Description:
The Assistant University Veterinarian (AUV) reports to the University Veterinarian. The AUV provides adequate veterinary care, assurance of meeting Canadian Council on Animal Care standards in the respective animal facility. The AUV may also be required to provide directional advice and assistance to managerial staff and administration in the respective animal facility. The AUV provides direction and support to Registered Veterinary Technologists, assistance with animal-related matters within their jurisdiction, assistance with animal-related education programs on a campus-wide basis such as the Institutional Animal User Training Program, development of Standard Operating Procedures, participate in Animal Care Committee activities, and support the activities of the University Veterinarian and the University of Calgary Animal Care and Use Program. The AUV provides on-call veterinary services for the animal facility and shared on-call activities with the other Assistant University Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technologists that can involve some weekend and after hours work. In the absence of the University Veterinarian an AUV may be designated to act as the University Veterinarian. In the absence of the Associate University Veterinarian the AUV may be designated to act as the Associate University Veterinarian. The AUV has a strong role in animal use education for both undergraduate and graduate students and may be involved with collaborative research or independent research.
Some travel to animal and teaching facilities located at various university campuses and sites can be expected. Emergency coverage can lead to the need to work irregular hours.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- With the Animal Resources Centre management and staff, sharing in the mission and goals of the University of Calgary by: creating and delivering exemplary animal care services, conducting ethical review of animal uses, and promoting and enhancing competency in use of animals in research in a productive work and learning environment.
- Provide an efficient, responsible, responsive, and well-managed, flexible advice, education and assistance for faculty, students, and staff using animals in research.
- Provide the expertise necessary to efficiently, effectively, and ethically aid in the accomplishment of research objectives of the faculty and students.
- Responsible for providing service in the care and use of animals, ensuring that animal research is conducted, and laboratory animals are cared for and used, in accordance with government legislation, standards to which the University adheres, and in accordance with other applicable University policies.
- Perform these functions by providing professional advice, veterinary care and services, as well as through education, training, and collaboration.
- Responsible for ensuring that the University conducts research animal care and use of the highest possible standards in the achievement of the mission of the University.
- Together with the University Veterinarian, the AUV(s) aids in development, evaluation, and revision of University policies as well as its standard operating procedures on animal care.
- Responsible for daily interpretation, administration, and enforcement of the University's policies on animal care, as well as shared after hour on-call service with the UCARE veterinary staff.
- Provide expert professional advice and counsel on research animal protocols and research implementation.
- May serve as an approved Health Canada Qualified Person in Charge (QPIC) or Alternate Qualified Person in Charge (AQPIC) for the legal procurement, management, and sales of controlled substances. This includes a formal criminal record check.
- Supervise the daily conduct of researchers and technicians in relation to the daily activities of research using animals.
- The AUV may have a further educational role through adjunct associations with specific Faculties, and in particular with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in developing, revising, maintaining and delivering educational materials involved in laboratory animal science and medicine at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as maintaining educational programs for technical staff through in-house education or via the local Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS) Chapter.
- Integral part of the University's strategic planning and processes for animal care and use in research; ensures that critical animal care issues are identified and addressed; and from this position provides strategic information to the Animal Resources Centres Manager(s), the University Veterinarian, and members of the University's Faculties relative to animal care and use matters. An AUV may also be requested to serve as a Director of an animal facility. The AUV is expected to work collaboratively with the other AUVs across campus.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Must possess a degree in veterinary medicine (DVM or equivalent) and immediately obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in Alberta.
- A minimum of 2 years of experience in animal-based research is required.
- Post-graduate training or experience in laboratory animal medicine, surgery and laboratory animal science is required.
- Post-graduate training at the MSc level (PhD preferred) in a related discipline such as anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, epidemiology, immunology, host-pathogen interactions, molecular biology, mycology, parasitology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, research methodology, surgery, theriogenology, virology, etc. is required.
- Board Certification or eligibility for, and commitment to achieve, ACLAM Certification is desirable.
- Experience or advanced training in rodent genomics, phenomics, or metabolomics is desirable.
- Experience in multiple animal species could be a useful asset.
- Strong leadership skills, teamwork skills, and time management skills are absolutely essential.
- Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.