Director Animal Resources

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) offers a unique program of training on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean. A cutting-edge curriculum, with innovative use of technologies and simulations, provides the best possible training for tomorrow’s veterinarians. Students benefit from seven semesters of integrated preclinical and clinical studies at our St Kitts campus, and one year of clinical training at our affiliate veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Our ongoing research focuses on key issues strategically relevant to One Health in tropical and developing countries and includes zoonotic diseases, food safety and security, environmental health, and conservation medicine. We prioritize recruitment of talented faculty and are now seeking a key new member of our team to join us as we develop new programs to best prepare our graduates to face the global opportunities and challenges of veterinary medicine in the 21st century.

• Provides leadership and vision for institutional animal teaching and research programs.
• Leads and manages full AAALAC accreditation process
• Manages Animal Resources (AR), including the annual budget and a staff comprising Animal Care Manager, staff, and student workers.
• Serves as the clinical veterinarian for all animals covered under animal use protocols and provides for both routine and 24-hour emergency care for these animals, in collaboration with veterinary faculty.
• Provides assistance to faculty in selecting animal models, reviewing and advising on the writing and design of animal use protocols involving the potential for pain or distress, and training staff and faculty in clinical procedures.
• Interfaces with Facilities Services on animal-related construction project design and routine maintenance of animal facilities.
• Serves as a voting member on the IACUC.
• Fosters a culture of friendly customer service and compliance.
• Contributes to the DVM/postgraduate teaching programs in areas of expertise
• Runs an independent or collaborative research program in an area relevant to one of RUSVM’s research centers (http://www.rossu.edu/veterinary-school/research/Centers.cfm)

Discretion/Latitude/Decision-making:
• The DAR supervises AR staff through, and in collaboration, with the Animal Care Manager. The DAR determines the direction of the program, taking into consideration the needs and input of faculty who use the AR facilities.
• The DAR is the supporting authority for the Animal Care Manager in the hiring, disciplining, and termination of AR employees and provides mentoring for performance evaluations and smooth day-to-day operations.
• The DAR is invested with institutional authority for ensuring the health and welfare of all animals in the care of AR, has full access to all animals at all times, and recommends treatment options to faculty yet retains the authority to intervene with humane euthanasia when ethically indicated.
• The DAR makes recommendations directly to the IO for the veterinary needs of animal programs. Some of these recommendations may be made collaboratively with the IACUC.

Responsibility / Oversight – financial and supervisory:
• The DAR is responsible for producing a budget plan and budget annually and for operating the facility within this budget.
• The DAR assists the Animal Care Manager in assessing ongoing and potentially changing personnel needs within the established budget and requests revisions to the budget through the Financial Officer for the Office of the Vice President for Research.
• The DAR works collaboratively with the Animal Care Manager to conduct periodic cost analyses of LAR operations and to share projected per diem costs with scientists.

Communications / Interpersonal Contacts:
• Positive written and verbal communications with AR staff, IACUC administrator, students, faculty, and administrators are crucial to the smooth operation of AR.
• The DAR sets the tone for AR and is strongly encouraged to promote a friendly, customer service oriented atmosphere and team-work approach to working with faculty and staff.

• Completes other duties as assigned.

• DVM or equivalent from an accredited veterinary college.
• Three or more years of administrative, management and supervisory experience, preferably in an animal research, teaching and/or testing program is required.
• Demonstrated understanding and success in scientific manuscript publication and grant writing.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and completion of team projects.
Preferred Qualifications:
• DVM and PhD in a scientific discipline.
• Active board certification by the American or European College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM / ECLAM) or eligibility for ACLAM / ECLAM board certification.
• Board certification in a related College (e.g. ACVIM, ACVS, ACVP).
• Teaching experience at DVM or postgraduate level.

Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Qualified applicants apply by submitting curriculum vitae (CV) and letter of intent describing the vision of their contribution in areas of teaching, research and service. CV and letter should be in a single document (MS or PDF) and submitted online www.rossu.edu/careers

Reference letters are requested prior to on campus interviews. File review will begin upon receipt until the position is successfully filled.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. At Adtalem, we welcome everyone and have a strong commitment towards diversity and inclusion. We encourage our Colleagues to be their true authentic selves and support laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business. We also maintain a drug-free workplace.