grade: NEX/12

Job Summary:

This position leads the PRC group, responsible for directly supporting the Supervisor, Business Office and PRC, assisting in facility inventory, animal moves, transfers & space allocations, and helping oversee daily PRC activities. Oversees and assists with performing normal animal procurement, receiving and census functions; leads the PRC group in maintaining good working relationships with animal & supply vendors as well as Principal Investigators (PIs) and their administrative & research staff. Maintains close interactions with the CCM Business Office and husbandry staff to ensure accuracy and expediency of census data to drive accurate billing. Provides training to research staff on procurement, receiving and census processes.

Please note:

Work hours are typically 8-5 but can be flexible and should add up to 40 hours per week; willing & able to work staggered shift schedules including overtime, weekends, and holidays as necessary; and available to work on both the Chicago and Evanston campuses as coverage needs dictate. Work stations are close to each other and work space is limited and noise level can be high. Work may require extended hours sitting at a computer terminal and/or several hours of standing and walking in and around the animal facility. Work will require access to the animal facilities. Must be able to lift or push 25 to 50 lbs. for movement of animal shipping containers. Must be enrolled in the university's occupational health program which entails filling out a health questionnaire. The health questionnaire is submitted to the university's occupational health provider for review. Must be willing to undergo job related background check. Position requires travel between the Evanston and Chicago campuses, as needed.

Specific Responsibilities:

PRC Lead

• Independently evaluates, reviews and resolves day-to-day issues encountered by PRC Specialist 1. Determines whether issues should be escalated to Supervisor, Business Office and PRC or higher.
• Provides oversight of the PRC office in the absence of the Supervisor, Business Office & PRC or Director, Business Operations.
• Primary resource for husbandry and veterinary staff on PRC matters.
• Provides process improvement recommendations and makes decisions on courses of action. Implements recommendations and responds to inquiries from PRC 1 Specialists and others regarding improvements.
• Follows up with PRC Specialist 1s to ensure tasks are completed timely and accurately.
• Distributes and balances workload of PRC Specialist 1s on a daily basis, especially when staff are out of the office.
• Participates in CCM enterprise system development of processes and workflows. Provides subject matter expertise on processes and workflow and provides decisions on system functionality.
• Ensures SOP compliance of PRC staff.
• Participates in hiring and staff development.

Animal Procurement, Receiving, Census & Protocol Maintenance

• On a daily basis, performs duties as PRC Specialist 1 in a specific area or in multiple areas as needed, and/or temporarily performs another PRC Specialist 1 function as needed in times of staff shortage or heavy workload.

Administrative Support and Other Accountabilities

• Oversees and maintains spreadsheets, checklists and other pertinent documents to ensure all phases of animal purchasing, receiving, and census are completed within the appropriate deadlines.
• Assists in managing the monthly visits to satellite lab facilities and recording relevant census activities.
• Resolves discrepancies and report issues to Supervisor, Business Office and PRC, husbandry management and/or the IACUC as appropriate.
• Attends staff meetings & training seminars necessary to remain updated on new processes, revisions, and system-related changes.
• Maintains & follows a Personal Development Plan including attending related AALAS, CBAALAS meetings, CCM training meetings, CCM Business Office meetings as needed/required.
• Performs other duties and completes special projects as assigned by Supervisor, Business Office and PRC.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Some college work in Business, Science or related field
• Two (2) years of data entry or database experience
• Two (2) years experience in a lab animal research facility
• Two (2) years of customer service experience
• Four (4) years of hands-on computer experience

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Team Player
• Adaptability
• Efficiency/Dependability
• Business Acumen
• Judgment
• Customer Focus
• Lab Animal Care

Preferred Qualifications:

• College degree in Business, Science or related field
• Two years of experience with and animal operations systems.
• AALAS-LATG (Laboratory Animal Technologist) certification
• Previous supervisory experience

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Computer Proficiency
• Quality & Compliance
• Leadership
  
  

Target hiring range for this position will be between $25.25 to $29.25 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-KT1