Safety Engineer - Biosafety

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Job Summary

This position reports to the Institute Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer (BSO), within the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Research Safety Team. The position is responsible for implementing comprehensive EH&S programs and procedures for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Institute community. With a strong background in the sciences and a mission-driven mindset, this role assists the Institute community by providing consultation and hazard assessments to reduce or eliminate laboratory and workplace conditions that may lead to injury or loss of Institute resources. Leverages on expertise to develop and conduct safety-related training for research and campus communities. Through regular laboratory reviews and incident investigations, identifies research safety and occupational health issues and formulates measures for mitigating hazards. May serve as Assistant Biosafety Officer and support the implementation of the Biosafety and Biosecurity Programs as assigned.

This is a Campus-critical position. An employee designated as essential reporting has essential job skills that are needed for disaster response and recovery and is expected to report to Campus as soon as possible.

Essential Job Duties

• Under general direction, works on complex projects and implements programs, systems and procedures necessary to ensure the overall safety and health of the campus and research community.
• Relies on expertise, strong problem-solving and outstanding customer service skills to conduct risk assessments and implement risk mitigation strategies in service of the campus and research community.
• Applies specialized technical knowledge of procedures and equipment used in monitoring and evaluating campus workplace and research laboratory hazardous conditions (chemical, biological, physical hazards); recommends and follows-up on corrective actions to achieve efficient risk mitigation.
• Performs complex investigative/technical work in a wide range of campus and research safety issues to maintain Institute safety and compliance with all internal and external EH&S protocols and requirements; works within one or more operational areas, including biological and chemical research safety laboratory activities.
• Develops and/or delivers employee and researcher training, covering research safety topics (biological, chemical, and general safety) using a variety of platforms (in-person, online, hands-on exercise, written guidance).
• Maintains accountability of assigned areas and tracks performance metrics; issues regular reports to internal and external stakeholders on various EH&S and research safety metrics.
• Performs technical and administrative duties related to general safety and research safety (biological and chemical safety), and in support of research compliance, emergency response, environmental and waste management.
• Consults with Planning, Design and Construction operations in the design and construction or renovation of laboratories to minimize hazards and ensure adequate level of containment (biological and chemical).
• May assist the Institute Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer (BSO) in implementing and maintaining the Biosafety programs (Institute Biosafety Manual, Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens, Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases, etc.).
• May assists the BSO in biological risk assessments and ongoing laboratory support and review as per the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) policy, as assigned.
• Serves as incident responder to provide technical support during incidents such as chemical or biological spills and exposures, disaster recovery efforts, including on-call rotations.
• Keeps current with EH&S practitioners and/or organizations to ensure regulatory interpretation, technical advice and Institute policies are compliant.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant science discipline, with at least 2 years of professional experience in a comprehensive environmental, health and safety program, preferably in a university setting.
• Working knowledge of training development software (PowerPoint, storyline, etc.).
• Physical Demands: The selected candidate will be required to stand and walk for moderate periods of time; lift and carry up to 30 lbs. of tools and equipment; needs to have the ability to wear a respirator and other protective equipment when working under hazardous conditions.
• Environmental Conditions: The selected candidate will enter research laboratory settings replete with various hazardous materials, including biohazardous and radioactive material.
• Protective equipment qualified to use: Gloves, respirators (N95), lab coat, coveralls.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD degree in a relevant science discipline.
• Prior experience implementing OSHA programs, particularly in the Laboratory Standard or Hazard Communication.
• Working knowledge of EH&S management systems.
• HAZWOPER 40h certification.
• Working knowledge of academic Biosafety related compliance committees (IBC, IACUC), NIH guidelines for work with recombinant DNA, and the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratory (BMBL 6th edition) principles.
• Credentials: CSP, RBP, CBSP.

Required Documents

• Resume.