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Northeastern University
  • Position Number: 1707468
  • Location: Boston, MA
  • Position Type: Laboratory and Research


Biosafety Program Manager


About Northeastern:
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and a world leader in experiential learning. The same commitment to connecting with the world drives our use-inspired research enterprise. The university offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Our campuses in Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto are regional platforms for undergraduate and graduate learning and collaborative research. Northeastern pursues advanced research in security and materials at the Innovation Campus in Burlington, Massachusetts, and in coastal sustainability at the Marine Science Center in Nahant, Massachusetts.

About the Opportunity:
The Biosafety Program Manager provides professional biosafety support services for faculty, staff, and students to maintain a safe and healthy working environment in academic research and teaching laboratories utilizing biohazardous materials. This manager reports to the EH&S Assistant Director for Research Safety Programs and provides guidance in the continuing improvement and implementation of the University's Biosafety Program as well as administration of the University campus-wide Exposure Control Plan for potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Biosafety program management presents challenges where problems encountered are often non-routine, requiring detailed review of practices and precedents to recommend effective remedy. Often, risk assessments are not well defined for research safety concerns with potentially biohazardous materials. Thus, this position requires conducting independent research/analysis to identify appropriate and sometimes novel approaches to support the overall implementation of the biosafety program.
Excellent coordination and communication skills are required to effectively negotiate and appropriately influence the safety behavior of individual lab workers, principal investigators, and interdisciplinary research groups towards implementing best management practices. Proven expertise in understanding all aspects of program/project phases and effectively managing projects. This is a team effort with other lab safety program managers not only for overall safety compliance but also for promoting an enhanced campus-wide safety culture.

Responsibilities:
Safety Awareness Training:

Utilize advance knowledge of safety training requirements and familiarity of academic teaching/research programs to maintain a progressive safety training program for laboratory workers utilizing hazardous materials. Researches, analyzes, and evaluates the applicability of new techniques, procedures, equipment, and instrumentation to assist other program managers with exposure monitoring.

  • Assist in the preparation of training programs and other informative materials to promote safe work practices and environmental conscientiousness for working with biohazardous materials.

  • Promote the use of novel techniques to enhance the effectiveness of safety education for working with biohazardous materials and foster the enhancement of safety culture

  • Use of multimedia approaches especially learning management software platforms and web based informational sites to best manage and facilitate the delivery and tracking of safety education/training.

  • Work with academic and other departments (athletics) to develop and help deliver training to meet needs of employees, and students in clinical rotations, capstone projects, high school programs and co-op assignments.

  • Presents seminars and class lectures as training sessions for faculty, staff, and students.



    Biosafety Program Safety Management:

    Serve as the Biosafety Officer to manage the biosafety program that provides consultation, support services, and auditing within the EH&S biological safety programs. Independently carry out duties and responsibilities to fulfill the needs of the University to meet NIH, DPH, OSHA, City of Boston and other regulatory agency requirements for the use of biohazardous materials.

    Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Multi-level program review and oversight of research, teaching, and medical procedures involving use of biohazardous materials;

  • Technical evaluations of use, storage, and transportation of biohazardous materials are correctly interpreted in light of regulatory compliance goals and best management practices outlined in the Biosafety Manual to conform to NIH guidelines.

  • Advise NU personnel on safety engineering controls, process safety improvements, and laboratory design recommendations for biomaterials

  • Collaborate and lead the development of guidelines and standard operating procedures for the more complex or novel biosafety operations.

  • Conduct risk assessments; investigate exposure incidents; maintain record keeping systems to advance the safe storage, use, and disposal practices for working with biohazardous materials.

  • Conduct audits in laboratories specifically on the safe use and storage of biohazardous materials, management of biohazardous waste, and general biosafety.

  • Audits are scheduled on a routine basis, interpretations of audit criteria and reporting of findings are consistent and timely.

  • Supervise technical staff, co-op students (interns), and administrative staff assigned to provide support to the biosafety program.

  • Develop emergency plans for handling accidental spills and personnel contamination

  • Oversee Occupational Health and Exposure Response Programs

  • Advise NU Police Department on lab security for biological materials.

    Biosafety Committee

    Serve as Secretary (voting member) to the Institutional Biosafety Committee that proves institutional oversight as required by the NIH for research involving recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules.



  • Preliminary consultation and review of applications by principal investigators to use or store biohazardous materials in preparation for presentation of research protocols to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or the Biosafety Review Committee (BRC).

  • Advise on regulatory requirements on conducting work that may involve the use or potential exposure to a variety of hazardous materials including select agents, toxins, blood borne pathogens, as well as research areas that include xenotransplantation, stem cells, Dual Use materials, and nanotechnology

  • Co-ordinate acquiring ad hoc consultants as needed to advise the IBC on research activities not covered by current expertise of IBC membership.

  • Maintain registrations and file reports as required by regulatory authorities, including the OBA at NIH and the City of Boston Public Health Commission.

  • Liaison for safety review information sharing to enhance interaction of the IBC with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)





    Qualifications:
    Bachelor of Science degree required in one of the physical sciences, life sciences, environmental science, bioengineering, applied health science or other applicable degree.

    Preferred qualifications include a BS or MS degree in microbiology and a background in laboratory biosafety or related field.

    Minimum of 4 years' experience working in an academic environment providing occupational and environmental health/safety services. MS degree will replace 2 years of related work experience.
    Two years' experience supervising professional/support staff. Ability to lead a team, as well as participate as an active team member.
    Eligibility and interest in pursuing professional certification highly desirable.

    Qualifications as a Certified Biosafety Professional or a Registered Biosafety Professional highly desirable.

    Knowledge of environmental health and occupational safety principles as well as ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations, technical reports, and research protocols.

    Experience with OSHA requirements and best management practices for training employees and students on safe work practices when handling hazardous materials or equipment.

    Experience working within laboratory safety programs such as general lab safety, biosafety, and radiation protection. Familiarity with laboratory design and code requirements for safety control systems
    Ability to compile and present instructions as well as ability to clearly and concisely express ideas orally and in writing.
    Excellent coordination and communication skills to effectively negotiate and appropriately influence the safety behavior of lab workers, facilities trade groups, and construction project managers towards best procedures to implement best safety management practices.
    Proficient at standard computer software packages including Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook in performing work assignments.
    Experience with or ability to learn and utilize a Learning Management System (LMS) such as BlackBoard, Canvas, or other data management software such as BioRaft, to implement safety training and other biosafety program management needs.
    Excellent customer service skills. Excellent time and project management skills, including planning, prioritizing, and scheduling multiple ongoing projects
    Be medically qualified to wear respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment as well as lift to 50 lbs.
    Work in a variety of physical environments where the use of biological and other hazardous materials, or equipment, are in storage or use.


    Preferred Qualifications:


    Salary Grade:
    12

    Additional Information:



    Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

    All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

    To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.




    To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/879/cw/en-us/job/502062





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