Job Description

The In Vivo Team Leader is responsible for providing hands-on technical leadership, daily coordination, and operational support for in vivo research activities within the Neurobiology group. This role supports nonclinical drug discovery studies using rodent models and serves as a highly skilled resource for study execution, animal care coordination, staff training, scheduling, and communication between research scientists, animal care staff and site leadership.

This full-time Alkermes role operates with a high degree of independence, accountability, and leadership impact. The In Vivo Team Leader applies sound judgment to coordinate work, resolve operational issues, mentor colleagues, and ensure high-quality, compliant, and humane execution of in vivo studies that support portfolio delivery and the continued growth of internal research capabilities.

• Coordinate the behavioral studies calendar and daily study activities, aligning resources, priorities, staffing, and time-sensitive procedures with project team needs.
• Serve as the manager’s primary backup for study-related operational issues, helping triage questions, resolve day-to-day challenges, escalate concerns, and maintain continuity of support.
• Conduct and support nonclinical in vivo rodent studies in accordance with approved protocols, SOPs, institutional standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Perform and/or oversee in-life procedures, including animal handling and restraint, test article preparation and administration, body weight collection, clinical observations, sample collection, necropsy support, and post-mortem processing.
• Administer test articles by relevant routes, including oral, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous administration, as appropriate for study needs and training qualifications.
• Support pharmacodynamic, behavioral, pharmacokinetic, and translational neuroscience studies by ensuring accurate execution, high-quality data collection, and timely communication of observations.
• Assist with study protocol development, review, and operational planning, including feasibility input, procedure timing, staffing, materials, and workflow considerations.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to animal care and research staff while reinforcing consistent technique, documentation, animal welfare, and safe work practices.
• Maintain accurate study records in electronic laboratory notebooks, data capture systems, spreadsheets, or other required systems, and summarize activities or results as needed.
• Collaborate with Neurobiology scientists, animal care, veterinary staff, EHS, facilities, vendors, and management to resolve operational issues and support smooth study execution.
• Model professional behavior and reinforce a positive, collaborative, and respectful work environment.
• Adhere to animal welfare standards, humane care principles, safety policies, PPE requirements, controlled substance procedures, and institutional requirements.
• Serve as the delegated operational point of contact for in vivo study execution, using established priorities, protocols, and manager guidance to support timely decisions and appropriate escalation.
• Partner with project teams, scientists, and management to balance competing study requests, LMA calendar demands, staffing needs, and project timelines.
• Translate study plans into executable workflows, anticipate operational challenges, and help ensure work is completed accurately, safely, and on schedule.
• Demonstrate independent judgment in prioritizing daily work while maintaining animal welfare, safety, data integrity, and protocol compliance.
• Provide informal leadership by setting high standards for technical execution, documentation quality, communication, accountability, and team collaboration.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying workflow gaps, proposing practical solutions, and helping implement efficient, standardized processes.
• Support team development through coaching, knowledge sharing, and reinforcement of consistent practices across the group.

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma, GED, or 15+ years of directly related industry experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with rodent handling, restraint, dosing, sample collection, clinical observations, study documentation, and in-life study support.
• Experience performing or supporting rodent surgical or advanced technical procedures preferred, such as catheterization, osmotic pump implantation, or other specialized techniques.
• Experience training, mentoring, coordinating work, or providing leadership within a laboratory animal or research setting.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, electronic laboratory notebook systems, and study documentation tools.
• Ability to interpret protocols and SOPs, and maintain accurate records with strong attention to detail.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong technical proficiency in rodent in vivo procedures and animal welfare practices.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple studies, competing priorities, and time-sensitive activities.
• Sound judgment, reliability, and the ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate issues.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with colleagues at multiple levels.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor others, reinforce best practices, and contribute to a collaborative team culture.
• Commitment to data integrity, protocol compliance, humane animal care, safety, and continuous improvement.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $108,000 to $130,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here

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Why join Team Alkermes?

Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.

We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts’ Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.

Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.