Biosafety Officer

Sanofi•Toronto, ON

13d•CA$83,800 - CA$133,100•Onsite

About The Position

The Biosafety Officer (BSO) oversees biosafety and biosecurity practices, ensuring compliance with the Canadian Human Pathogen and Toxins Act (HPTA) and its Regulations (HPTR), and Sanofi Biosafety standard, acts as the primary contact with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and manages risks associated with all activities involving biohazardous materials, including in laboratory and manufacturing.

Requirements

Minimum Bachelors Degree in Biological Sciences, with a preference in Microbiology, or other relevant field.
2-5 years of practical Biosafety experience
Strong Knowledge of biosafety, and biocontainment principles, pathogen and toxin behaviour
Knowledge of workplace hazards and hierarchy of controls;
Knowledge of HSE principles;
Ability to have bias for action;
Ability to make risk based decisions;
Ability to positively influence;
Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation);
Ability to deliver HSE related training;
Data management skills including spreadsheets, databases is an asset;
Knowledge of local HSE regulations and codes;
Knowledge of systems used by HSE;
Coaching and mentoring of managers;
Ability to work transversally across functions/departments and strong team work within the HSE team.

Nice To Haves

Acquired or working towards a Professional Certification (RBSO or CBSP) preferred
Previous pharmaceutical and/or laboratory experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Promote and monitor compliance to HPTR through Managing the Biosafety and Biosecurity program on site
Leading the biosafety and biosecurity risk assessments
Advising on biosafety and biosecurity technical matters, in accordance with the HPTA and its regulations (HPTR), the Canadian Biosafety Standard (CBS), and Sanofi Biosafety global standard.
Developing and providing training related to biosafety and biosecurity policies, standards, and practices.
Conducting periodic internal inspections and biosafety audits and reporting findings to the licence holder representative (LHR) and site HSE leadership team.
Informing the LHR in writing of any non-compliance by a person conducting activities under the licence that is not corrected after that individual has been made aware of it
Assisting in the development and maintenance of the biosafety manual and standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to biosafety and biosecurity
Assisting with internal investigations of biosafety and biosecurity related incidents
Chair and maintain the site Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, ensuring documented meeting minutes are created.
Under the PHAC licence, the BSO will Possess a valid Biosecurity Portal Account and never transfer or share the access code or the account with another individual or employee.
Maintain and update, as required, the Pathogen and Toxin Licence (PTL) via the Biosecurity Portal in collaboration with the LHR.
Designate an ABC, if necessary.
Notify the Centre for Biosecurity without delay of any occurrences of inadvertent possession of human pathogens and toxins
Take reasonable care, before transferring regulated materials, to satisfy themselves: that if the intended recipient is in Canada, the recipient is licensed to work with the regulated material, or is otherwise exempted from the requirement to hold a PTL or that if the intended recipient is in a foreign country, the recipient will follow applicable biosafety and biosecurity standards and policies in the foreign jurisdiction
Works within the policies, procedures and regulations as required by the Company and under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Drive conformance to the site’s HSE management systems and HSE continuous improvement of the functions they support through:
Providing HSE coaching and mentoring to management and staff;
Proactively monitoring HSE performance and trends and provide regular updates to management;
Facilitates hazard identification and assists in managing HSE risk with the goal of risk elimination/reduction;
Actively participates in Level 1 and 2 +QDCI meetings
Other duties as assigned
Participate in HSE inspections;
Supports hazard and near miss reporting;
Drive on-time completion of accident reporting and investigations;
Ensure CAPAs are effective in preventing recurrence and drive on-time completion of CAPAs;
Drive implementation of immediate corrections to issues that don’t require a long-term action plan;
Coordinate and/or deliver HSE-specific training;
Have a relevent presence in the shop floor, specifically in the business areas they support;
Support departmental Multiannual plan management;
Acts in a timely fashion to address and/or escalates significant high-risk items that require immediate attention;
Be flexible in providing HSE service support across shifts including occasional off shift support if applicable
Communicates back to the HSE team on performance, current business, lessons learned, wins, and other HSE matters;
Apply elements of the HSE management system;
Conduct HSE risk assessments as required;
Enforce change management techniques (HSE Requirements for Projects, change control assessments, etc.) to ensure HSE risks are identified and controlled in the design phases of projects;
Simplification of HSE programs and procedures to make them more effective to managers and shop floor employees;
Participate in and use HSE communication tools (safety flash, HSE blotter, etc.);
Use the site’s CAPA tracking system in a timely fashion; and
Participate in the weekly HSE on-call rotation for providing guidance and/or response for after-business hour situations
Other duties as assigned by manager
Works independently within the framework of the Site's HSE Management System;
Seeks approval from manager for key decisions related to Safety & Hygiene, Environment and Sustainability, and Biosafety and Biosecurity matters.