Job Summary:

The field of Laboratory Animal Management requires a specialized knowledge of the operations of a highly technical research environment. There are numerous laws, regulations and policies that must be adhered to, such as the Animal Welfare Regulations, PHS Policy, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and IACUC policies. In addition, the cage wash and dock areas have specialized equipment serving the facility. This position will report to the Operations Manager for the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources (OLAR). The individual is expected to operate with minimal supervision and make decisions regarding the operation of the cage wash, docks, and auxiliary areas of OLAR run facilities in conjunction with the Operations Manager and within the regulations and universities policies with minimal guidance. The Operations Supervisor is responsible for the direct supervision of Operations Technicians to ensure normal day-to-day operation of the animal facility, which is approximately 10 direct reports. This position will participate in hiring decisions, evaluate performance, resolve grievances, create and alter work assignments, and initiate disciplinary actions. This full-time University Staff (unclassified) Operations Supervisor position provides routine and specialized care for equipment, facility support areas and supply management, which support studies performed by scientists for biomedical research and education in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver | Anschutz). The Operations Supervisor position will facilitate the normal day-to-day operations of all vivariums that are run by OLAR on the Anschutz Medical Campus by providing direct supervision to the departments’ operations technicians staff and daily hands-on management of the operations of the cage wash facility, docks, procedure rooms, and auxiliary areas that serve all OLAR Animal Facilities (approximately 130,000 sq. feet), in accordance with regulatory and CU Denver | Anschutz standards. The Operations Supervisor has supervisory responsibilities over all Operations Technician positions operating in the areas of responsibility. This position has the authority to assign tasks, evaluate, and implement training processes, check the Operations Technician staff’s work for timeliness and correctness, monitor progress and workflow and adjust as necessary, and participate in the hiring, evaluation and grievance processes as well as initiate the disciplinary action processes. The Operations Supervisor is responsible for the work of the OLAR Operations Tech staff and must ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the animal facility.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assign, monitor and supervise the daily activities of the operations technician personnel to ensure appropriate staffing levels.

• Direct, manage, and maintain the operations of all facility equipment.

• Perform regular walk-throughs of the facility to ensure compliance. Follow up with any non-compliance issues that have been noted to ensure correction.

• Supervise staff responsible for; the receipt of incoming cages and supplies for processing, meeting cage supply requests for husbandry staff and special researcher needs and reporting and assigning work schedules for missing staff. 

• Build and maintain good working relationships within the department while overseeing daily operations of the auxiliary areas (docks, corridors, procedures rooms, etc.) and cage wash facilities.

• Perform and report time collection for operations technician employees.

• Oversee cage wash facilities and auxiliary areas by auditing check sheets and sanitation records to ensure compliance.

• Coordinate the schedules for their direct reports and adjust assigned work schedules accordingly.

• Participate in human resource functions by participating in the interview process for applicants for departmental positions, make recommendations on hires; set objectives and conduct performance appraisals for staff; and handle the initial steps in the corrective action/disciplinary process for the staff, knowing when to involve the Operations Manager or other higher levels of management up to and including the Director.

• Works with Operations Manager for facility maintenance needs, preparing and reporting work orders, and acting as a liaison between the facility and those performing services, including the monitoring of the automated watering system, the HVAC system (both room level and rack level), the lighting control system and the temperature and humidity system. This includes troubleshooting, acknowledging alarms, reporting problems for repair, and responding to outages.

• Work with other departmental supervisors and managers to manage equipment and/or supply shortages that affect the facility operations.

• Recruit, select, hire, train, orient, assign, monitor, ensure compliance, and supervise the daily activities of the operations technicians, as well as oversee daily operations of the cage wash facility and auxiliary areas.

• Work with other departmental supervisors and managers to develop and implement policies, SOPs and an appropriate training program to ensure compliance with the regulations, including continuing education and new staff training.

• Serve as a research staff liaison, including as a point of contact for requests and assistance as required on a daily basis with the overall responsibility to ensure that all OLAR customers receive high quality care and customer service.

• Manage inventories and submit orders for supplies when they are needed, while being mindful of the budget.

• Assist Operations Manager and other upper management to ensure that the department budget is being used appropriately.

• Perform the duties of the Operations Manager in their absence and assist with the duties of the other Operations Supervisor in their absence.

• Provide back-up assistance to all departmental positions, as needed.

• On occasion may be required to drive a university vehicle to transport animals, carcasses, and/or supplies.

• Supervise and schedule the research van to transport animals and supplies between facilities.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Work Location:

Onsite – this role is expected to work onsite and is located in Aurora, CO.

Why Join Us:

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10%25 of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 10/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience in a field involving inventory management, supply coordination, or operational oversight. Examples of relevant fields may include warehouse operations, logistics, procurement, manufacturing, or facility operations.

• Two of the three years of experience must involve responsibilities related to process optimization, data tracking, or operational analysis.

• One year of experience must be in a lead or supervisory role overseeing staff, workflows, or resource allocation.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• AALAS certification at any level.

• Multilingual preferred

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be willing and able to sit, stoop, kneel and balance on an occasional basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 100 lbs. on an occasional basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to stand, walk, climb stairs, crouch and squat on a frequent basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. on a frequent basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to type/enter data on a frequent basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to bend and reach above shoulders on a constant basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to lift and carry up to 10 lbs. on a constant basis, with or without accommodation.

• Must be willing and able to work around chemicals and solvents.

• Must be willing and able to work around noise and vibrations.

• Must be willing and able to walk on uneven surfaces and work in small, confined spaces.

• Must be willing and able to operate moving equipment/vehicles and work around machinery.

• Must be willing and able to work in hazardous conditions.

• Must be willing and able to wear appropriate respiratory protection.

• Must be willing and able to euthanize rodents.

• Must possess and maintain a current, valid State of Colorado Driver’s License by the time of hire.

• Must be willing and able to work straight or rotating shifts, weekends and holidays.

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NOTE: This position has been designated as essential personnel, “Subject to call 24 hours per day, seven days per week” and may be required to carry a communication device. Position may also be required to “Stay over late” or “Come in early” to “Cover” shifts, as needed and may be required to respond to any emergencies as needed. If hired, you will be required to provide effective off-hours phone contact info for emergency call-in purposes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.

• Detail oriented and possess excellent written communication skills (which includes the ability to check for typographical, grammatical and spelling errors).

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport with people of diverse backgrounds.

• Computer skills that include experience with e-mail, word processing, and manipulating databases, especially with the Microsoft Office Suite of products.

• Ability to investigate and develop solutions to problems by changing processes or educating other individuals to include direct reports, peers, supervisors, and customers.

• Ability to enter data into a database.

• Ability to create documents and spreadsheets.

• Knowledge of an animal research facility and specialized equipment used in the facility.

• Ability to maintain an activity log.

• Ability to work with complex machinery, mechanical ability.

• Able to teach and supervise staff effectively.

• Planning and organization skills.

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How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Maria Montero [email protected]

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until February 8, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as  $63,000 - $68,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected]​.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.