California Comparative Medicine Training Specialist

Purpose
The Comparative Medicine Training Specialist owns the California Comparative Medicine training strategy and serves as a key contributor to the development, standardization, and implementation of global Comparative Medicine training programs. This person serves as a critical resource supporting Comparative Medicine operations, compliance, and training programs across AbbVie’s California research sites, including Irvine and the AbbVie Bay Area (ABA) campus in South San Francisco..
The position enables research excellence by ensuring personnel are trained, qualified, and prepared to safely and compliantly support animal care, scientific procedures, and research operations
Responsibilities:
California Comparative Medicine Training Leadership and Program Management : The person in this position is responsible for leading training initiatives in our California Comparative Medicine sites, ensuring training compliance and personnel competency, administering key operational and learning systems, and supporting facility readiness and regulatory compliance activities
Serves as the primary Comparative Medicine trainer for California research sites, including Irvine and the ABA campus.
Develops, coordinates, and delivers instructor-led, hands-on, and technical training programs related to laboratory animal science, animal care and use, vivarium operations, and research procedures, leveraging innovative educational technologies to enhance adult learning outcomes. This may include but is not limited to:
Designs, implements, and continuously improves innovative adult-learning solutions, including instructor-led training, digital learning platforms, competency-based development programs, simulation-based training, knowledge management resources, and data-driven learning analytics
Partners with Comparative Medicine leadership and functional stakeholders to assess training needs, establish training priorities, and support workforce development initiatives.
Accountable for maintaining training compliance, competency qualification processes, training documentation standards, and inspection-ready records supporting regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Maintains training records and documentation to support regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and operational excellence.
Supports global training initiatives and contributes technical expertise to Comparative Medicine learning programs and best practices.
Operational Support and Compliance
Partners with Comparative Medicine leadership, EHS, and Facilities to promote safe and compliant animal care and research operations.
Supports facility readiness for inspections, site visits, and accreditation activities, including USDA, AAALAC International, DEA, and internal compliance reviews.
Maintains awareness of evolving regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices related to laboratory animal science and animal welfare.
Identifies operational risks and training gaps and collaborates with leadership to develop and implement mitigation strategies.
Communicates operational issues, compliance concerns, and training program performance to site leadership as appropriate.
Vivarium Access and Facility Administration
Coordinates vivarium access requests, verifies training prerequisites, assigns required training, and conducts facility orientation programs.
Maintains accurate records associated with access authorization and training compliance.
Learning Systems Administration
Administers Comparative Medicine training curricula, training matrices, onboarding programs, and training assignments.
Serves as Global Super Administrator for the AALAS Learning Library, including user administration, training assignments, compliance monitoring, annual renewals, reporting, and stakeholder communications.
Supports maintenance and continuous improvement of training content and learning management processes.
Document and SOP Management
Coordinates review, revision, and publication of Comparative Medicine SOP procedures and related controlled documents.
Supports document governance activities, including version control, change management, and publication through approved quality systems.
Partners with subject matter experts to ensure procedures remain current, accurate, and compliant with applicable regulations and organizational standards.
Global Program Coordination: the person in this position supports exceptional programming globally through activities that may include but are not limited to:
Develops and maintains external partnerships with institutions, vendors, industry groups and other stakeholders to advance Comparative Medicine training objectives.
Represents the organization in external consortia, professional associations, and industry forums, contributing to the development and adoption of best practices, emerging standards, and innovative training approaches.
Supports and coordinates global training initiatives, including outreach and in-reach programs, to expand the reach, accessibility, and impact of the Comparative Medicine training function,
Facilitates and leads cross-functional working groups focused on evaluating, adapting, and incorporating industry innovations, emerging practices, and external insights into the global training curriculum.
Leads and/or organizes cross-site training programs and workshops to build consistent capability and knowledge sharing across the global network.
Identifies opportunities to harmonize training approaches across sites and regions while encouraging the adoption of continuous improvement practices and innovative learning solutions
Additional Responsibilities
Serves as a member of the Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) Committee.
Maintains Comparative Medicine distribution lists and communication resources.
Supports special projects, process improvement initiatives, and other operational activities as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary laboratory animal science programs and animal welfare regulations.
Minimum of 2 years of experience developing, coordinating, and delivering classroom, technical, and hands-on training programs.
Experience supporting laboratory animal research operations, vivarium management, training programs, or regulatory compliance activities.
Knowledge of laboratory animal care and use programs, research procedures, animal welfare regulations, and institutional oversight processes.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups.
Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a regulated environment.
AALAS Certification, RLATG or higher preferred
Ability to collaborate effectively across global time zones and travel between sites as business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science, Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related scientific discipline.
Extensive experience delivering technical and hands-on training in laboratory animal science, research operations, or a related field.
Experience evaluating trainee competency and maintaining compliant training documentation.
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) designation.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
No