At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. We’re driven by our vision of ‘Food and Companionship Enriching Life’ and our approach to sustainability – the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ – to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

 

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Position Title: Animal Welfare Officer

Job Function: Animal Welfare

Location: Kemps Creek, NSW, Australia

 

Position Description:

The Animal Welfare Officer serves both the Yarrandoo site and Elanco Research & Development (R&D) by providing leadership and oversight for the healthcare of animals within the R&D departments. This position is also responsible for ensuring local compliance with all applicable animal welfare and regulatory guidelines, while serving as the designated Local Animal Welfare Officer (LAWO).

 

Functions, Duties, Tasks:

 1. Local Animal Welfare Officer (LAWO) Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Local Animal Welfare Officer (LAWO), the site's subject matter expert for animal management and welfare. Partner with site management, including the Site Head, to implement, maintain, and continuously improve the Animal Welfare (AW) program, ensuring compliance with Elanco standards and all regulatory requirements. Key areas of responsibility include animal vendor contracts, adoptions, incident reporting, animal care screening, animal rights risk mitigation, AW training, and controlled drug compliance.
• Collaborate on global animal welfare standards development and implementation.

 

2. Auditing and Compliance:

• Lead and manage all welfare audits (AAALAC, ARRP) and maintain continuous site readiness for external animal welfare audits.
• Develop, implement, and manage an internal audit program to ensure adherence to animal welfare codes, internal SOPs, and established processes.
• Oversee the complete Animal Welfare Incident Reporting (AWIR) process, including thorough investigation and implementation of effective corrective and preventative measures.

 

3. Communication and Collaboration:

• Provide regular Animal Welfare (AW) updates and actively participate in site leadership team meetings.
• Collaborate effectively with animal care staff, study managers, associate investigators, site directors, and the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) to promote a culture of animal welfare. Act as a point of contact between the AEC and the Global Animal Welfare (GAW) team, ensuring that welfare considerations are observed.
• Participate in Global Animal Welfare initiatives and meetings led by the Global Animal Welfare Sr. Director.

 

4. Expertise and Guidance:

• Provide expert advice and guidance on proposed regulatory changes pertaining to animal welfare, ensuring alignment of Elanco practices with industry standards and addressing relevant governmental proposals.
• Provide consultation, support, and expertise on Animal Welfare (AW) components for clinical and operational study protocol development related to clinical trials, ensuring the highest standards of animal care.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant veterinary procedures and trends by actively engaging with professional organizations, pursuing continuing education, collaborating with external experts, and interacting with leading scientists and authorities to support R&D clinical activities.

 

5. Program Management and Development:

• Develop, maintain, and lead a site network for animal welfare, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and understanding throughout the site.
• Oversee program management for breeding, socialization, and rehoming of companion animals, ensuring the well-being and ethical treatment of all animals involved.
• Review, approve, and ensure consistent implementation of all site SOPs related to animal care.
• Provide leadership and guidance to ensure studies are executed in full compliance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, relevant legislation and regulations, decisions of the AEC, and Yarrandoo SOPs.
• Develop and implement Animal Welfare (AW) training modules for the AW program, in close collaboration with operational functions.
• Oversee and manage new animal facility design and implementation efforts, including renovations, to meet regulatory requirements and site capability needs.
• Participate in global Animal Welfare (AW) projects, contributing to AAALAC accreditation efforts, policy and procedure development, and the creation of training modules within the Global AW network.

 

6. Technical and Veterinary Support:

• Provide hands-on veterinary technical and resourcing support for the site as needed, ensuring the health and well-being of all animals.

 

Minimum Qualification (education, experience and/or training, required certifications):

• DVM required, current license to practice in Australia.
• Strong field and laboratory clinical skills.
• 3+ years working in an Animal Welfare-regulated environment.
• 3+ years working in the Animal Health industry with pre-clinical and clinical model understanding.

 

Additional Preferences:

• Experience with AEC regulations as well as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in Research.
• Experience with AEC regulations as well as Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research.
• Facility audit experience.
• Familiarity with common animal health-related certification.
• Comfort at leading indirectly through influence.
• Able to work both independently and in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Advanced ability to effectively communicate verbally (particularly during conflict management) and in writing.

 

Other Information:

• Travel 5-10%
• Fluency in English is essential

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

 

 

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