Req #: 233683

Department: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Posting Date: 04/26/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $7,083 - $8,334 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Biosafety Officer provides institutional biosafety support for a comprehensive, university-wide biosafety program to assure regulatory compliance and protection of faculty, staff, students, and the community. This position is essential for the support of the university's research. This position must exercise significant judgment, discretion, risk management, and professional expertise in the interpretation and application of federal, state, local, and University policies, protocols, and regulations. This position reports to the Biosafety Manager in the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S), Research and Occupational Safety Section, and works with an interdisciplinary team of occupational health and safety professionals with specialties in occupational health, biosafety, laboratory safety, and occupational hygiene.

This position is required to demonstrate professionalism, ethical conduct, and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the execution of their duties and in alignment with the EH&S diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) mission.

This position requires thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local biosafety, health, and safety regulations, including the National Institute of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research involving recombinant and synthetic DNA, Bloodborne Pathogens, federal Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) select agent regulations, and funding agency guidelines related to the use or transfer of biological agents in a research setting. This position requires expertise in Biosafety Level 1, 2, and 3 (BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL-3) containment and practices including animal, plant, and arthropod biosafety. This position must interface and coordinate effectively with Office of Animal Welfare, Institutional Animal Care Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Committee, Human Subjects Division, principal investigators, research staff, animal care staff, EH&S staff, and other subject matter experts.

This position is responsible for the review and approval of complex research projects that may involve significant hazards and that require compliance with many complex regulations, such as NIH, CDC, DURC, and funding sponsor driven environmental health and safety specifications. This position supports the IBC for the review of research involving all biohazards including recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids in coordination with the IACUC, Human Subjects Division, and other UW compliance units and departments. This position is integral to the University's research enterprise. Compliance with the NIH Guidelines for research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules. Compliance with guidelines governing infectious agents is critical to the protection of the community, public and employee health. The Biosafety officer is integral to this compliance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Technical Biosafety Support and Development/Implementation of the Biosafety Program:

• Evaluate, review, and approve research proposals, laboratory operations, and laboratory facilities for all aspects of biosafety (BSL-1 to BSL-3) to assure appropriate safety controls, containment, and compliance with CDC, NIH, and federal, state, local, and University requirements. Includes review of scientific materials, complex projects, and field inspections/audits of research involving biological agents, biotoxins, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, human gene therapy and clinical trials, IACUC animal protocols, select agents and toxins, etc.

• Conduct compliance audits, identify corrective actions, prepare written status and compliance reports.

• Provide information and reports on lab biosafety status, issues, compliance, and program effectiveness to the Institutional Biosafety Committee, other institutional committees, and EH&S leadership.

• Review facility designs for new and existing facilities and laboratories where biohazards and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids are used.

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and processes required for the implementation of an effective, compliant, and efficient biosafety program for BSL-1 to BSL-3.

• Work closely with research staff and support personnel, faculty, students, animal care and veterinary staff, facilities and maintenance, university units, and institutional committees to promote safe laboratory practices, procedures, proper use of containment equipment and facilities, and the assurance of safety, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance.

• Provide regulatory/compliance interpretations and technical assistance to research and service units.

• Develop and provide educational materials, trainings, and communications/outreach materials.

• Respond to, investigate, and follow up on biological safety incidents.

• Serve on institutional committees as assigned.

  Administrative and Special Projects

• Help develop policies, procedures, and trainings to address research regulation changes.

• Incorporate strategic planning initiatives from the EH&S Strategic plan into the section's and position's routine work plan. Support data gathering for metrics and performance monitoring of programs to ensure organizational efficiencies and desired outcomes are met and program goals are reached.

• Attend EH&S departmental and team meetings, work on special projects.

• Other duties/projects as assigned.

  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Biology, Microbiology, Environmental Health, Public Health or related field.

• Four years of professional experience related to biological safety programs; knowledge of federal, state, and local requirements that govern biosafety, lab safety, infectious waste management.

  Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain medical clearance to work in biohazard locations.

• Able to wear negative and positive respirators and other personal protective equipment.

• Maintain federal security clearance and suitability assessment clearance for Select Agent Program.

• Willingness to serve as Alternate Responsible Official (ARO) for the Select Agent Program.

• Demonstrated teamwork, client service, and decision-making skills, and ability to foster collegial and cooperative relationships with co-workers and clients.

-Exceptional written and oral communication skills in working with administrators, employees, research departments, health and safety staff, and regulatory agencies.

• Exceptional problem solving and risk assessment skills.

• Ability to manage time, priorities, and communications effectively.

  DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MS or PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Environmental Health, Public Health, or related field.

• Registered or certified biosafety professional credential.

• Experience with BSL-3 and select agent laboratories.

• Experience with clinical research biosafety or infection prevention.

• Experience working with databases.

• Experience writing standard operating procedures or other technical documentation.

  Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.