Group Leader - CCM

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

Job Summary:

Supervises daily cage wash & animal husbandry activities ensuring 100% adequate & appropriate coverage for all operations & those activities are completed accurately & on time by physically verifying, at the end of current shift, that daily scheduled work has been properly completed. Ensures that CCM & investigator's staff adhere to all NU, local, state, & or Federal rules & regulations & that all actions are completed by strictly & consistently following applicable CCM SOPs including safety procedures & guidelines. Acts as supervisor & completes all associated activities in his her absence. Supports other operational areas as requested by senior management. Provides, on a rotational basis, weekend holiday coverage as on-site contact person for both husbandry & veterinary staff.

Please note: Must be able to negotiate up to a 65 lb force (push/pull) on an occasional basis. Lifting is limited to 50 lbs occasionally and 25 lbs frequently. Must be able to work a shift schedule that includes working both Saturdays and Sundays, possibly a staggered work schedule, occasional overtime, and holidays as required. Must successfully maintain physical condition that will assure efficient performance of tasks, including successful completion of physical examination. This position requires the individual to be available to work on both the Chicago and Evanston campuses as coverage needs dictate.

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.

Specific Responsibilities:

Supervises Daily Cage Wash Activities

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.
• Verifies daily at the end of current shift, that all tasks related to cage wash are completed by staff by reviewing production records and sanitization logs; physically verifying that activities have been properly completed; resolving standard problems; & immediately escalating larger problems to management.
• Maintains all operations such that supplies are distributed as needed throughout facility to ensure a smooth and continuous workflow.
• Ensures that equipment is functioning properly, coordinates & oversees necessary maintenance & reports malfunctions to management.

Supervises Daily Animal Husbandry Activities

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.
• Verifies daily that all tasks related to animal husbandry operations are completed by staff by reviewing animal room activity sheets; physically verifying that activities have been properly completed; resolving standard problems; & immediately escalating larger problems to management.
• Completes all associated documentation accurately & on time.
• Schedules staff for cage changing & room assignments ensuring adequate & appropriate coverage for all shifts, weekends, & holidays & that staff is rotated in a timely manner.
• Euthanizes animals according to CCM policy.
• Interacts with investigators' staff daily.
• Ensures that bar code scanning in regard to census activities is completed accurately & on time.
• Completes daily animal husbandry activities as necessary in the absence of staff.
• Ensures that equipment is functioning properly, coordinates & oversees necessary maintenance & reports malfunctions to management.

Supervises Daily Incoming Animal Activities

• Ensures SOP compliance by all CCM employees & investigator staff & immediately reports deviations to management.
• Verifies that all tasks related to incoming animals are completed by staff daily, verified by continually updating & maintaining appropriate documentation.
• Completes all associated documentation accurately & on time.
• Schedules staff for incoming, delivery & or animal transfers.
• Ensures that all discrepancies are resolved interacting with staff & procurement, receiving & census as appropriate
• May drive van to transfer animals.

Assists Management

• Verifies daily attendance of employees ensuring that they are accurately & in a timely manner recording work time & time off including arrival, break, departure, sick, holiday & vacation time.
• Writes and implements SOPs as needed.
• Writes & conducts annual performance evaluations for husbandry staff.
• Provides input for staff development & improvement plans.
• Supervises employees, identifies inappropriate behavior, writes & implements corrective actions as needed.
• Monitors & addresses Building Management System (BMS) & Watchdog alarms in absence of CCM management.
• Provides oversight in the event of emergency & or absence of CCM management.
• Assists in developing & implementing CCM OJT programs that ensure proper animal care and welfare. Participates in CCM, NU, local & or national meetings, management classes, OJTs, etc.

Miscellaneous

Performed other duties

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• A high school diploma or its equivalent is required along with a minimum of 3 years animal husbandry work experience and AALAS certified LAT; or a AA/AS degree with a combination of 2 years or more or 1 or more years w/ BS and relevant work experience and AALAS certified LAT; or a high school diploma or its equivalent with 6 years' experience or AA/AS degree with 5 years' experience or BS degree with 4 years' experience with no AALAS certification.
• Valid state drivers license if driving animal transport van.
• Leads junior level technicians & insures that all animal caretaking activities are completed by strictly & consistently following applicable CCM SOPs.

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

• Communication
• Coachability
• Efficiency/Dependability
• Conflict management
• Decision making
• Development of self/others
• Lab animal care

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Some supervisory or management experience.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Computer Proficiency
• Ethics and Integrity
• Innovation/Creativity
• Conceptual ability
• Planning
• Strategic thinking

Target hiring range for this position will be between $28.00-$34.00 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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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