Attending Veterinarian/Local Animal Welfare Officer

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Your Role:

As the Local Animal Welfare Officer for Rockville, MD you will be responsible for the overall animal welfare program locally, supporting vendor audits, and ensuring site compliance with Corporate Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.

Responsibilities will include:

• Voting Member of IACUC. Review and give feedback on animal protocols internally. Participate in study review for externally placed work, as part of Merck Animal Use Review Board.
• Assist with the write-up, review or approval of specific AW procedures and quality documents locally.
• Ensure that the quality of care and animal facility environment follows corporate standards and policies, as well as governmental regulations and other guidelines.
• Manage authority visits, serving as the liaison with local authorities through written and verbal communication.
• Visit all animal rooms regularly to oversee the general health of the animals, the enrichment program, and the personnel approach to procedures in order to assure the welfare of the animals.
• Perform post approval monitoring for procedures involving living animals.
• Report and document animal welfare incidents and serve as the key contact to resolve all animal welfare concerns/incidents raised by the Speak-Up-Line or by other ways of communication, in close alignment with the communications departments as applicable.
• Review and monitor the training plan for animals (including positive reinforcement training).
• Review and monitor the training plan for personnel.
• If and where applicable, examine and release procedures and staff skills. Grant approval to work without supervision.
• Support CRO/Vendor audits.
• Perform internal audits.
• Support AAALAC accreditation/re-accreditation .
• Adhere to specific country regulations that may also apply (e.g., ILAR Guide, ETS123).
• Govern the re-homing process of animals used in the Merck animal facilities for scientific purposes.
• Review and advice on planning activities of new or rebuilt animal facilities concerning compliance with company standards and legal requirement.
• Provide high quality clinical veterinary medicine for Merck KGaA animal facilities.
• Ensure that the quality of care and animal facility environment follows corporate standards and policies, as well as governmental regulations and other guidelines.
• Responsible for determining, prescribing and/or providing treatments and oversight for care and husbandry of all animals housed in the vivarium.
• Monitoring and promoting animal well-being at all times during animal use, and during all phases of the animal's life. Support Global and local 4R efforts.
• Interact collaboratively with the research team (e.g., the Principal Investigator or Study Director) when making critical decisions regarding animal health and welfare.
• Must have sufficient authority, as provided by the institution, to treat an animal and institute appropriate measures to relieve severe pain or distress, including euthanasia.

Must have adequate resources to manage the overall program of veterinary care.

Who you are:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A DVM and at least 5 years of work experience in lab animal science/medicine in academia or industry or comparable field with record of increased responsibilities and accomplishments.
• ACLAM boarded preferred, ACLAM Eligible accepted

• Direct experience in research animal welfare oversight and quality assurance.
• Experience with the AAALAC accreditation process.
• Experience in large and small animal experimental sciences.
• Must possess clear understanding of

• Applicable regulations (e.g. USDA in the USA, EU and national regulations)
• The Guide For the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, standards related to the use of animals in research, teaching and testing.

• Must possess clear understanding related to the use of animals in research, teaching and testing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a GLP and Toxicology Testing Environment a plus.
• Proficiency with MS office (word, PPT, Excel) 

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and believe that it drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!
 
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