Global Animal Welfare Specialist and Risk Assessment Lead

Role Description

The Global Animal Welfare Specialist and Risk Assessment Lead serves as a strategic and operational leader responsible for advancing animal welfare standards across a global research enterprise. This role provides expert guidance to institutional animal care and use programs worldwide, assesses and mitigates risk through external site evaluations and vendor oversight, leads regulatory and accreditation readiness efforts, and drives the optimization of electronic systems that support global compliance. The position requires deep scientific and regulatory knowledge, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to operate effectively across multiple sites, time zones, and regulatory jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

• Global IACUC Advisory & Governance

• Serve as a primary advisor to global Oversight Bodies, providing expert guidance on regulatory requirements, protocol review standards, and institutional compliance obligations.

• Lead and oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Global Animal Welfare Policies and the Post Approval Monitoring (PAM).

• Drive harmonization of the PAM programs across all global sites to ensure consistency in standards, language, and application while accommodating regional regulatory requirements.

• Site Leadership - Kalamazoo & Richland

• Serve as the lead for the Post Approval Monitoring program for conducting PAM activities for the Kalamazoo and Richland sites.

• Partner with the Attending/Designated Veterinarians, facility managers, and research teams to maintain fully compliant, high-functioning animal care and use programs at both locations.

• Talent Development & Mentorship

• Mentor and coach more junior colleagues pursuing the Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA) certification, providing structured guidance, study support, and professional development opportunities.

• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the animal welfare and compliance team.

• Regulatory Knowledge & Quality Systems

• Apply working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) quality systems to ensure animal welfare programs align with broader organizational compliance frameworks.

• Provide input and guidance during regulatory inspections (e.g., USDA APHIS, FDA) and accreditation site visits (e.g., AAALAC International), serving as a key point of contact and subject matter expert.

• Electronic Systems Oversight & Process Optimization

• Oversee electronic IACUC management systems, including ongoing administration, upgrades, and system migrations.

• Lead process optimization initiatives for electronic systems associated with Global Animal Welfare, including both ongoing improvements and planned enhancements.

• Third-Party Risk Assessment & Vendor Oversight

• Own the end-to-end risk assessment process for external vendors, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and collaborating institutions where company-sponsored animal research is conducted.

• Develop and maintain a risk-tiering framework to prioritize oversight activities based on the nature, volume, and complexity of animal use at each external site.

• Schedule, conduct, and document animal welfare due diligence site visits, assigning risk ratings and tracking any findings through to remediation and closure.

• Lead vendor and CRO selection, qualification, and ongoing management, ensuring alignment with global animal welfare policies and quality expectations.

• Design, implement, and maintain a third-party animal welfare dashboard providing real-time visibility into site risk status, visit history, upcoming assessments, and outstanding findings across the global portfolio.

• Global IACUC Harmonization

• Support the ongoing effort to harmonize IACUC operations across global sites, with scope defined and led in partnership with the Head, Global Animal Welfare Risk Management.

• Contribute to alignment of policies, procedures, protocol review processes, templates, and other IACUC practices across institutions, adapting approaches to accommodate regional regulatory requirements.

• Serve as a collaborative resource to global IACUCs seeking consistency in standards and operational practices, while remaining flexible to the evolving priorities and direction set by institutional leadership.

• EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Required

• Bachelor's degree in a life science, veterinary, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Significant experience in IACUC administration, laboratory animal science, or a closely related regulatory/compliance field.

• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable regulations and guidelines, including the Animal Welfare Act, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and AAALAC standards.

• Experience working within or alongside GLP, GCP, and/or GMP quality systems.

• Proven ability to manage cross-functional projects and lead process improvement initiatives.

• Preferred

• CPIA certification or active pursuit thereof.

• Experience with multi-site or global IACUC programs.

• Familiarity with electronic IACUC management platforms.

• Experience conducting vendor/CRO due diligence audits or risk-based site visits.

• Strong analytical and data visualization skills, particularly in building compliance dashboards or reporting tools.