Position Summary:

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey is seeking a motivated University Biosafety Officer for the Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) Department.

The University Biosafety Officer is a manager within Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) Department responsible for managing the department's Biosafety Group and the Institution's Biosafety Program. University Biosafety Officer is the appointed Responsible Official for the Rutgers-NJMS biocontainment facilities, including, but not limited to the BSL-3 laboratories located in the Medical Science Building (MSB), International Center for Public Health (ICPH), and Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL).

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Manages the REHS Biosafety Group priorities and leads, guides, directs and supervises the daily activities and
  assignments of the department's Biosafety Officers.
• Supports select agent and BSL-3 laboratory directors and managers in developing standard operating procedures and protocols for research; maintains and updates the Biosafety Manual and individual select agent/BSL-3 manuals to reflect current state-of-the-art biosafety practices, and campus policy and implementing procedures.
• Develops appropriate training and educational materials pertaining to safety and biosafety, and maintains training database(s), as required.
• Performs surveys/audits of laboratories and practices to ensure appropriate microbiological work practices are performed, proper storage, management and disposal of regulated medical waste and appropriate operation and certification of Biological Safety Cabinets.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Minimum of Master's Degree in Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene and Safety, or other related field of study.
• At least eight (8) years of work experience as a biosafety specialist, officer or related biosafety function, three (3) of which must be in the area of planning, operation, and oversight as a Responsible Official or Alternate Responsible Official of Select Agent and BSL-3 laboratories, including animal laboratories.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Status as a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) and/or Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP) required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, standards, guidelines, and other related conventions on select agents, biosafety level 3 laboratories, recombinant DNA, microbiology and biomedical laboratories, bloodborne pathogens, transportation of hazardous and etiological materials, hazardous chemicals in laboratories, and other relevant subjects, including those of DHHS, NIH, CDC, USDA, DOT, DoD, DOJ, and OSHA required.
• Demonstrated ability to respond to emergencies and critical situations appropriately in a research setting required.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations, along with superior oral presentation and other communications skills required.
• Use of the Internet for research purposes, and experience with computers (email, desktop software applications such as Office, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) required. . * Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize and manage the successful completion of projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a university setting or health care environment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Must be able to walk/stand for extended periods of time, wear Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) up to Level A, and provide emergency response services, as needed (including rotating on-call/off-hours services).
• Must be able to enter bio-containment.
  Outstanding human relations and leadership skills, and the ability to function in a team environment required; must be able to work independently and without supervision, and on multiple simultaneous projects.

Special Conditions:

• Must have a valid NJ Driver's License and be able to safely operate a university vehicle.
• Candidate must successfully complete a security risk assessment by the U.S. Department of Justice and be approved for access to select biological agents and toxins by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as a condition of employment.

Posting Number: 20ST1801

Location: Newark (RBHS)