Avian Colony Manager

Colossal is seeking an Avian Colony Manager who will oversee the breeding, health, and tracking of research bird populations (such as poultry, finches, or pigeons) within an avian laboratory animal facility. They will support scientific efforts by providing researchers with healthy, well-documented birds and reliable colony data. This position reports to our Head of Animal Husbandry.

This position is based out of the Dallas, TX area and relocation assistance is available.

Key Responsibilities

Avian Colony Oversight: 

Manage specialized avian breeding schemes, track egg incubation, coordinate hatching schedules, and handle wing or leg band identification. Plan and schedule facility capacity and lead the setup, organization, redesign, and expansion of animal rooms and workflows. Track pedigrees and manage animal assignments to breeding groups, studies, and research projects.

Health & Welfare: 

Monitor birds for avian-specific health issues, coordinate veterinary care, and ensure precise environmental parameters like specialized lighting and humidity. Work closely with the veterinary team to support colony health monitoring, treatment, and preventive care.

Data & Software Management: 

Maintain electronic records of lineage, egg production, and hatchability rates using specialized colony software. Develop, implement, and optimize online tracking systems, connecting operations in the animal facility to the lab, and uphold detailed electronic records.

Regulatory Compliance: 

Adhere to standards set by the USDA, NIH, and AAALAC, ensuring strict alignment with avian-specific institutional IACUC protocols.

Equipment and logistics:

Incubator and environmental monitoring/calibration, alarm response, ordering feed and bands, shipping/receiving of birds and eggs, and permits. 

Researcher Support: 

Collaborate with research teams to assist with specialized avian procedures, sample collections, and study logistics. Assist researchers with genotyping and with breeding to produce the birds their studies require.

Aviculture: 

Work directly alongside the animal care team as needed, including animal handling, egg collection, room setup, cleaning, husbandry support, and operational coverage.

Qualifications & Skills

Education: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Avian Sciences, Animal Science, Biology, or a related field is highly preferred for managing complex avian research lines.

Certifications: 

• AALAS certification (LAT or LATg) is standard, along with specific training or certification in avian handling and medicine.

Experience: 

• Hands-on experience in laboratory animal care, with a strong emphasis on avian husbandry, incubation, and biosecurity protocols.
• Effective communicator and mentor engaging personnel across a range of roles. 
• Hands-on experience working in animal operations, laboratory animal facilities, poultry facilities, breeding colonies, research farms, or a comparable regulated animal-care environment.
• Demonstrated ability to own complex daily operations, including scheduling, recordkeeping, facility organization, staff training, and coordination across multiple workstreams.
• Strong working knowledge of animal husbandry, animal handling, welfare monitoring, sanitation, biosecurity and testing, and facility operations. Experience building or improving electronic operational systems, schedules, and tracking tools.
• Comfort working in a small, fast-moving organization where leaders are expected to remain hands-on and assist with routine operational work when needed.