Aquatics Manager

About the Role:

In this role, you will be responsible for leading and overseeing a department specializing in aquatic animal models—including zebrafish, danionella, and periodically other aquatic species. This role will provide program direction and guidance to ensure the care for the research models and services provided to the labs, upholds high standards of quality and directly support the scientific vision and advancement of the labs.

The manager fosters a collaborative, accountable, and continuously improving environment, ensuring operational excellence and supporting groundbreaking research across multiple disciplines.

About the Department:

The Vivarium at Janelia, an AAALAC accredited facility, is renowned for supporting pioneering research with a focus on mice, rats, and zebrafish. Our operations are designed to accelerate scientific progress while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare. By working closely with our scientists, Vivarium staff take ownership of animal-related processes, allowing researchers to concentrate on data-intensive tasks and achieve impactful scientific outcomes.

What we provide:

• A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.

• An opportunity to broaden research experience in a collaborative environment.

• A team that believes in continuous learning and cultivates an environment of collaboration.

• Professional development opportunities through internal and external conferences and workshops.

What you’ll do:

• Provide strategic leadership and program oversight for all aspects of the Aquatics program, integrating technical, husbandry, and systems operations while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Cultivate team development and mentorship , guiding staff in best practices, leadership growth, and professional learning to strengthen program capabilities.

• Ensure excellence in animal care and welfare by overseeing husbandry for zebrafish, danionella, and other aquatic species; maintaining critical life-support systems; and ensuring compliance with IACUC, HHMI, and regulatory standards.

• Advance scientific research support by partnering with labs and Shared Resource departments, aligning facility services with experimental needs, providing routine updates, and promoting collaboration between researchers and facility staff.

• Oversee transgenic and genetically modified line development , including creation, maintenance, and detailed lineage tracking to support scientific objectives.

• Manage financial and operational resources for the Aquatics program, including budgeting, forecasting, inventory, and capital planning to ensure sustainability and efficiency.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Biology, Aquaculture, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.

• Extensive experience in aquatic animal husbandry, facility management, and transgenic line creation for zebrafish, danionella, or other models.

• Deep knowledge of regulatory standards and compliance requirements for aquatic animal research.

• Technical expertise with aquatic system technologies, including filtration, water quality monitoring, and life-support maintenance.

• Proven leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills gained in a research or technical facility.

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams while also operating independently.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with researchers, staff, and stakeholders.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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