Senior Manager, Animal Operations

RPM ReSearch is conducting a confidential search for a growing preclinical research organization seeking a Senior Manager, Animal Operations to lead a large-scale husbandry and cage wash operation supporting nonhuman primate research.

This is a significant leadership opportunity overseeing approximately 75 employees through six supervisors, with responsibility for workforce planning, operational consistency, leadership development, compliance, process improvement, and the daily execution of animal care operations. As the organization continues to grow, this role is expected to expand into broader operational leadership with a clear path toward an Associate Director position.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all husbandry and cage wash operations across a large, complex outdoor animal facility.
• Develop and mentor supervisors while building a high-performing, accountable frontline workforce.
• Drive workforce planning, scheduling, staffing, training, and operational consistency.
• Partner closely with Veterinary Services, Research, Quality, Facilities, Human Resources, Logistics, and Project Management.
• Support AAALAC accreditation activities, regulatory inspections, client audits, and ongoing audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, SOPs, occupational health and safety requirements, and animal welfare standards.
• Evaluate and improve operational workflows, sanitation, biosecurity, cage wash, training, and workforce effectiveness.
• Use operational data to support staffing decisions, process improvements, and continuous operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

We're looking for an experienced operations leader, not simply an experienced animal care professional.

The strongest candidates will have:

• At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience within a complex, highly regulated animal operation.
• Experience leading large frontline teams through supervisors or team leads.
• Experience with workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, productivity management, and labor planning.
• Experience working in FDA- and/or USDA-regulated environments with formal SOPs, compliance expectations, audit readiness, and corrective action processes.
• Experience overseeing husbandry, sanitation, cage wash, biosecurity, or comparable operational functions.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills.

Highly Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in the following environments will be especially competitive:

• Preclinical CROs
• Nonhuman primate research facilities
• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology vivaria
• National Primate Research Centers
• Other large, highly regulated animal operations with significant operational complexity

Experience supporting AAALAC-accredited facilities, USDA inspections, and regulatory or client audits is highly desirable.

Professional working proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred. While not required, candidates should be comfortable leading within a bilingual workforce where a significant portion of frontline employees primarily communicate in Spanish.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Lead a large, growing animal operations team.
• Help shape the future of a rapidly expanding preclinical research organization.
• Drive meaningful improvements in workforce development, operational excellence, compliance, and animal welfare.
• Opportunity for continued career growth into broader operational leadership.
• Relocation Assistance Available

Interested?

To apply, please submit your application through this posting or email your résumé directly to: Marina@RPMResearch.Solutions

Know someone who would be a great fit? Referrals are always appreciated.