Reports To: Facility Manager

Location: Thompson's Station, TN

Function: R&D

Level of Role: People Leader

Number of Reports: 10-20

Purpose of Role

The Animal Operations Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the animal care units, ensuring efficiency in operations and the direct supervision of the pet caretaking Associates. This Associate will work in direct support of the Pet Feeding Center Manager ensuring that the pets are cared for appropriately and fit for feeding research.

Principle Accountabilities

• Successfully implement and follow all USDA and Mars Animal Welfare Standards.
• Operate efficiently and effectively within the Mars Standards of Operations and the Mars Animal Management Programs
• Lead a team of Associates responsible for the day to day care of the PFC pets. Includes setting both work and developmental objectives, coaching for performance and development, managing staffing schedules and coordinating duties to ensure that the pets receive the best possible care.
• Collaborate globally with other pet feeding centers to develop operational best practice guidelines.
• Collaborate with the Veterinary Team to ensure all vet appointments and treatments are executed as needed by the pet care staff.
• Collaboration with the Product Performance scientist and facility manager to determine animal acquisition needs and execute the acquisition of animals necessary to provide the needed capabilities.
• Collaborate with the facility leadership team to create a rehoming strategy for facility pets and facilitate the rehoming of those pets identified.
• Collaborate with the Activity Manager to ensure awareness of the research needs within the animal care units. This will include (but is not limited to) fitness of pets for trial, identification and adaptation of specialized feeding protocols and validation of the pets for trial work.
• Collaborate with the Behaviorist and Trainer to ensure all pets are performing as expected. Responsible to ensure all training and behavior plans are being executed by the pet care staff. Responsible for empowering pet care Associates to identify any pets that are in need of additional training.
• Responsible for ensuring that the documentation of daily care standards is being successfully executed by the pet care staff.
• Collaborate with the Product Performance Scientist to ensure feeding protocols are being executed appropriately and that data being recorded is accurate and complete.

• Peer Relationships
• Conflict Management
• Organizational Skills
• Planning
• Managing and Measuring Work
• Motivating Others
• Directing Others
• Problem Solving

Critical Functional Competencies

• Product Quality Custodian
• Managing and Capturing Value
• Identify Efficiency Opportunities
• Risk and Opportunity Management
• Continuous Improvement

Key Functional Skills/ Knowledge

• Knowledge of animal health and management Issues
• Solid people leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of statistical methods

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience in the animal field (veterinary technician, zoo, etc.)
• BS in a Biological Science discipline

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an animal facility (research)
• Prior experience leading/managing people

Every associate at Mars has responsibility for the achievement of quality and food safety.
As a privately-held, family-owned company, Mars Petcare US offers benefits which reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining great people. This includes excellent pay, competitive health and dental care coverage, a retirement plan, a very competitive vacation plan and unrivalled career advancement opportunities, to name just a few of our unique and generous benefits.

If you're looking for a place where you can take ownership for your work, where the pace is fast, the environment is built around the importance of open communication, and where employees are called "associates" and treated as such, then we want to hear from you.