Campus Biosafety Officer Office of Environment, Health & Safety

Apply for Job Job ID 86248
Location Main Campus-Berkeley
Full/Part Time Full Time
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About Berkeley

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Departmental Overview

The Office of Environment, Health & Safety's (EH&S) mission is to protect the health and safety of our community and environment.

EH&S is a highly dynamic, fast-paced, committed organization focused on promoting workplace safety and environmental protection for the campus community. We are comprised of many scientific, technical, and administrative professionals, working in an evolving, learning, and sometimes challenging environment with a unified goal of supporting the University's mission of teaching, research, and public service. EH&S strives to be an inclusive, service-oriented, and operationally excellent organization and seeks highly motivated individuals who want to learn, be creative, seek continuous competency development, and contribute to our mission.

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Position Summary

The Campus Biosafety Officer (BSO) is the campus expert on the safe handling of biological materials, ensures safe use of biohazardous and potentially biohazardous materials in research and teaching on campus, and provides other laboratory safety services to the Berkeley campus.

The BSO oversees and directs the campus biosafety program and controlled substances program.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is May 27, 2026

Responsibilities

Serves as subject matter expert in biological safety:

• Acts as delegated representative of senior management to campus, system-wide, local government, state, and federal levels of authority, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in matters related to biosafety and affiliated research areas.
• Participates on campus and system-wide committees as biosafety and/or EH&S resource (e.g., IACUC)
• Provides input to federal and state regulators for writing and revision of regulations
• Creates new and complex solutions applying advanced-level knowledge/expertise of best practices within multiple technical, professional, scientific, and applied disciplines and makes recommendations and presentations based on accepted scientific methodology.
• Ensures the implementation of quality control procedures in accordance with all regulations in the subject area.
• Maintains professional knowledge/expertise of existing and proposed changes in all EH&S areas, with attention to regulations in biosafety. *See Governing Laws & Regulations below*
• Via Biosafety Officers
  • Advises departments, researchers, and support staff on biosafety requirements for proposed work and facilities
  • Provides design requirements, operation requirements, and management recommendations for all facilities using biohazards
  • Ensures certification and maintenance of biological safety cabinets on campus.
  • Oversees the Medical Waste Program and annual inspections
  • Provides technical guidance regarding shipping, material transfer agreements, etc

Co-directs UC Berkeley's inspection program:

• Teams
  • Plans, organizes, and oversees the work of the EH&S Biosafety.
  • Directly or via subordinate supervisors, supervises, motivates, guides, and applies appropriate standards to staff in the implementation of assigned duties.
  • Administers a full range of performance management to ensure maintenance of expectations and standards.
  • Assess job and career enhancement development needs for staff, and ensure access to development opportunities.
  • Ensures staff are fully and properly trained to meet the mandatory training requirements of positions.
  • Completes and maintains compliance on campus/systemwide training requirements, as well as any training necessary per role for self and for staff.
• Program
  • Implements laboratory inspection program, working closely with the Chemical Hygiene Officer and Director of Research Safety
  • Oversees training design, delivery, and evaluation
  • Ensures updates to materials to reflect current laboratory safety practices (biosafety practices, e.g., biosafety manual)
• Provides technical support to the campus Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and the Committee for Laboratory & Environmental Biosafety (CLEB) in conjunction with the committee chair.
• Ensures coordination and facilitation of monthly IBC and CLEB meetings
• Assesses all research protocols that involve biohazards or potentially biohazardous material
• Assigns reviews to biosafety staff and committee membership
• Serves in the IBC Biosafety Officer role and ensures meetings meet quorum per NIH requirements
• Monitors and controls the organization's EH&S standards in accordance with regulations
• Investigates incidents (injuries) and complaints involving biohazards and potentially biohazardous materials
• Commits the organization to a course of action (e.g., approves use or closes down operations)
• Prepares reports or other forms of scientific or technical documentation, e.g., annual reports to NIH Office of Biotechnological Activities, information requests, consulting with campus stakeholders (e.g., legal, risk)
• Establishes standards and protocols in subject matter expertise: biological use authorization review and associated inspection(s), facilities inspections (BSL3)
• Ensures training programs comply with standards and requirements

Staff development:

• Works on professional committees and assignments, participates in professional training and attends relevant conferences, and/or is mentored or coached on a formal or informal basis.

EH&S Emergency Response:

• At the request of campus management (EH&S Director, VC Administration/ Research, UCPD Chief, or designated alternate), serve in a designated role within the EH&S Emergency Support Function and be on call to the campus Emergency Operations Center in a campus-designated disaster or campus hazardous material release/threatened release. Provide appropriate emergency response role based upon expertise and, where applicable, designated departmental role.
• Serve as a reserve responder for the Designated Urgent Response Team (DURT), due to staffing considerations with the team.
• As assigned, may coordinate the Team, and will be subject to other requirements, including training and medical surveillance.

During an on-call assignment:

• Must be accessible via telephone and readily available to respond on-scene to emergencies (e.g., a chemical spill) during business hours. Will perform directly or coordinate any necessary field activities to evaluate and mitigate a hazard.
• Provide technical support by serving as the "Lead Off-Hours Responder". Must be accessible by UCPD via telephone and readily available to respond on-scene to emergencies (e.g., a chemical spill) during non-business hours, within one hour, and may not engage in activity that will affect the ability to respond.
• To serve as a responder, an incumbent must meet the program's specific requirements outlined in the EH&S DURT Program Guidelines. These include occupational physical qualifications.
• Medical baseline is required.

Required Qualifications

• Expert knowledge/understanding with at least five years of experience in the specific EH&S field of biosafety, preferably at a large higher-education research institution.
• Strong familiarity with all EH&S fields.
• Expert knowledge and skill in applying and interpreting applicable local, state, and federal regulations and related standards, guidelines and, as appropriate, recommend organization or systemwide policy.
• Expert knowledge of biosafety and laboratory safety, including biosafety cabinet operation, fume hoods and laboratory ventilation, personal protective equipment, and chemical safety and storage.
• Advanced written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills, including advanced political acumen and skill to effectively communicate with diverse constituencies in a highly political environment.
• Demonstrated experience and skill to represent the organization (campus) to state and federal authorities, and community groups.
• Advanced analytical skills and ability to organize, prioritize, and manage the successful completion of high-level and potentially complex projects within budget and time constraints.
• Expert skill to effectively represent the organization to state and federal authorities, and community groups.
• Proven supervisory experience and demonstrated skill in mentoring or overseeing the work of other EH&S technical and professional staff.
• Expert skill to appropriately use technology and relevant scientific equipment as required.
• Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of Governing Laws and Regulations: USDA Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002; Possession, Use, and Transfer of Biological Agents and Toxins, DHHS Regulations for the Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins, NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, NIH/CDC Guidelines "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, California Medical Waste Management Act, IATA, DOC, DOT, USDA, CDC, USFW, CDFA, CDFW transportation, importation, and shipping regulations, USDA Field Release Permits, EPA Field Release Regulations, Applicable Cal/OSHA standards (Aerosol Transmissible Diseases, Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, Fume Hoods and Biological Safety Cabinets, IIPP, HAZWOPER), City of Berkeley Hazardous Materials Ordinance, National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity guidelines, California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations governing transgenic aquatic animals
• Advanced degree in biological or life sciences or related field.
• Certification as a Biosafety Professional (CBSP), or Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP)

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, monthly-paid (exempt) position eligible for UC benefits. This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement of up to 40% (within the United States). Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $135,000 - $172,000 annually.

Other Information

This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Physical Exam

Employment is contingent upon passing a physical exam.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.