Vivarium Operations Coordinator

Clinical Services Scientist

The Clinical Services Scientist position under the guidance of a West Point Laboratory Animal Resources husbandry operations, works to provide world-class animal care to impact drug development and discovery and improve human health.

With minimal direction and in compliance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures, the company's Research & Development study requirements, as well as applicable regulations and guidelines to include USDA regs, NIH Guide and Good Laboratory Practices, this position oversees the details of animal care and related activities of Laboratory Animal Resources, to include indirect guidance of animal care workers. Has responsibility to assist with the training, development, assignment coordination and safety of hourly personnel. Contributes to making work assignments, ensuring completion and quality, and administers personnel policies. Ensures that quality support of research laboratory animal programs is a team effort between LAR, research staff and other support organizations. Collaborates across projects; communicates work-related information to project teams: some contacts outside the department/company; may represent functional group on department teams or committees. Independently carries out minor technical duties related to laboratory practices, supplies organization, and laboratory records management.

Contributions include:

Contributes to interdepartmental collaborations with other members of the company's Research & Development community. Assists with managerial reports as required (census, facility records) Communicates effectively, both verbal and written, with departmental and research staff. Assumes an assistant role in training of departmental staff in specific activities. Provides guidance to husbandry staff in conjunction with line management. Assists with the processing of orders of animals to meet research needs. In collaboration with other LAR personnel assists with the development and implementation of equipment and process validation programs. This includes but is not limited to, the validation of sanitation procedures, water testing, airborne particulate analysis, and temperature and light level testing and validation. Maintains animal source and transaction records in compliance with the company, state, and federal requirements. Assists with development, implementation, and monitoring of SOPs for daily activities. Manages husbandry equipment including rack washers, bottle washers, Tunnels washers, automated bedding systems, and bulk sterilizers, and trains employees in their operation. Is included in rotational weekend and holiday duty.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Required: BA/BS in Biology, Chemistry or related in vivo field (or expected BA/BS graduation no later than June 2026)
• Preferred: MS in Biology or related in vivo field

Required Experience and Skills:

• Past experience in AALAC accredited facility, or functional in-person internship/job shadow experience

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• 2+ years' experience in a Research/in vivo field
• ALAT, AAALAS certification

Salary range for this role is $85,600.00 - $134,800.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.