Open Position: Assistant Director & University Biological Safety Officer @ University of Wisconsin – Madison

University of Wisconsin – Madison has an immediate opening for Assistant Director & University Biological Safety Officer

Job Description:

Under the administrative supervision of the Director of Environment, Health and Safety, the Assistant Director/Biological Safety Officer (AD/BSO) is responsible for managing and directing the biological safety program for the entire UW-Madison campus and the offsite research facilities. This program will be designed to assure that research risks are mitigated to as low as reasonably achievable in an ever changing research environment. This responsibility covers operational activities where biological materials and research equipment are used in campus owned and leased facilities, and/or in facilities who contract with EH&S for biological safety protection and services.

Under the guidance of the Institutional Biological Safety Committee (IBC), the incumbent is responsible for managing the operations of the Biological Safety Program, to ensure that the Biological Safety Program for UW-Madison is conducted in accordance with the NIH Guidelines and IBC requirements, policies and commitments, the Biological Safety Manual, and additional State and Federal regulations. The BSO coordinates functional activities for the University IBC including biosafety protocols.

The BSO manages the EH&S Biological Section, participates in departmental team-based projects including active participation in safety and compliance consultations (audits and inspections), training (including web-based delivery) with faculty, staff and students about biological safety, compliance, and special projects.

The BSO is a member of the EH&S emergency response assessment and support program for managing hazardous materials emergencies. The BSO is required to participate in the EH&S on-call program, medical surveillance program, and UW Police Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities as required. In addition, the BSO will serve as a member of UWHC EOC and biosafety-related safety committees.

The BSO supervises the overall performance of the Biological Safety Section, and for the hiring and supervision of biosafety personnel. This management responsibility includes implementation of the Director’s staff development program, departmental strategic plans, sectional web page, and divisional initiatives.

The BSO collaborates with the EH&S Leadership Team and special function-specific teams to align service delivery, share staff resources to facilitate provision of seamless customer services, and propose SOPs, policies, and guidelines as necessary.

As Assistant EH&S Director, the BSO works on specific departmental and divisional projects, and serves as acting EH&S director upon request of the Director, or their designee. In addition to Biological Safety, a deep understanding of EH&S programs and delivery of customer services needed to support the mission of a research institution of the size and caliber of UW-Madison is required. Extensive hands-on experience in the education of research laboratory workers about recognition, evaluation, and control of biological, radiological, chemical (including mixed waste), and physical hazards found in a large university community is highly desired. The BSO and biological safety staff will work closely with radiological, chemical and hazardous waste management staffs to ensure the provision of coordinated and efficient services to campus.

Degree and area of specialization:

A minimum of a Master’s Degree (M.S.) in microbiology, bacteriology, biological sciences, or related field is required for consideration. Ph.D. in microbiology or related field strongly preferred.

License/certification:

Desirable certifications include Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP), Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP), or Specialist in Microbiology (SM) through the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists (NRCM). If not certified in any of the before mentioned certifications, certifications must be obtained within five years of employment through professional development.

Must possess a valid WI State driver’s license (can be obtained within two months of employment if the incumbent is from out-of-State).

Individual must be able to successfully complete a Department of Justice/FBI security clearance.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a biological safety program with increasing responsibility for biological safety and supervisory leadership in addition to a minimum of 5 years professional experience in managing or directing biological safety at a large research environment under the supervision of a biological safety director or officer (or as the biological safety officer) of the organization. Experience gained in an academic institution with a large teaching /research medical center strongly preferred.

Detail rcesponsibilities:

20% A. Overall Planning, Development and Coordination

-The Assistant Director/BSO provides timely delivery of EH&S Biological Safety Section programs and activities for assisting faculty, staff and students who work with or use biological and/or recombinant materials in teaching and research labs. This also extends UW owned and leased facilities located at other University workplaces, buildings, campus event environments where biological or recombinant materials are used, and all areas where regulated biological and recombinant materials are used or stored.

-The BSO serves as a member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

-The BSO is also oversees all biological activities related to biosafety including all potentially infectious and recombinant material use and storage areas in labs and other facilities. Also included are management of biological and recombinant DNA waste and similar spaces in UW-Madison offsite facilities, EH&S service equipment, emergency response to incidents involving laboratory spills of biological materials, and/or provision of support to other EH&S sections requiring assistance for their own spills or incidents, maintaining lab safety vendor contacts and services, and generating reports for EH&S and external regulatory agencies.

-Implements and revises methods for assessing exposure. The AD/BSO is expected to implement methods for assessing how well the Biological Safety programs meet the needs of EH&S customers.

-Serves as liaison between UW-Madison and state and federal government agencies regulating the use of biological materials. These include the WI Department of Health Services (DHS), WI Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS), WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and USDA/Animal Plant & Health Inspection Services (APHIS), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), etc., and authorities having jurisdiction such as the Madison Fire Department.

-Ensure that appropriate records are maintained as required by applicable state and federal regulations. Examples include records for IBC meetings, training, audits and review of program content and implementation, and violations.

-Assess the overall health/safety/environmental needs of laboratory operations, leading the integration of all programs and services within the biological safety and with EH&S service teams, and planning short and long-term development of laboratory and biological safety programs, and informational resources.

-Establish annual biological safety program goals and objectives, and keep the Directors of EH&S advised of the status of significant biological safety issues at regular progress and goals meetings. This Assistant Director/BSO is expected to work with the Assistant Directors and managers within EH&S to integrate biological safety programs with other EH&S programs to give customers the maximum benefit of simplicity, uniformity and convenience.

