Executive Director/ Campus Veterinarian - 141845

Payroll Title: ANML CARE MGR 3 Department: OFFICE OF ANIMAL RES Hiring Pay Scale $350,000 - $425,000 / Year Worksite: Campus Appointment Type: Career Appointment Percent: 100% Union: Uncovered Total Openings: 1 Work Schedule: 8 hrs/day

#141845 Executive Director/ Campus Veterinarian Filing Deadline: Wed 11/18/2026 Apply Now

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Job posting will remain open until position is filled.

DESCRIPTION

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

At UC San Diego, the Animal Care Program is responsible for in-vivo based research efforts. Roughly $338M of the $1.7B annual research portfolio incorporates in-vivo (animal) based research with activities including cutting edge investigations into the most critical health issues such as cancer, neurodegenerative, metabolic and infectious diseases. These efforts involve approximately 2,581research personnel and over 350,000 animals from among 31 species dispersed throughout 48 separate areas. ACP maintains approximately 137 employees, some of whom are represented by 4 distinct bargaining units. ACP's annual budget is approximately $18 million.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Executive Director/Campus Veterinarian (ED) functions as a strategic leader with full oversight for all animal clinic and animal research services, including attendant operational, fiscal and facilities issues. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor of Research, the ED is a member of the Vice Chancellor’s leadership team and is appointed to multiple campus and system & campus-wide advisory groups. They advise the Vice Chancellor and coordinate with other senior campus officials on all matters of interest to the Vice Chancellor, including policy, compliance, confidential and sensitive issues for the VCR; and develops solutions to a wide range of issues in all areas of campus in-vivo research operations.

Under general guidance of the Vice-Chancellor for Research, the ED has authority over all activities relating to the care and use of animals at UC San Diego. The ED works collaboratively with the IACUC and Office of Research Affairs to ensure that UC San Diego maintains an outstanding animal research enterprise. The ED directs Animal Care Program operations to assure effective animal research at UC San Diego including animal health care and husbandry, in accordance with governmental and University policies & procedures. They participate in animal research modeling and postgraduate training, and the comparative medicine program as a non-salaried faculty appointment in an appropriate department of UC San Diego. The ED promotes campus wide integration of all animal use activities to ensure effective implementation of standards of animal care and health, and oversees and approves standards for all animal husbandry and animal facilities at UC San Diego. They provide oversight and management of animal research space, including participation in the development and design of new, and renovation of existing, animal research facilities and vivaria. The ED allocates animal species among husbandry units according to faculty needs and economic factors, and implements changes in housing and husbandry methods to meet the special demands of research models. The ED interacts with the University community to identify methods for providing veterinary and husbandry needs, and maintains relationships with the Directors of other Animal Care Programs, and affiliates with professional organizations to integrate progressive standards of animal care at UC San Diego. They maintain and nurture productive and positive relationships with local, state, and national regulatory and humane organizations, and acts as an advisor on animal health/husbandry issues to the UC administrative and academic leadership.

UC San Diego is being assisted in this recruitment by WittKieffer, and we welcome nominations or expressions of interest. To submit comments, nominations, or expressions of interest, please send an email to the confidential address: bamaral@wittkieffer.com.

A cover letter is required for an application to be considered complete.

QUALIFICATIONS

Thorough knowledge of veterinary surgery, medicine, and anesthesia and animal resource management in a large institutional research environment as demonstrated by at least 5 years' experience in a large scale program, or equivalent.

Extensive leadership and management experience in private practice, academic or similar setting, directing employees and maintaining a positive, collaborative, collegial, and efficient work environment.

Extensive experience supervising a variety of personnel performing animal health care functions including professionals and technicians performing patient care and diagnostic procedures. Ability to promote team building and manage a multi-functional unit.

Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory, political, and legislative environment effecting research and training involving animal subjects.

Advanced ability to work collaboratively and collegially as a member of a team in a leadership or management role. Expert skills to act persuasively in sensitive situations; Skills in conflict management techniques. Ability to achieve consensus on complex issues.

Broad knowledge and experience with a wide variety of domestic, laboratory, and wildlife animal species, especially colonies of laboratory rodents

Thorough knowledge of animal disease hazards and control measures to protect all employees.

Requires extensive knowledge associated with conducting examinations, prescribing and administering treatments, and advising owners and handlers.

Excellent management experience in a service organization. Experience providing counsel and management support to a high-level executive, overseeing commitments, ensuring priorities are strategically managed and logistics are efficiently addressed in a highly dynamic, complex environment.

Advanced oral and written communication skills with a diverse group of people including clients, clinicians or research staff, referring veterinarians, students, regulatory and community agencies, and staff in regards to the veterinary care of animals. Strong skills to synthesize, convey and explain information at all levels of the organization. Ability to interact effectively with diverse populations at all levels within and outside UC, including faculty, researchers, administrators, and governmental officials.Effective public speaking ability.

Demonstrated advanced, analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, negotiation, conflict resolution and mediation skills.

Innovative financial and analytical abilities.

Demonstrated leadership ability to develop new policies and procedures, plan for campus growth, and promote a positive and collaborative work environment within UC San Diego and the University of California. Sophisticated leadership abilities to establish department mission and goals and to motivate and influence others to achieve. Team building and leadership skills to foster and promote a service-oriented team environment and to bring about consensus on sensitive issues.

Doctoral degree (D.V.M. / V.M.D.) from veterinary school that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Associate, or equivalent degree. Minimum five year’s progressive leadership experience in the field of laboratory animal medicine or equivalent experience.

Must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California. Veterinary licensure and veterinary accreditation with the USDA, or satisfactory completion within 6-12 months from hire.

Extensive industry experience and track record of positive relationships with industry leaders and organizations and provision of veterinary services to these industries.

Experience related to technology development, transfer and project management.

Ability to establish metrics for the organization, and employee goals which measure effectiveness of contributions to efficient operations.

Highly sophisticated skills in strategy development, systems planning and change management.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Must maintain veterinary licensure and veterinary accreditation with the USDA.

Diplomate status in the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine is preferred.

Must be available to work occasional evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed, to cover on call duty including veterinary medical support, special events, programmatic needs and emergencies. Occasional domestic travel is expected. Attendance at local off site facilities, meetings and events is required. Must have access to reliable transportation.

Must pass DOJ/FBI and DMV checks as required.

Appropriately handle confidential information with commercial, COI and UC San Diego Brand implications.

Pre-employment physical is required.

Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $196,100 - $402,700 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $93.92 - $192.86

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

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If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Prospective employees who are ordinarily residents in Iran or who are physically located in Iran are generally not eligible to for employment per suspension of General License G on 24 August 2026. If you have ever resided in Iran or have an Iranian passport and would like to confirm your eligibility, please contact Tsescalate@ucsd.edu for consideration of your particular circumstances.