Job Information
Weill Cornell Medical College Animal Quality Assurance Specialist in New York, New York
Title: Animal Quality Assurance Specialist
Location: Upper East Side
Org Unit: Education and Quality Assurance
Work Days: Monday-Friday
Exemption Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $64,000.00 - $70,000.00
*As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices
Position Summary
Assists with the conduct and implementation of a government mandated training program for investigative staff using animals for research and teaching. Monitors and reports on matters of compliance with regard to applicable federal, state, institutional, and departmental regulations. Provides audits of in vivo research activities and hazardous agent use, tracks issues of in vivo research noncompliance and re-educates staff regarding protocol and regulatory compliance. Assists with regulatory matters of institutional concern for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Job Responsibilities
Conducts quality assurance reviews of animal resource program and laboratories to monitor and ensure compliance with federal, state, institutional and departmental regulations. Reports findings and develops methods to correct items of non-compliance.
Participates on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), provides protocol and amendment review, assists in protocol development and performs semi-annual facility and laboratory inspections.
Prepares reports to the IACUC on matters of non-compliance and develops plans for satisfactory resolution.
Interacts with Federal and NY State officials when inspecting the animal facilities. This includes escorting the inspectors within the facilities and in determining resolutions to inquiries or compliance matters.
Assists with training and review of operational procedures prior to study initiation for investigative staff utilizing biological, radionuclides, human xenografts, and/or chemical hazards to ensure appropriate safety precautions.
Disseminates information to staff to ensure compliance with project details and safeguards.
Conducts orientation, seminar, and wet-lab trainings for staff responsible for using animals in research and/or working in the vivarium.
Assists with the development, implementation, and recording of training activities.
Keeps abreast of developments in methods, standards, and requirements for training and post approval compliance monitoring for animal research as well as all current laws, regulations, and policies governing animal research, teaching, and testing.
Authors and assists in the development of institutional policies and Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to education, quality assurance, and hazardous agent use.
Meets regularly with Environmental Health and Safety to review and compose Protection and Control forms for hazardous agents.
Meets with investigative staff to conduct scheduled audits and/or re-training of in-vivo animal protocol procedures.
Conducts routine assessments of animal holding rooms/suites utilizing hazardous agents, to ensure projects are conducted as prescribed.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education/experience.
Approximately 4-7 years of experience in laboratory research utilizing animal models, laboratory animal technical skills, hazardous agent use, and teaching.
LAT or Veterinary Technician License required within 1 year of hire, LATg preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written).
Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Suite and database applications.
Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail.
Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact with multiple constituencies and exercise "people skills".
Must be capable of functioning independently with minimal supervision.
Licenses and Certifications
Working Conditions/Physical Demands
Occasional heavy lifting up to 50lbs
Must be able to handle fractious animals
May include occasional on-call assignments, weekends and holidays
Potential exposure to animal bites and scratches, needles and other sharp instruments, infectious agents, radiosotopes, toxic chemicals, and radiation
Exposure to a variety of animal species/workplace allergens
Weill Cornell Medicine is a comprehensive academic medical center that is committed to excellence in patient care, scientific discovery, and the education of future physicians and scientists in New York City and around the world. Our doctors and scientists - faculty from Weill Cornell Medical College, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and the Weill Cornell Physician Organization - are engaged in world-class clinical care and cutting-edge research that connect patients to the latest treatment innovations and prevention strategies. Located in the heart of the Upper East Side's scientific corridor, Weill Cornell Medicine's powerful network of collaborators extends to its parent university Cornell University; to Qatar, where an international campus offers a U.S. medical degree; and to programs in Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Our medical practices serve communities throughout New York City, and our faculty provide comprehensive care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Behavioral Health Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens. At Weill Cornell Medicine, we work together to treat each individual, not just their conditions or illnesses, as we strive to deliver the finest possible care for our patients - the center of everything we do. Weill Cornell Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Weill Cornell Medicine provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information.