Overview

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker, MD, School of Medicine is recruiting for a Biosafety Officer. The Assistant Biosafety Officer is responsible for the administration of institutional policies related to biological safety designed to proactively ensure the minimization of risk related to noncompliance with regulations and policies governing the conduct of biomedical research. The position will be responsible for all laboratory safety programs including education, training, providing guidance to faculty and staff on performing biosafety risk assessment using personal protective equipment (PPE), implementing decontamination procedures, packaging and shipping of infectious agents, and reviewing waste management plans, including methods for recycling and disposal of biological hazards. Implements guidelines established by the WMed Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), state, and federal governments, and coordinates the biosafety monitoring, compliance, and response activities for all WMed research facilities.

Responsibilities

• Serves as WMed’s Biosafety Officer (BSO).
• Develops, implements and monitors WMed’s environmental and safety programs, systems, procedures, and training in biosafety
• Serves as the primary point person (source of expertise) for communication and documentation of appropriate equipment, facilities, and work practices for protecting laboratories, staff, and the environment from contamination and infectious organisms.
• Coordinates hazardous waste management from all campuses and departments while ensuring compliance with all local, state and federal regulations.
• Responsible for the management and oversight of WMed’s Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP).
• Serves as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO).
• Conducts lab inspections, analyzes and interprets results recommends appropriate corrective actions, communicates results and follows up on issues or concerns until resolution.
• Conducts thorough incident reviews, determines root causes and recommends appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Maintains training records for all lab workers.
• Work with other departments and participates in meetings, conferences, and WMed committees and discussions to ensure compliance in all areas of biosafety.
• Assists with providing input to external reporting to regulatory agencies. This includes annual reports, permits and licenses.
• Conducts weekly testing and annual testing of emergency and eye wash and safety showers in collaboration with Facilities.
• Assist Principal Investigators (PIs) in the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be used with routine processes and experiments in the lab, including but not limited to biohazard and hazards associated with chemicals used in the labs based on safety data sheets (SDS) and other references sources, proper laboratory engineering controls, administrative procedures and PPE.
• Oversees the WMed Biosafety Manual updates as changes in regulations, policies and procedures dictate.
• Advises on Occupational Health programs for persons working with biohazardous agents and materials.
• Provides technical support and participates in review of research grant applications, proposals, and activities involving biohazardous materials and recombinant DNA, and approves or recommends modifications to ensure safe practices; provides guidance to researchers and/or performs follow-up as appropriate.
• Participates in various internal committees, such as the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB); actively participates in external meetings and organizations, and maintains liaison with professional counterparts in other institutions.
• May consult with WMed’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) on research protocols that involve radioactive materials.
• Responds to emergencies with hazardous materials, which may include biological, chemical, or radioactive substances to aid in remediation efforts on-site as needed.
• Travel to other WMed sites in performance of job duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to promptly respond in person to all WMed locations outside of normal business hours as needed.
• Availability to work on weekends and evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health and Safety, Chemistry, or related discipline, and a minimum of 2 years related work experience or 2 years of lab experience required.
• Experience with environment, laboratory, clinic, pharmaceutical, health-care or animal research setting highly preferred.
• Knowledge of Michigan Occupational Health and Safety (MIOSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
• Knowledge of hazardous waste regulations to include hazardous chemical/biohazard storage and disposal regulations.
• Knowledge of occupational safety principles, including use of personal protective equipment, ergonomics, administrative controls and engineering controls.
• Detail oriented and proficient with computer applications such as Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to respond promptly to all campus locations requiring environmental health and safety services, which may occur outside of normal business hours.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Professional certification as a Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP) or Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) or preparing to become a CBSP or RBP is preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to understand interpret federal, state and local health safety regulations and communicate quantitative and qualitative information.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety, including biosafety cabinet operation, fume hoods, and laboratory ventilation, PPE and chemical hazards.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in oral and written format.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage databases
• Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks in a limited time frame.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel within and out of research and teaching setting, utilizing skills to negotiate, explain and persuade.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively within project teams and committees.
• Demonstrated ability to wear proper PPE, including, but not limited to, respiratory protection.
• Ability to travel locally between WMed sties.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of work flow.
• Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-entered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a just culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. Building upon a $100 million foundational gift in 2011, WMed is a recipient of the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs and an annual estimated economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program and two Master of Science degree programs in Biomedical Sciences and Medical Engineering. We train physicians in 10 residencies and five fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout Kalamazoo, Portage, and Battle Creek. The Department of Pathology faculty serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with faculty and administrative offices, student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed is building upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery. 

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer of females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. We provide a drug- and tobacco-free workplace. 

EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Protected Veterans.