Biosafety Officer/ Chemical Safety Officer

Texas A&M University System · San Antonio

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Under supervision of the Vice President for Research, the Biosafety Officer/ Chemical Safety Officer (BSO/CSO) assists in organizing, managing, implementing, and maintaining programs in compliance for laboratory and research safety in the specific areas of biosafety and chem-safety. Assists in the administration, promotion, development, presentation, training, and coordination of various Safety programs at the university to ensure research and laboratory compliance with University regulations, System regulations, regulatory agencies, and national guidelines.

Responsibilities:

• Assists in the development and implementation of chemical and environmental health and safety programs to meet university and Texas A&M System regulatory requirements. Establishes documents and communicates standards, guidelines and procedures. Develops and delivers training for assigned environmental health and safety programs. 

• Develops, implements, and coordinates a comprehensive biological safety program for the university to enhance institutional biosafetyrelated objectives and to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, guidelines, policies, and directives.
  Assesses existing programs for regulatory compliance and recommends enhancements or modifications as required. Maintains current knowledge on existing and pending legislation relating to chemical and biological safety. 

• Is a member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) Committee, and Chair of the Chemical Safety Committee as an expert on compliance matters related to research and teaching laboratories. 

• Communicate and collaborate with the university Compliance Officer and with the Risk and Compliance Coordinator in the development and coordination of emergency response procedures. 

• Prepares reports as requested or required. Liaises with regulatory agencies and the System Office. 

• Provides general laboratory support, dispenses and maintains safety signage, collection/testing materials and spill kits, maintain list of investigators and responsible for notification of exposures, incidents and accidental releases to proper entities, testing of autoclaves and laboratory hoods. 

• Assists with removal of all types of hazardous wastes and coordinate the proper disposal and removal of biohazard materials from research and teaching laboratories at the university. 

• Conducts field audits for research and safety compliance to university, system, and federal regulations. Documents results and recommends corrective action where non-compliance is found. Follow-up as required. 

• Coordinates, quality controls, and monitors the delivery of biosafety education and training to all Texas A&M-SA faculty, staff, and students who work with or have potential for exposure to biological pathogenic agents. 

• Monitors all Texas A&M-SA teaching and research activities involving the use of hazardous biological materials and recombinant DNA molecules for compliance with appropriate regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices. 

• Inspects research and teaching facilities for compliance with regulations and guidelines pertaining to the use, handling, and disposal of potential biohazards and recombinant DNA; coordinates the review and investigation of all biosafety accidents occurring on university campus and develops corrective action plans. 

• Develops and implements emergency response procedures for incidents involving biohazardous agents and materials and maintains TEXAS A&M SA Incident Action Plan for biohazards; develops medical surveillance criteria for activities involving biohazards and related materials; responds to biohazardous materials incidents as appropriate. 

• Performs other duties as assigned to include, but not limited to, administration of the blood borne pathogen program at the university.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in related field.

• Four (4) years of related experience.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, or Occupational Health and Safety,

• Two (2)years of experience in biosafety administration, program management, risk management, research compliance, chemical safety, and/or related areas.

• Master’s degree is preferred or

• Master’s degree and five years of experience

• Seven (7) years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) 

• Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) 

• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and/or 

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and/or 

• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong computer skills.

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and database software. 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

• Knowledge of Biological and Chemical regulations as well as federal laboratory biosafety level regulations and guidelines. 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

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