Head, Bioservices

Job Title

Head, Bioservices

**Job Description**:
An excellent opportunity is available for a Head, Bioservices to join the Bioservices Department at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Position

The Head, Bioservices is responsible for leading the Bioservices department, to ensure efficient and effective leadership, strategy, and delivery of this vital service, which is central to WEHI’s scientific success. The Head of Bioservices is a strong leader committed to fulfilling the Institute’s strategic and scientific goals, energising the department to maintain and further develop a culture of excellence and continual improvement. The position is a key advisor for the planning and oversight of the Institute’s animal facilities, including requirements and designs, and oversees the department’s safety, risk, governance, budgetary planning and staffing.

The Head, Bioservices has specialist veterinary expertise in the team, who advise on the development of quarantine protocols, clinical and preventative health programs, and provide advice and training to researchers and other animal care staff. The Head and their veterinary experts work very closely with the Animal Ethics Committee and the Compliance Officer to monitor and manage the health and welfare of animals involved in research at WEHI, in accordance with legislative requirements.

The Bioservices department has around 90 animal care staff across three Institute facilities. The main experimental facility is located in Parkville, along with Department of Agriculture-approved arrangement facilities. The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Laboratories in Kew produce mice of standard inbred strains under SPF conditions for supply to internal researchers, and a number of universities and medical research facilities around Australia. The Institute also runs a Central Microinjection Service and a gnotobiotic facility. Additionally, Bioservices runs a small antibody production facility at Bundoora and provides veterinary advice and expertise to the WEHI Antibody Facility, the insectary and a PC3 facility. Each site has a highly skilled operational manager or supervisor, with whom this role will collaborate to build and maintain capability, excellence and positive culture.

The Head, Bioservices will be a member of the Professional Services Leadership Team (PSLT), which brings together WEHI’s Professional Services Heads to deliver WEHI’s strategic plan and provide cohesive, integrated, and outstanding support and advice to researchers. The role will work collaboratively with all members of PSLT, but has strong relationships with several teams including Facilities Management, Governance, Risk and Compliance, and Finance on many matters, including animal facility management, regulation, risk management, financial management and cost recovery models. The role will form and maintain strong relationships with researchers across the Institute to ensure the successful delivery of services to support research.

Selection Criteria

Essential Knowledge and Skills:
- Degree in Veterinary Science or qualification relevant to medical research- Demonstrated competency and experience in Laboratory Animal Medicine- Strong analytical skills pertaining to the scientific purpose of experimental proposals- Management of the security of the research investment in animal resources- Excellent knowledge of the regulatory environment as it pertains to the operation of a laboratory animal program- Demonstrated ability to work with senior leadership levels in a complex environment, leading teams and influencing internally and externally- Demonstrated ability to deliver excellence through personal accountability- Demonstrated ability to plan and deliver outcomes in complex programs and services

Personal Qualities:
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams or committees across an organisation to deliver shared goals- Ability to handle complex issues in a diplomatic manner and negotiate optimal outcomes- Ability to lead and develop staff while acknowledging each individual’s contribution to the shared endeavour- Function within the broader research environment in a collegiate manner- Capacity for interpersonal understanding in order to successfully navigate the requirements of the internal and external users of the Institute’s Bioservices Department.

Terms of Appointment

This position is initially available for 5 years in a full time capacity. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience.

Up to 17% superannuation. WEHI also offers very attractive salary packaging opportunities including the option to package up to $15,900 of your pre-tax salary (to see a breakdown of what this means please refer to

and enter ‘wehi’ as the employer).

WEHI also offers:
- Work-life balance with a 35-hour full time work week- Generous personal leave availability- Institute holidays in excess of annual leave- Meal entertainment card to the value