Assistant/Associate Biosafety Officer - Philadelphia, United States - University of Pennsylvania

Description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey.

Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia.

The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities.

With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Assistant/Associate Biosafety Officer

Job Profile Title

Biosafety Officer A

Job Description Summary

Reporting to and under direction from the Institutional Biosafety Officer, Associate Director for Life Sciences Safety (BIOSAFETY) and Compliance Programs, the successful candidate will perform duties of, depending on experience, an Assistant or Associate Biosafety Officer.

The successful candidate provides technical guidance to faculty and staff regarding equipment, facilities and work practices for protection of personnel, laboratories and environment from biological hazards; Reviews experimental design, protocols and procedures; Conducts risk assessments; Provides compliance oversight and safety training for varied life sciences research programs; Reviews research grant applications, proposals, and activities involving hazardous materials and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid (r∙s∙NA) research to ensure safe practices in support of the University's Environmental Health Programs, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); Participates in biological safety training for faculty, staff and students; Inspects research facilities for compliance with regulations and guidelines pertaining to use, handling, and disposal of biohazards and/or recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids (r∙s∙NA); Investigates accidents in life sciences research environments and develops corrective action plans; Develops and implements emergency response procedures for incidents involving biohazardous agents and materials; Responds (on call) to hazardous biological materials incidents as appropriate and consults on research laboratory operations and security.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Administer & support development of Life Sciences Laboratory Safety & Biosafety Programs.

Provide oversight for various biosafety program components, as needed.

Review and provide guidance for IBC registrations & IACUC protocols using pertinent guidelines & regulations.

Conduct laboratory & vivarium audits. Inspect research facilities for safety & compliance.

Maintain audit and compliance records.

Provide technical guidance to faculty & research staff.

Conduct, revise, and develop biological safety training.

Investigate injuries & accidents involving biological materials and research animals.

Support various Occupational Health programs.

Develop & implement emergency response procedures, & outreach programs, for incidents involving biohazards.

Respond (on call) to biohazardous materials incidents as appropriate.

Perform due diligence & track exempt amounts of select agent toxins.

Primary, consultative contact for biocontainment laboratories

At the discretion of the leadership participate in mentorship, training, & supervisory activities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications for Assistant Biosafety Officer (Biosafety Officer A):

Assistant Biosafety Officer Position:

A Master's (MS) degree in biological science (i.e., microbiology, bacteriology, virology etc.) or related field and 3-5 years experience with molecular biology / gene editing techniques, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required.

3-5 years of hands-on biomedical research and/or clinical research experience.

At least 3 years of experience in the field of biological safety, in a biomedical research facility.

Fundamental familiarity with the NIH Guidelines and CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.

Required Qualifications for Associate Biosafety Officer (Biosafety Officer B):

Associate Biosafety Officer:

A Master's (MS) degree in biological science and 5 to 7 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required.

Preferred:

a Doctorate (PhD, MD, VMD) in biological sciences or medicine (i.e., microbiology, bacteriology, virology etc.) or related field and documented experience with molecular biology / gene editing techniques is preferred.

Minimum 5 years, hands-on biomedical research and/or clinical research experience.

5 years of experience in the field of biological safety, in a biomedical research facility.

Working level understanding of the NIH Guidelines, CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, and OSHA lab safety standards.

Documentation of or ability to obtain credential of a Registered Biological Safety Professional (RBP), Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP), or other related biosafety certification.

Special Requirements:
A valid driver's license.

The ability to respond and move rapidly and frequently without restrictions, transport up to 30 pounds or more, and wear respiratory protection, are required.

Application Requirement

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$51, $90,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare.

You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Tuition :
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

Retirement:
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

Time Away from Work:
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year.

This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

Long-Term Care Insurance:

In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility.

If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements.

Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life.

That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

Professional and Personal Development:
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

University Resources:

As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities.

Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries.

There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples.

As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

Discounts and Special Services :
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff.

Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff.

You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

Flexible Work Hours:
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

Penn Home Ownership Services:

Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

Adoption Assistance:

Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community.

We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status.

Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service.

The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.