-Promote EH&S staff development programs, participate in FP&M divisional meetings and events, acts as Director of EH&S as necessary, and perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

20% B. Supervision of Biological Safety Staff

-This BSO is responsible for the hiring, supervision, and conducting performance related dialogue of all staff within the biosafety team. This includes routine meetings with staff, especially direct reports, to discuss progress and goals. Subordinate staff can be designated as supervisors of other Section staff members, but the BSO must ensure that these subordinate supervisors provide appropriate guidance and performance assessment. All EH&S supervisors must complete an annual performance assessment. General expectations of supervisors is provided in FP&M/EH&S checklists for effective supervision.

-The biological safety program oversees the animal care worker safety program. EH&S provides risk assessment and management for personnel and students with animal contact. Required oversight includes protocol review, safety training and facility inspections.

-The BSO also oversees the Select Agent and the Dual Use and Research of Concern (DURC) programs. Both programs are an integral part of IBC oversight.

-This BSO is responsible for the hiring and supervision of all managers for the Biological Safety Section and will consult with the EH&S director, prior to offering any new position, Discretionary Compensation Adjustment, and/or executing any disciplinary action, which may result in suspension of an EH&S employee.

20% C. Program Management

For specific, assigned issues, the BSO is expected to personally develop, maintain, and manage programs that promote the safety and health of individuals and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Responsibilities for these issues include the following:

-Stay abreast of relevant regulatory requirements, enforcement actions, and technical developments in the field by reviewing publications and reports, attending conferences and meetings, and contacting colleagues and regulatory agency representatives.

-Develop, implement, and maintain procedures, manuals, training programs, and records as necessary to attain program goals.

-Train/cross-train and educate other Section and departmental service team staff in the implementation of these programs.

-Implement methods of assessing how well the programs of the biosafety meet the needs and expectations of customers and achieve the goals of promoting health, safety, and regulatory compliance.

-Keep the EH&S Director informed on the status of these programs at regularly scheduled goals and progress meetings, and immediately for situations involving laboratory incidents, regulatory compliance visits, audits, any regulatory agency notices of violations(s), and major after-hours on-call emergencies.

-Review, submit quarterly reports, and present quarterly performance metrics to Section staff and the EH&S Leadership Team.

-Act as the contact person between EH&S and vendors of lab safety supplies and equipment and/or regulatory agencies having compliance oversight of biosafety operations and services.

-Specific program assignments vary as needs and resources change. Current assignments include the following:

1. Biological Safety Training for all new researchers.
2. Emergency response technical support to incidents involving laboratory and other hazardous material spills or incidents, including appropriate training and planning with local emergency response agencies (UW Police Department, Madison Fire Department, Local Ambulance Services, UW Hospital and Clinics, and University Health Services).
3. Presentation of issues and information to the IBC.

10% D. Training and Education

The BSO oversees the development of procedures, training manuals, web documents and computer based training programs dealing with compliance with WI Dept. Comm, WI DSPS (OSHA), U.S. DOT, WI DHS, WI DNR (EPA), WI DOT, and other regulations that apply to biological and laboratory safety. The BSO ensures that training and education programs for faculty, staff, students and contractors including documentation of attendance and testing are completed.

Assignments include the following:

-Instructor for Biological Safety and Transportation/Shipping of Hazardous Materials

-Instructor for health and safety training specific topics pertaining to biological safety and biological materials

-Laboratory staff in-service training to correct problems found during consultations

-One-on-one training with laboratory art department or shop staff with unique issues

-Collaborating with service topic team managers

10% E. Field Consultation (Inspects and Surveys) Services

Performs inspections of any laboratory facility including those where biological materials and equipment is present in order to promote health, safety and regulatory compliance. Consultations are performed in cooperation with other groups within EH&S.

Responsibilities include evaluating:

-The potential for injury, illness or property loss due to the use, storage or disposal of hazardous biological materials and other hazardous materials (e.g., chemical and radiological agents);

-The potential for release of hazardous materials to the environment; and how well operations meet the requirements of the UW-Madison’s Researchers Biosafety Manual and Hazardous Waste Management Plan.

-Maintaining records of consultations (e.g., inspections) that are adequate for regulatory compliance and legal accountability. When deficiencies are noted, the BSO works with the local staff to design and implement corrective actions. If an appropriate solution cannot be achieved, the BSO refers the issue to the EH&S Director.

5% F. Projects and Special Assignments

As assigned, develop and implement solutions to issues outside the scope of the program areas usually assigned to the BSO. Assignments may involve assisting other EH&S staff with other established programs or may involve unique or emerging issues.

Projects may be assigned by the BSO to staff or teams. Progress is monitored as part goals so that the individual or team and the supervisor are clear about expectations and performance.

10% G. Other duties as assigned including:

Director’s assignments:

-Participation in EH&S leadership meetings, organizational advance meeting, and other departmental or divisional functions as required.

-Assistance to co-workers in the department, University Legal Counsel, UW Police, University Health Services, and other campus units as necessary.

5% H. Responds to emergencies and provides technical consultation

-On an as needed basis, responds to incidents involving hazardous materials both during and after normal working hours. Participates in EH&S emergency response (and other types such as biological, chemical, natural disaster, and/or Madison or Dane County) drills, and UW Police Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operations.

-Responsibilities may include incident command, direction of EH&S staff on the scene, or acting under the direction of appointed UW Police and/or internal EH&S incident command staff.

-On an as needed basis, the individual may be required to wear, and must be physically capable of wearing, respiratory protection equipment and other personal protective equipment.

-The individual will also carry a department issued mobile phone, both during and after normal working hours.

Additional Information

-Because of the nature of BSO responsibilities, it is highly desirable that the AD/BSO reside within a 30-minute drive of the UW-Madison main campus.

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to hiring.

To ensure consideratoin:

How to apply:

Additional Details

For more information and to apply, search for the Req # 86454 here: http://www.ohr.wisc.edu/Employment/