Animal Care/ Use Compliance Specialist - Hackensack Meridian Health

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At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Animal Care/Use Compliance Specialist oversees the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for the Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Network. This position is responsible for maintaining the quality assurance standards for IACUC. The incumbent ensures that all activities involving animals comply with all governing bodies and their mandates. Additionally, this role may lead less experienced specialists and provide regulatory guidance to investigators.

A day in the life of a Animal Care/Use Compliance Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Reviews, implements, and maintains IACUC procedures and policies. Recommends changes and modifications as needed.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, and local laws and regulations relevant to use of animals in research, teaching, and testing for all species used or housed at CDI.
• Maintains all related records in compliance with HMH SOPs and regulatory requirements.
• Reviews and analyzes documentation supporting the annual report to the USDA of animal pain/distress categories.
• Oversees the entire review process, including pre-review and post review for research animal care and uses protocols, amendments and annual reviews.
• Follows up on all protocol changes and modifications required by the IACUC.
• Communicates with investigators, IACUC Committee members, IACUC Chair, Vet and animal care staff on a regular basis.
• Notifies investigators of actions taken by the IACUC with respect to their research protocols.
• Independently schedules and performs post-approval monitoring audits.
• Organize and accompany the IACUC on semiannual inspections of the animal facility and laboratories; and perform inspection rechecks for any noncompliance found.
• Implements and maintains the IACUC electronic review system by developing smart forms and runs reviews through the electronic system.
• Responsible for updating and writing IACUC Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines.
• Prepares IACUC meeting minutes, correspondence, agendas, and semi-annual Inspection, PHS, USDA and AAALAC reports under the guidance of the IACUC Chair and Institutional Attending Veterinarian.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences, ethics, public health or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience and knowledge of USDA and PHS regulations.
• Demonstrated written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of research and medical terminology.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a team-oriented environment, follow through, independently perform against deadlines with frequent interruptions and competing priorities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and initiative in collecting technical information from a wide variety of sources; to maintain confidentiality with tact and discretion; to interpret and apply ethical principles.
• Strong computer skills including MS Office, Word, Excel.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Master's degree.
• Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA), AALAS Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification, or certification eligible.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA) within 2 years of hire date. 

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!