As the Senior Manager, Animal Welfare & Integrity Assurance (AWIA) – China, you will provide veterinary, regulatory, and operational leadership to ensure the ethical, compliant, and high-quality conduct of outsourced preclinical animal research in China.
You will serve as the regional subject matter expert on animal welfare regulations and external research environments, acting as a key partner to scientific, operational, and governance teams. In this role, you will ensure alignment with Novartis’ global animal welfare standards while enabling scientifically robust and responsible research.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Regulatory Expertise & External Environment
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Act as the recognized expert on animal research regulations, enforcement trends, and operating environment in China.
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Translate regulatory and industry developments into actionable guidance for internal stakeholders.
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Advise teams on regulatory feasibility, risk, and mitigation strategies for outsourced studies.
2. Outsourced Study Oversight & CRO Management
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Lead veterinary and animal welfare audit programs for contract research organizations (CROs) and external partners in China, including audit planning, execution, findings closure, and continuous improvement.
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Assess third-party capabilities (e.g., veterinary care, facilities, governance, training) against Novartis and international standards.
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Provide recommendations on site approval, risk mitigation, or alternative approaches.
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Oversee corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) and in-life monitoring to ensure compliance and animal welfare standards are met.
3. Animal Welfare Advancement
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Promote the implementation of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and support adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
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Identify opportunities to improve animal welfare, scientific quality, and operational consistency.
4. Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
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Serve as the primary point of contact for animal welfare and veterinary matters related to outsourced research in China.
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Partner cross-functionally with scientific, procurement, QA, and governance teams to ensure consistent oversight and escalation.
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Communicate complex regulatory, scientific, and ethical topics to diverse audiences and influence decision-making across organizational boundaries.
5. Strategic & Operational Contribution
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Contribute to strategic initiatives, projects, and external collaborations involving animal research in China.
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Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement in outsourced research oversight.
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Represent Animal Welfare & Integrity Assurance at the Shanghai site and contribute to global AWIA initiatives and governance.
Essential Requirements:
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Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent required; advanced degree preferred.
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Minimum 5 years of experience in preclinical research and laboratory animal medicine.
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Experience working across multiple species (e.g., rodents, rabbits, pigs, dogs, non-human primates).
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Experience in AAALAC-accredited environments and IACUC or equivalent ethical review processes.
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Experience overseeing outsourced studies and CROs, ideally within China or similar regulatory environments.
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Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
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Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
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Fluency in English and Mandarin (written and spoken).
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
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