Associate Biological Safety Officer

Position Summary

• The Associate Biological Safety Officer (ABSO) is responsible for providing support to the Biosafety Team within the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Office and contributing to a culture of safety at Harvard.

• This position offers a great opportunity for an entry-level biologist, EHS professional, or person looking for a career transition to gain experience in the biosafety field.

• Primary responsibilities include providing technical and field support to the EHS Biosafety Team and assisting in the implementation of programs and services relating to the use of biohazardous materials and/or recombinant and synthetic nucleic acids within Harvard schools.

• The ABSO will participate in a variety of support tasks and will report to the Biosafety Manager.

• Duties may include acting as a customer liaison between university clients (such as laboratory principal investigators and research staff), Facilities Management, and EHS.

• This position provides emergency response support on a rotational basis.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitates the integration of biosafety into laboratory operations and promotes safe work practices based on regulatory requirements, best management practices, and University Policy.

• Develops and maintains proficiency in regulations, standards, guidelines, and trends in biological safety and environmental health and safety. Communicates requirements to EHS colleagues and University lab customers, as required.

• Collaborates with EHS Lab Safety Advisors and other Biosafety Team members to perform inspections, compliance reviews, and hazard assessments of research laboratories, research animal facilities, and other support facilities. 

• Authors timely, peer-reviewed compliance reports and monitors corrective actions. 

• Conducts risk assessments of biological research protocols, processes applications for registration with the Harvard Institutional Biosafety Committee (COMS), and participates in COMS meetings.

• Delivers and assists in the development of safety training, including biological, general, and physical hazard protection in laboratories, effective safety and exposure control use, hazardous materials shipping, and other customized trainings.

• Updates and contributes to drafting policies, guidelines, and procedures for the University’s Biological Safety Program (BL1 to BL3), as assigned. 

• Aids in the response and investigation of laboratory-related accidents or exposures.

• Supports preparation for and assists in the conducting of regulatory site visits.

• Assists with additional EHS project and program work, as needed

 

Working Conditions:

• Participate in EH&S Emergency Response Team on a rotating basis.

• Will be required to carry a mobile phone and respond to emergencies during non-business hours with other EHS staff 

• Periodic participation on-site during off hours, holidays, and weekends may be required to support projects

• Emergency Status Designation: Critical Operations Personnel

 

Physical Requirements:

• Must have sufficient mobility, dexterity, and endurance to perform emergency response activities and field visits

• Must be capable of using personal protective equipment and monitoring equipment, be able to access any area of the University to perform designated work functions including but not limited to inspections, job safety assessments, and emergency response