Applicants who are interested in the Position should send a cover letter and resume to: info@springpointproject.org

Position Objective

Oversee and lead the Program of Veterinary care for the Spring Point Project Source Animal Facility (SAF) swine herd in New Richmond, WI and potential future sites. This role involves balancing the scientific and biosecurity needs of the program and the facility with strict ethical and regulatory standards.

Serves as the Attending Veterinarian of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and ensures compliance to maintain facility USDA licensure and AAALAC accreditation.

Provides herd veterinary care including medical, herd health, biosecurity, and surgical services. Supports strategic planning and implementation of health maintenance within the organization and the animal breeding program. Provides medical and surgical services for approved procedures and protocols.

Ensures Program of Veterinary care aligns with Quality Management System (QMS) and complies with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP).

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care & Supervision: Responsible for overseeing the health, welfare, and clinical care of laboratory animals and veterinary aspects of SPP's Source Animal Facility (SAF) swine herd in New Richmond, WI and potential future sites. Manages diagnostic monitoring, documentation and reporting programs in close alignment with external Diagnostic laboratories.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all animal research, housing, and handling procedures comply with federal, state, and institutional policies, procedures, protocols and regulations including USDA/DEA licensure and AAALAC accreditation standards.

IACUC Participation: Serve as the Attending Veterinarian (AV) on the organization’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Administrative & Staff Management: Direct the veterinary team, including contract veterinarians, technicians, and animal care personnel, including training on proper care and ethical treatment of animals.

Primary Job Duties

Responsible for Program of Veterinary Care (POV) and veterinary oversight at the Source Animal Facility (SAF) in New Richmond, WI.
Provides veterinary care, surgical and diagnostic services for all animals housed at the SAF including donor diagnostic and sentinel programs, animals with health problems, pre- and post-operative patients, nursery patients, quarantine program and necropsy services.
Works closely with the animal care team, especially the Husbandry Manager to ensure animal health and welfare.
Provides euthanasia services and guidance assuring compliance with the AVMA's Panel for Euthanasia report guidelines.
Provides pathology services – performing and evaluating scheduled and unscheduled diagnostics of necropsy, serologic and bacteriologic sample collection for the sentinel and donor diagnostic programs to maintain the designated pathogen free (DPF) status of the herd in conjunction with external diagnostic laboratories and monitoring the results as they are reported.
Ensures the proper and humane care and handling of all animals housed at the SAF.

Regulatory Compliance

Ensures adherence to all federal, state and local regulations and guidelines regarding animal care, use, and shipment.
Maintains veterinary components of Quality Management System (QMS) and Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP).
Responsible for maintaining Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and compliance procedures.
Ensures compliance to maintain AAALAC and USDA licensure/accreditation. Assists IACUC with maintaining required registrations and accreditation, assuring federal and accreditation agencies that all standards and requirements for care and use of laboratory animals at the SAF are met including, as applicable, annual reports to OLAW-(NIH), USDA and AAALAC.
Assists in compliance with FDA's "Final Guidance for Industry: Source Animal, Product, Preclinical and Clinical Issues Concerning the Use of Xenotransplantation Products in Human" and with the PHS "Guidelines on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation," and monitors regulatory developments in xenotransplantation.

IACUC Activities

Serves on the IACUC in the capacity of Attending Veterinarian (AV).
Reviews all protocols (current and proposed) involving animal use; coordinates and supervises the maintenance of all animal study protocols and related animal use records; prepares for semi-annual facility inspections of all animal use areas and conducts semi-annual facility inspections.
Reviews all ongoing research protocols involving animal use and provides professional consultation to users of animals at the SAF.
Collaborate with scientists to develop animal models, optimize research protocols, and provide technical guidance on complex procedures.

Program Management

Maintains appropriate biosecurity monitoring and contingency programs.
Manages employee Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) program on an ongoing basis.
Oversees pest, parasite, nutrition, quarantine and biosecurity programs/plans.

Administrative & Management

Establishes, reviews, and updates veterinary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the SAF.
Coordinates duties and responsibilities with Facility, Husbandry, and Quality Management and liaises with the Spring Point Project Safety Advisory Board, Diagnostic Laboratories and other expert consultants.
Develops and implements SAF policies on animal care and use with approval of the IACUC. Stays current on laboratory animal medicine and management, swine health, nutrition, and infectious disease.
Assists in planning for construction and/or improvement of animal housing and veterinary/surgical facilities at the SAF.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Essential: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) degree from an AVMA-accredited college of veterinary medicine. Valid license to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Wisconsin. DEA registration to administer controlled veterinary drugs.

Desirable: Board certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) desirable. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working in FDA-regulated environments.

Experience

Experience in large animal veterinary medicine, surgery, and husbandry. Veterinary medicine and surgical experience with swine preferred.

Experience in laboratory animal medicine or a similar research environment, preferably in an AAALAC accredited facility.

Minimum Qualifications

Computer Skills

Microsoft 365 proficiency (Word, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, etc.).
Adobe Acrobat proficiency.

Technical Skills

Basic understanding of statistics is preferred.
Mechanical aptitude preferred.
Effective oral and written communication skills.

Organizational & Time Management Skills

Must be highly detailed-oriented and can maintain attention to detail while executing multiple tasks.
Must be extremely well-organized with strong communication skills both verbal and written.
Must be self-motivated with ability to handle, organize, and prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines.

Communication Skills

Strong leadership, communication, and administrative skills, with a deep understanding of ethical standards in research.
Ability to effectively build and maintain interdepartmental coordination, communication, and relationships.
Must have the ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.

Additional Requirements

Availability: Must be able to work a flexible schedule with occasional weekend work availability required. Requires being on-call for emergency animal care and working in environments with bio-safety restrictions. Potential for emergencies and coordination across multiple departments.
Travel: Limited, infrequent travel may be required.
Allergies: A potential disqualification exists for individuals with allergic conditions that are aggravated by contact with animals.
Health Assessment: Due to extreme high herd health, the position is contingent upon meeting strict biosecurity (primarily personal and intimate contact's swine contact/withdrawal time), background, and pre-employment health and annual health screening requirements. Must pass pre-employment health screening and annual health screening.
Outside Swine Contact: Cannot reside on or near a swine farm. Cannot be in daily contact (or any individual within the household) with swine outside of the Spring Point Project animal facility.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $135,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 24 – 40 per week

Work Location: In person

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