Animal Facility Manager

REF: 26-101_SS_MM

About the research group

The IDIBELL Animal Facility provides support to researchers who require the use of laboratory animals (mice, hamsters, and zebrafish) for their research projects. The facility covers approximately 800 m² and is divided into two units: one dedicated to housing mice and hamsters, located on the third floor, and another dedicated to housing zebrafish, located on the ground floor.

The Animal Facility is registered as an authorized animal user establishment with the Government of Catalonia (Registration No. B-9900010). It is licensed by the Spanish Ministry to house and work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) up to Biosafety Level 2 (OGM A/ES/05/I-14 and OGM A/ES/I-15) and is accredited by the AAALAC (Unit 1155).

Researchers working in the Animal Facility must have a research project approved by the IDIBELL Animal Ethics Committee (CEEA IDIBELL) and the Animal Experimentation Committee of the Government of Catalonia, in compliance with current national and European legislation (Directive 86/609/EEC, Royal Decree 1201/2005, and Royal Decree 214/1997).

IDIBELL has signed the Agreement on Transparency in Animal Research promoted by COSCE and the European Animal Research Association (EARA), reaffirming its commitment to transparency and the responsible use of animals in scientific research.

About the role

* Provide the technical and organizational leadership of the Animal Facility in collaboration with the Supervisor.

* Assume veterinary oversight of laboratory animals in accordance with current legislation, with the support of the Animal Facility staff.

* Design, implement and oversee animal health and welfare programmes. Report the results of health monitoring to the Internal Committee and Scientific Management, and submit proposals for corrective and/or preventive actions where necessary.

* Communicate with the Internal Committee, Scientific Management and/or Management regarding incidents, operational needs or other matters related to the Animal Facility, and present improvement proposals.

* Advise researchers on animal models, animal welfare, experimental procedures and refinement strategies, and respond to their technical queries.

* Ensure compliance with European, national and regional regulations governing the use of animals for scientific purposes.

* Participate in the activities of the Animal Ethics Committee (CEEA) and act as an advisor on animal welfare.

* Lead accreditation processes and ensure compliance with quality standards (AAALAC and other applicable quality systems).

* Define technical procedures and ensure their effective implementation in collaboration with the Supervisor and the technical staff.

* Lead and coordinate the Animal Facility team, establishing objectives, priorities and training needs in collaboration with the Supervisor.

* Oversee the planning of human resources, equipment and the service budget.

* Collaborate in the representation of the Animal Facility before external organisations, competent authorities and researchers, in coordination with the Internal Animal Facility Committee.

* Promote the implementation of new technologies and procedures to continuously improve the quality of the service.

* Ensure compliance with regulations concerning biosafety, waste management and occupational health and safety, in collaboration with the Supervisor.

* Participate in the Institute's strategic planning regarding all matters related to the use of laboratory animals.

* Optionally, participate in weekend and public holiday on-call duties on a rotating basis, performing the tasks and following the protocols established for these shifts.

* Without prejudice to the duties described above, the employee may be required to perform other tasks appropriate to their professional group and job.

Job requirements

Professional experience

* Previous experience in managing an animal facility or laboratory animal unit (rodents and/or fish) in a research environment.
* Experience in supervising technical staff.
* Experience in operational planning and management (maintenance, inventory, consumables).
* Experience in managing audits and accreditations.

Education and training

* Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent).

* Accreditation issued by the Government of Catalonia for personnel working in laboratory animal facilities, covering Functions A, B, C, D, I and F, including qualification to act as a Designated Veterinarian. 

Technical & soft skills

* Leadership and team management: Ability to coordinate, motivate, and supervise the technical staff.
* Planning and organization: Efficient management of tasks, resources, schedules, and workflows.
* Effective communication: Clear and constructive communication with technical staff and research groups.
* Problem-solving: Ability to quickly detect issues and propose solid, practical solutions.
* Decision-making: Ability to prioritize and act autonomously in urgent or critical situations.
* Detail orientation: High rigor in procedures, records, biosecurity and regulatory compliance.
* Adaptability: Comfortable working with different species and adjusting to new protocols or regulations.
* Teamwork and collaboration: Strong ability to coordinate with other units, services, and ethical committees.
* Commitment to animal welfare: Ethical, responsible approach in all animal-related procedures.
* Ability to work within a tight budget.
* Ability to work both on your own and in a team.

Languages

* Good command of the English language.
* Native-level proficiency in Spanish.

We will value, but not required

* A Master's or Postgraduate Degree in Laboratory Animal Science will be positively valued.
* Proficiency in Catalan.

What do we offer

* No. of positions: 1

* Estimated start date: As soon as possible.

* Contract duration: Permanent

* Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay ranges.

* You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.

* Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way.

* 26 working days of holiday per year

* System of accumulated hours for employees, from 88 to 104 hours depending on the year (11 to 13 working days), to attend to personal matters.

* Paid leave package

* Benefits of constant training are offered

* We offer and promote diverse and inclusive conditions. Applicants are made free from any discrimination. Specifically IDIBELL works to improve gender equality in all areas with the aim of achieving gender balance, but maintaining the most scrupulous respect to any choice at the level of gender identity. Please express yourself freely, safely and non-binarily, if that's the case.

Deadline: Please submit your application by 05/08/2026

Data protection notice

In compliance with the obligations established in the General Regulation of Data Protection (RGPD), which is the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, and the Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights, it is reported that the Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), CIF G58863317, with address Av. Granvia de l'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, will process your personal data, as the controller, to apply for the position, maintain communication concerning the status of the candidature, to access the delivered CV; to compare that your data is in accordance with the offers announced by IDIBELL and to verify, where appropriate, that the information provided is accurate. You can find more information in our Privacy Policy at https://idibell.cat/en/privacy-policy-2/, request more information about the data processing carried out and exercise your rights of access, rectification, deletion, opposition, portability, limitation of processing by sending a request at email: dataprotection@idibell.cat. If you consider that you have not obtained satisfaction in exercising your rights, you may submit a claim to Catalan Data Protection Authority.

Our institute

IDIBELL is a research center that integrates the biomedical research of the Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB), and the Viladecans Hospital (HV). The research focuses of IDIBELL are cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the pivots on which researchers work every day in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Observations:

The 'HR Excellence in Research' award represents IDIBELL’s commitment to the implementation of Human Resources policies, which oversee the attracting and development of talent in an open, transparent, and based on personal merit, in alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Researchers (Charter and Code).

IDIBELL is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the implementation of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTMR).