Small Animal Necropsy Lead

DEPARTMENT: Pathology

REPORTS TO: Pathology Laboratory Manager/Department Director

LOCATION: Lexington, MA/moving to Waltham, MA Q3 2026 (on-site)

POSITION SUMMARY

CBSET is seeking a Small Animal Necropsy Lead to provide daily floor leadership for small-animal necropsy operations, including room and table readiness, staff assignments, training support, workflow coordination, and technical escalation. The Small Animal Necropsy Lead supports safe, consistent, protocol-driven execution while protecting specimen quality, documentation, and downstream handoffs to Histology and Pathology. The role collaborates professionally with study teams and other departments to meet timelines, align priorities, and support business growth.

Salary Range: $60,000 to $95,000/year. (Please note, salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and certifications.)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical:

  • Understand protocol and SOP needs applying to given work. Lead role in Pathology Dept. meetings and Study pre-initiation meetings (PIMs), and in technical discussions with Sponsors.
  • Ensure proper preparation for projects, including staffing, training, material. Work interdepartmentally with Supervisors, Managers, Data Analysts and Study Directors, etc. to identify needs.
  • Identify project components that require development or training prior to initiation of work.
  • Coordinate daily small-animal necropsy room, table, equipment, supply, label, container, staffing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) readiness before procedures begin.
  • Support table assignments, role clarity, timing control, animal identity checks, collection order, and protocol-driven tissue collection.
  • Perform and teach advanced small-animal dissections and tissue-collection techniques using species-appropriate anatomy and study-specific methods.
  • Review and escalate collection gaps, missed tissues, label errors, fixation issues, equipment problems, safety issues, and documentation risks.
  • Lead daily table-readiness planning, including staffing assignments, room and equipment readiness, supplies, specimen containers, labels, and communication of special collection needs.
  • Verify specimen identity, treatment information, and tissue sections against in-life records, study documentation, and Study Director instructions.
  • Conduct quality control reviews of study data and documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency and regulatory compliance.
  • Function as a Designated Trainer for various standard operating procedures, hold brief trainings of various topics on a monthly basis to ensure general upkeep, communication and uniformity within the team.

Interpersonal:

  • Coordinate with veterinary, pathology, histology, and study teams to sequence work, clarify collection priorities, and resolve issues that could affect tissue quality or downstream processing.

Technical Consultation & Capability Development:

  • Review study protocols and collection plans before necropsy activities to identify tissue requirements, timing, special procedures, equipment, documentation, and potential execution risks.
  • Serve as a subject matter resource for pathology and necropsy-related study activities.
  • Attend and contribute to study meetings and may lead discussions related to pathology and necropsy procedures.
  • Assist in the preparation of responses to audits, deviations, inspections, and other internal or external reviews.

Team Leadership:

  • Coach technicians during comprehensive and limited necropsies, organ weights, perfusions, vessel/device work, special collections, and handoffs.
  • Support competency sign-off, cross-training to ensure all necropsy staff are meeting their metrics and are actively training on all aspects of the position, assist in the onboarding process, and provide supervisor backup for daily execution questions.
QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

  • High school diploma or GED.
  • Experience supporting small-animal necropsy, pathology, veterinary, Preclinical CRO, biomedical, or regulated laboratory workflows.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate people, rooms, equipment, and study-specific instructions under time pressure.
  • Strong SOP, GLP documentation, safety, tissue-quality, and communication discipline.

Preferred:

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Pathology, or a related life science discipline preferred.
  • CRO or GLP experience; prior lead/senior technician experience; small-animal study experience; perfusion, vessel dissection, imaging, or training experience.
  • Five or more years of pathology laboratory and/or necropsy experience.
  • Experience supporting GLP studies and working within a regulated laboratory environment preferred.
  • Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement as well as supporting business growth.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
  • Ability to organize daily work, guide colleagues, and coordinate priorities without losing hands-on technical focus.
  • Technical accuracy and attention to detail in a controlled laboratory environment.
  • Clear communication in all departments and dependable collaboration across Pathology functions.
  • Strong organization, documentation discipline, and sound judgment when escalating risks or deviations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
  • Must be able to perform laboratory procedures, which require talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (Personal Protective Equipment) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
  • Work effectively as a Team member.
  • Ability to consistently lift and move at least 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
  • Preclinical Pathology laboratories and related study-support areas.
  • Animal facility and laboratories with moderate noise possible and exposure to hazardous/noxious devices (e.g., needles, scalpel blades, etc.) and chemicals (e.g., anesthetic gases, formalin, alcohols, xylenes, etc.).
  • General office working conditions, with generally quiet noise conditions.
COMMENTS:
  • May require occasional duties on weekends and/or holidays.
  • May require occasional travel.
WHAT CBSET OFFERS:
  • The opportunity to contribute to the Pathology team and support CBSET’s growth and development.
  • Comprehensive benefits package.

Please contact CBSET’s HR department for more information.

All employees are required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities of their position. • The essential duties and responsibilities listed above are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.