What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director, Colony Operations position at RPM ReSearch?
Associate Director, Colony Operations
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Associate Director, Colony Operations to support the daily operations of a large-scale NHP colony program. This individual will play a key leadership role across husbandry operations, workforce management, compliance, training, and process improvement initiatives. This is an on-site role, relocation assistance can be provided.
Reporting into senior leadership, this role requires a hands-on operational leader who can build strong relationships across teams, support regulatory excellence, and help drive operational efficiency and modernization efforts throughout the colony.
Key Responsibilities
- Support daily colony and husbandry operations in partnership with leadership, veterinary, and operational teams
- Maintain a strong field presence by engaging regularly with supervisors and frontline staff
- Oversee workforce coordination, onboarding, training, staffing support, and employee development initiatives
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, SOPs, training documentation, and operational best practices
- Support audit readiness, inspections, accreditation activities, and continuous improvement efforts
- Partner cross-functionally to improve communication, operational consistency, and workflow efficiency
- Help drive digitization and process modernization initiatives to reduce manual administrative burden
- Serve as a mentor and resource to operational managers and supervisors
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 8 years of experience within animal research, vivarium, agricultural production, livestock operations, or similarly regulated compliance-driven environments
- Demonstrated experience leading teams in fast-paced operational settings
- Strong organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with USDA, AAALAC, OLAW, or related regulatory frameworks
Preferred Skills & Experience
- Experience supporting large-scale husbandry or colony operations
- AALAS Certified, ILAM graduate and CMAR eligible
- Experience implementing operational process improvements or digitization initiatives
- Experience supporting large frontline workforces
- Bilingual Spanish/English strongly preferred
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is hands-on, approachable, and relationship-oriented, with the ability to balance field engagement and operational leadership with administrative and compliance responsibilities. They are someone who enjoys building systems, improving processes, developing teams, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
This role is ideal for someone looking to step into broader operational leadership and make a meaningful impact within a growing organization.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please apply directly or send your resume to marina@rpmresearch.solutions. We always welcome referrals and recommendations!