Job Description

The Office of the University Veterinarian, under the oversight of the Vice-President of Research and Innovation, is responsible for oversight and support of the animal care and use program at the three campuses of Dalhousie university. This includes senior administrative regulatory oversight, communications, and compliance with regulatory and legal agencies, providing support and advice to researchers, operation of two ethics committees, training, public relations and communications, risk management, legal advice, and direct veterinary clinical support of programs. Reporting to the University Director of Animal Care (UDAC), the Associate University Director of Animal Care manages compliance to animal welfare standards and facilitates protocol pre-review and training at all animal research facilities within the Dalhousie University animal care programs on three campuses, as an arms length Quality Assurance/Quality Control management operation as mandated by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC).
Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and advancement of the Post Approval Monitoring Program in accordance with institutional policies, procedures, and CCAC guidelines.
• Identifies and investigates issues of non-compliance, prioritizing animal welfare issues, and providing alternative approaches that meet the needs of the organization, the situation, and those involved under direction and supervision of the UDAC.
• Plans, coordinates, conducts, and writes reports on post approval monitoring activities including site and procedural assessments to verify compliance with approved protocols, training, best practices, university policies and CCAC guidelines.
• Provides pre-approval protocol facilitation and support to Dalhousie PIs, which includes meeting with members of research teams and PIs, reviewing protocol applications prior to submission, visiting laboratries,providing consultation, traijning, and advice, and suggesting improvements in all aspects of protocol including study design, methodology, 3Rs and humane welfare issues.
• Offers regular workshops in protocol writing and streamlining UCLA applications.
• Particiaptes in hands on training and assessment of research skills and processes to enhance success rates of animal care protocol applications.
• Undertakes a clinical veterinary caseload which includes small research animals, a barrier sustained SPF cat breeding colony, research wild birds, and well as farm species and aquatic species.

Note

The ability to travel to satellite facilities is a requirement of this role.

Clinical duties will include one in four weekend and after hours call to medicine facilities and weekend emergency call to the Studley campus on an irregular as- needed basis. There is also a requirement for 24/7 availability in emergency circumstances when unexpected events such as hurricanes impact university animal care.

This position works in humid environments with varying temperatures; and continuous exposure to animal dander, odours, excreta, dust, and noise, including BSL 2 and 3 pathogens, anesthetic gases and potentially harmful chemicals with proper PPE.

Due to operational requirements, the successful applicant is required to work in-person on campus.
Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with a minimum of five years\' experience working with research animals including common laboratory species such as mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, fish, cats, ferrets, sheep, mink, cattle, dogs, horses, poultry, dogs, cats or equivalent combination of education and experience with demonstrated knowledge in the indications for use of anesthetic, analgesic, and other common veterinary drugs, as well as aseptic procedures performed during surgery, surgical technique.
• Eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Medicine.
• Must be a licensed DVM in Canada or the United States with demonstrated knowledge and interest in laboratory animal medicine and pathology.
• Eligible for licensure as a private veterinary practitioner in the Province of Nova Scotia, which includes a criminal records check and passing a regional exam.
• Thorough up to date knowledge and understanding of Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines and procedures including new policies generated since 2020.
• Familiarity with MS Office applications (Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel), and the ability to use statistical tools in basic data analysis for reporting purposes.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, facilitation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and prioritization skills. Able to multi-task and work in a fast paced and changing environment.
• Ability to perform the physical demands of the job including good manual dexterity, mobility, auditory, olfactory, and visual skills.

Assets

• Knowledge of standards for and methods for review of protocol and animal research databases, such as ROMEO

Job Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie\'s core competencies (https://www.dal.ca/dept/leaders.html), in particular:

- Respect & Inclusion
- Adaptability
- Knowledge & Thinking Skills
- Communication
- Service
Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a defined benefit pension plan, health and dental plans, a health spending account, an employee and family assistance program and a tuition assistance program.
Application Consideration

Applications from university employees and external candidates are given concurrent consideration. Among short-listed candidates, university employees will be given special consideration.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi\'kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit .

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1
Open Date 02/22/2024
Close Date 03/21/2024
Open Until Filled No
Special Instructions to Applicant
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents * R\xc3\xa9sum\xc3\xa9 / Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Optional Documents * Cover Letter

Dalhousie University