Animal Facility Manager

Job Title: Animal Facility Manager

Grade: 29

Salary: $116,994-$139,388

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Animal Facility Manager in the Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI). The animal care program has been accredited by AAALAC International since 1987. At present, the program houses only rodents and occupies approximately 30,000 square feet, supported by a team of four supervisors and ten animal care technicians.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, efficient, and organized manager who will oversee all daily animal husbandry, facility management, and operational activities. Reporting to the DCM Director/Attending Veterinarian, the manager is directly accountable for all operational functions and provides leadership and supervision to floor supervisors and animal care staff. The manager also serves as a primary contact for disaster planning, emergency response, and facility renovations.

In addition, the manager develops training materials and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and delivers on-the-job training for new and existing floor supervisors and animal care technicians. This position requires exceptional oral and written communication skills, strong organizational and administrative capabilities, experience with vivarium renovations, experience overseeing facility systems and equipment maintenance and repairs, and the ability to interface effectively with internal and external partners, including engineering, Human Resources, safety offices, faculty, and research staff.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Facility Management

• Direct and manage day-to-day husbandry and facility operations to ensure the proper operation, sanitation, and maintenance of animal housing rooms, equipment, and support areas in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, PHS Policy, the Animal Welfare Act and USDA regulations (as applicable), and AAALAC International standards.
• Oversee sanitation equipment (e.g., cage/rack washers, autoclaves) in coordination with staff.
• Monitor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and internal facility monitoring reports; take appropriate corrective action in coordination with engineering when parameters deviate from established standards.
• Lead operational planning for emergency preparedness and disaster response: maintain the facility disaster plan, coordinate staff coverage during emergencies, and serve on the after-hours and weekend on-call rotation.

Staff Supervision & Leadership

• Direct, mentor, and evaluate floor supervisors and animal care technicians, including preparing written performance programs and evaluations.
• Oversee personnel management tasks, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, promotions, performance reviews, salary adjustments, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Provide continuous feedback, coaching, and professional development opportunities for staff.

Administrative & Financial Oversight

• Assist with departmental budget planning, operational projections, and cost-control measures.
• Manage husbandry inventory (feed, bedding, enrichment, PPE), forecast supply needs, and ensure efficient resource utilization.
• Assist with vendor contracts, service agreements, and equipment procurement.
• Oversee implementation and operational use of the Tick@Lab animal management software for census tracking, in partnership with the Administrative Coordinator, who manages day-to-day census data and vendor support.
• Regulatory Compliance, Safety & Collaboration
• Develop, review, revise, and enforce husbandry-related SOPs and work instructions.
• Assist with site visit preparations for regulatory agencies and accreditation bodies.
• Participate in IACUC semiannual facility inspections and track corrective actions to completion.
• Collaborate with NYSPI Security, Safety Engineering, Infection Control, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Occupational Health offices.
• Assist with planning and oversight of facility renovation and construction projects.
• Maintain open channels of communication with faculty and research staff, proactively addressing concerns and implementing effective operational solutions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• A Master of Science (MS) degree in veterinary medicine, laboratory animal science, or a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience; a DVM or PhD in a related field may substitute for up to three (3) years of the required experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in laboratory animal facility operations.
• Minimum of four (4) years of direct supervisory experience managing animal care personnel.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience overseeing facility HVAC systems, equipment maintenance and repair activities.
• Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), or equivalent certification (e.g., CALAS RMLAT or AALAS CMAR); LAT certification is acceptable if LATG is obtained within 12 months of hire. Candidates holding a DVM may instead obtain AALAS certification within one year of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• DVM, or MS or PhD in laboratory animal science or a related field.
• Certified Manager of Animal Resources (CMAR) through AALAS.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating and implementing automated operational technology platforms. Experience with Tick@Lab or comparable vivarium census management software.
• Strong technical proficiency with HVAC systems, cage wash equipment, and facility environmental monitoring tools.

Work Location: 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032

To Apply: Submit an application through our website at https://rfmh.applicantpro.com/jobs/. Please note only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Mission of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. RFMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, RFMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring that RFMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. RFMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The Research Foundation is a private not-for-profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. Excellent Benefits Package. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer - Disabled/Veteran, 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) compliant.