Animal Communicator Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Department: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular,Ongoing

Salary: $110,000 - $135,000 per year

Compensation Band: OS-OA10-Fiscal Year2026-2027

FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins: August 20, 2026; position open until filled

The position is full-time and located in Eugene, Oregon.

The University of Oregon (UO) holds the distinction of a "very highresearch activity" ranking in the Carnegie Classification ofInstitutions of Higher Education and is one of only two PacificNorthwest members of the Association of American Universities(AAU). The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation(OVPRI) serves as an advocate and catalyst within the Universityfor expanding the range and impact of UO's research, scholarship,and creative endeavors.

The OVPRI oversees sponsored programs, research compliance,technology transfer, research development, and administrativeresponsibility for numerous high-profile research centers andinstitutes and core research facilities, which provideopportunities for faculty across the university to collaborate onresearch efforts that are inherently interdisciplinary, and ofsignificant societal importance. The OVPRI is committed toenhancing these efforts by providing operational support andadministrative leadership for the UO's program for humane care anduse of animals.

Animal Welfare Services (AWS) is responsible for managing acentralized program of laboratory animal care compliant with alllocal, state, and federal regulations surrounding animal use inresearch, teaching, and testing, including but not limited to theAnimal Welfare Act, the NIH Guide for the Care and Use ofLaboratory Animals, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Careand Use of Laboratory Animals, and the U.S. Government Principlesfor the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing,Research, and Training.

The Director of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) provides support tothe IACUC (Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee) in theservice of research excellence and compliance with legalrequirements, and advice on best practices including organizing andmaintaining IACUC communication and records. This position providesguidance to University of Oregon researchers on best practices forperforming research that is compliant with all relevant animal careand use regulations and assists researchers in resolving barriersto compliance, including helping them develop protocols that arelikely to obtain IACUC approval and guiding them through theapproval process. The Director provides strategic leadership andvision and provides operational support for the InstitutionalOfficial and the IACUC to timely take all steps necessary tosatisfy the requirements in applicable regulations and guidance,including the Animal Welfare Act and the Guide to the Care and Useof Animals.

The Director facilitates cooperative agreements among theUniversity of Oregon and collaborating institutions for researchinvolving vertebrate animals, and works with the IACUC, facilitiesdirectors, and veterinarians in formulating a training program andconducting trainings. The Director serves as the UO's primarycontact with OLAW, USDA, other agencies and collaborativeinstitutions. The successful finalist will be adept in proactiveand solutions-oriented customer service, policy development andprocess improvements, team-oriented, detail-oriented, andoutcomes-focused.

This position reports to the Associate Vice President for ResearchOperations and will be responsible for managing AWS support staff.Due to the nature of the position, the selected candidate must beable to be in the office at least four days of the week or more ascircumstances require.

• - Bachelor's or Associate's degree.
• - Certification as Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA) OR atleast one year of relevant IACUC experience (including, forexample, oversight of animal programs, investigations ofnoncompliance, drafting of research policies and procedures,navigating regulatory/ accreditation processes, deliveringtrainings on animal care and use), and the ability to sit for theCPIA within one year of hire.
• - Three years of experience working with the ethical principles,federal regulations, agency guidelines, contracts, or nationallyaccepted standards for animal research.

The University will consider any equivalent combination ofknowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimumqualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage youto think broadly about your background, skill set, and anyexperience that might be transferable to the role.

• - Knowledge of federal and state reporting criteria associated withanimal programs
• - Highly developed knowledge of humane care, management, andhousing of animals with an understanding of standards andguidelines as established by institutional, local, state, national,and international regulations and AAALAC International
• - Ability to maintain knowledge of changing policies, regulations,and guidance and to implement changes into local practices
• - Ability to effectively manage employees
• - Highly developed interpersonal, oral, and written communicationskills to interact with a variety of stakeholders
• - Commitment to transparency, diplomacy, discretion, andprofessionalism
• - Ability to maximize the capabilities of staff and promote aculture of high performance and continuous programmaticimprovement
• - Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills and abilityto set appropriate priorities between multiple concurrenttasks
• - Proficiency with information technology, including web, wordprocessing, data entry, specialized programs, and managingelectronic information
• - Ability to solve problems independently as well as in acollaborative team environment and represent the university in aprofessional manner
• - Ability to enable new investigative techniques while meetingcompliance requirements.
• - Commitment to advancing the university's research goals increating a facilitative environment for research while navigatingan increasingly complex research compliance environment.
• - Ability to work effectively with individuals from culturallydiverse backgrounds.

• - Master's degree, J.D., or two years of experience in researchcompliance, animal science, or a related field.
• - Animal welfare experience working in a research-intensiveinstitution of higher education with AAALAC accreditation.
• - Thorough knowledge of vivarium methodology and operations.
• - Experience as a member of an Institutional Biosafety Committee(IBC).
• - Experience with electronic IACUC protocol submissionsystems.
• - Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA).
• - Familiarity with typical university contracts and agreementsrelating to the IACUC.
• - Proven track record of success facilitating progressiveorganizational change and development within a growingorganization.
• - Distinguished record of organizational leadership as evidenced byexperience having supervised a team, having fostered an inclusive,collaborative and respectful work culture, or helping an entitynavigate government regulatory changes
• - Demonstrated proficiency in a broad range of research complianceareas, including an in-depth knowledge of the federal and stateregulatory framework governing animal subject research.

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successfulcompletion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefitspackage to eligible employees, including health insurance,retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information aboutbenefits, visit ourwebsite.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institutioncommitted to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americanswith Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualifiedindividuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of anyprotected status, including veteran and disability status. TheUniversity is committed to providing reasonable accommodations toapplicants and employees with disabilities. To request anaccommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion,national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genderexpression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions),age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (includingfamily medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship,service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and statelaw), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use ofleave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activitiesand employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicablelaws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy.Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity andAccess. Contact information, related policies, and complaintprocedures are listedhere.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon preparesan annual report on campus security and fire safety programs andservices. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report isavailable online.