ACL-3 Facility Manager

The Facility Manager operates a recommissioned, high-containment ACL-3 suite Containing two distinct areas, with strict separation maintained through room assignment, containment procedures, decontamination protocols, personnel flow, and access control. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Research in the School of Biological Sciences.

The Facility Manager ensures safe, compliant, and efficient operation under USDA ACL-3 regulations—among the most heavily regulated biological research environments globally, subject to regular USDA, CDC, and California Department of Food and Agriculture oversight and unannounced inspections. Core responsibilities include maintaining continuous compliance, administering federal permits for, serving as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, and preserving audit-ready records.

The role encompasses annual facility shutdown coordination, verifying HVAC systems, biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, and secondary containment integrity; aligning different ABSL-3 users to prevent resource conflicts; and managing facility access and documentation. The manager develops and continually updates a comprehensive safety manual and standard operating procedures for containment, decontamination, and emergency response; designs and delivers biosafety training with certification tracking; oversees specialized ACL-3 PPE inventory, distribution, and respiratory-protection standards; and creates emergency response plans for containment breaches, spills, and personnel exposures, serving as the principal contact with EH&S and UC Police during incidents and coordinating timely reporting to federal agencies such as the CDC and USDA.

Expected outcomes include zero regulatory violations, successful annual certifications with minimal research disruption, consistent training compliance, and prompt incident response. The Facility Manager will collaborate directly with the Dean’s Office of the School of Biological Sciences, Abkari lab researchers, and the principal faculty investigator(s) to refine and expand the functional scope of the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Academic background and experience in selected area of research. Doctorate in biological sciences, entomology, microbiology, or a closely related field required.

• Demonstrated background in insect biology, biosafety science, agricultural pest research, or a closely related research discipline is preferred.

• Advanced knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices, preferred.

• Advanced knowledge of ACL-2/ACL-3 arthropod containment practices, BSL-2/BSL-3 biosafety protocols, and the federal regulatory frameworks governing high-containment biological research (including USDA, CDC, and IBC requirements). Demonstrated experience managing safety documentation, BUA/LHAT/HCP compliance records, and audit preparation.

• Advanced oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, regulatory agency representatives, institutional safety officers, and facility users at all levels.

• Advanced ability to think creatively and independently on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills. Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose facility operational problems, assess compliance risks, and develop practical solutions under time pressure and with minimal supervision. Ability to anticipate and proactively address regulatory, safety, and logistical challenges in a complex, multi-user high-containment environment.

• Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results. Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively across multiple research groups, federal agency representatives, institutional departments, and visiting scholars. Experience navigating competing priorities and stakeholder needs in a collaborative research facility setting.

• Advanced ability to work collaboratively with internal and external peers and managers. Demonstrated experience partnering with EH&S, Physical Facilities, Animal Care, IBC, USDA, CDC, and other institutional and federal partners to achieve compliance and operational outcomes. Ability to serve as a trusted institutional representative in high-stakes regulatory contexts.

• Demonstrated experience managing BSL-3 or ACL-2/ACL-3 containment facilities, or equivalent high-containment biological research environments.

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal permit management processes for regulated organisms, including USDA APHIS, CDC, and California Department of Food and Agriculture permitting. Experience serving as institutional liaison to regulatory agencies during inspections, audits, or incident reporting.

• Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive safety manuals, SOPs, and training programs. Ability to develop & implement these for high-containment research facilities preferred.

• Demonstrated experience in personnel training for biosafety and containment protocols, including PPE management, fit testing, and training documentation tracking.

• Demonstrated experience managing laboratory or facility purchasing, vendor relationships, equipment maintenance contracts, and operational budgets in a research environment.

• Proficiency with computer systems and software for recordkeeping, scheduling, inventory management, and regulatory documentation. Familiarity with Google Workspace (Drive, Sheets, Calendar) preferred.

• Willingness and ability to embrace and practice UC San Diego's Principles of Community, including a commitment to maintaining a climate of fairness, cooperation, and professionalism.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be willing and able to work with live arthropods and biological materials at ACL-3 containment levels.

• Must have no disqualifying allergies or medical conditions that preclude working in high-containment biological research environments.

• Must be willing and able to obtain and maintain all required biosafety certifications, federal permits, and training authorizations required for ACL-3 facility operations, including USDA and CDC credentialing as applicable.

• Must pass all required background checks and security clearances associated with work involving USDA-regulated organisms and select agent-adjacent containment requirements.

• Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends as required by facility operations, inspection schedules, or incident response.

• Must be able to perform fit testing and comply with all respiratory protection program requirements for ACL-3 PPE.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

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