Associate Director of Opertaions

Job Overview

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) is seeking an Associate Director of Operations to join our team at the Kansas site in Stilwell, KS.  

This site is the first of its kind, bridging CRL’s Discovery and Safety Assessment business units, while bringing automation to standard lead optimization toxicology study models to deliver rapid study results to our clients.  When you join our team, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe.

As Associate Director of Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Technical Operations Department, with responsibility for ensuring the effective execution of technical activities performed in support of non-clinical research studies. In this role you will develop and implement operational strategies, workforce plans, operational objectives, and process improvements to support the integrative toxicology strategy and business goals while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and company standards. You will also partner with cross-functional leaders to optimize study execution, resource utilization, employee development, and organizational performance.

The pay range for this position is $115,000 - $125,000 USD/annually.  Please note this range varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Technical Operations to ensure the successful execution of non-clinical studies and alignment with organizational objectives.


• Develop and implement strategies, operational objectives, and long-range plans that support business growth, operational excellence, and organizational goals.


• Lead workforce, capacity, and resource planning activities to ensure appropriate staffing, technical expertise, and operational readiness to meet current and future business needs.


• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to coordinate study-related activities, optimize resource utilization, and support efficient study execution.


• Monitor departmental performance through key performance indicators and operational metrics; identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective actions as needed.


• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity, regulatory compliance, employee safety, animal welfare, and successful study outcomes.


• Champion initiatives that enhance productivity, quality, efficiency, employee engagement, development and retention, animal welfare, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.


• Serve as a representative of Technical Operations in interactions with Sponsors, Consultants, regulatory agencies, auditors, inspectors, and other external stakeholders.


• Direct and develop managers, supervisors, and departmental personnel to achieve operational objectives and maintain high levels of performance and accountability.


• Lead talent management activities, including recruitment, succession planning, employee development, performance management, compensation recommendations, and employee relations matters in partnership with Human Resources.


• Ensure training and development needs are identified and addressed through the implementation of effective onboarding, technical training, leadership development, and career growth programs.


• Develop, manage, and monitor operating and capital budgets, ensuring responsible financial stewardship and alignment with business objectives.


• Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of systems, equipment, SOPs, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with company policies and industry standards.


• Partner with Human Resources to maintain organizational structures, job descriptions, and role clarity that support effectiveness and employee success.


• Foster a culture of safety, quality, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.


• Support and lead staff through hands-on support of daily technical activities.


• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent in Animal Science or related discipline. Master's degree preferred.


• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of related technical experience in a non-clinical research environment. Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience, including management of supervisors, managers, and/or large technical teams.


• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, workforce planning, budgeting, organizational development, and cross-functional leadership.


• Certification/Licensure: LATG preferred.


• Other: Strong leadership, organizational, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, influence stakeholders, and drive organizational results.

WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS:

• Employees must be able to lift, move, manipulate, and/or hold heavy objects up to and including 50 pounds; this includes work materials, equipment, and/or animals.


• Must be able to perform procedures, which require, talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.


• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.


• Works in a research environment, which requires use of sharp objects, working around mechanical parts, working with or near known or unknown toxic or caustic chemicals and/or biological hazards, exposure to fumes and airborne particles, working at noise levels ranging from moderate to loud.


• The employee regularly works with live animals with risk of exposure to allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards.


• The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high depending upon the species housed.