Biosafety Operations Specialist

Tulane University • Covington, LA

47d

About The Position

The Biosafety Operations Specialist is responsible for performing biosafety cabinet, primary containment devices and inline, and boxed HEPA filters certifications following requirements described by the National Sanitation Foundation/American National Standards Institute, Annex 49 (NSF/ANSI 49) under the supervision of the Director of Biosafety. The Biosafety Operations Specialist provides services directly to Tulane University at the Tulane National Primate Research Center and New Orleans campuses through field consultations, mechanical inspections, and training. The employee is responsible for supporting the development of a comprehensive primary containment certification program following NSF/ANSI 49 requirements and university policy. • Ability to communicate complex technical issues to diverse clients.

Excellent customer service skills and collaborative attitude, as well as exceptional written and oral communication.
Knowledge of database development, querying, word processing, spreadsheet development, and using MS Office to accomplish work-related tasks.
Knowledge of laboratory containment engineering, lab design, and facilities requirements for verification and reverification.
Ability to teach and train staff of varying experience levels on biosafety practices and procedures in a classroom and in interactive laboratory environments.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills with a collaborative orientation.
Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection equipment (negative pressure PAPR or N95).
Must have sufficient mobility, dexterity, and endurance to perform field visits.
Must be able to access any area of the University to perform inspections, job safety assessments, emergency response, etc.
Ability to successfully pass and maintain a Security Risk Assessment (SRA) background check through the Criminal Justice Investigation Service of the Department of Justice in order to use, transfer, or store biological select agents and toxins. Must be able to maintain a personnel suitability profile, including successful pre-assessment and ongoing assessment of suitability for work with select agents considered TIER 1 select agents.
Ability to achieve and maintain a Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Enhanced Accreditation through the NSF/ANSI. The certification must be achieved one year after completion of an approved training course, unless already held.

Requirements

• Ability to communicate complex technical issues to diverse clients.
• Excellent customer service skills and collaborative attitude, as well as exceptional written and oral communication.
• Knowledge of database development, querying, word processing, spreadsheet development, and using MS Office to accomplish work-related tasks.
• Knowledge of laboratory containment engineering, lab design, and facilities requirements for verification and reverification.
• Ability to teach and train staff of varying experience levels on biosafety practices and procedures in a classroom and in interactive laboratory environments.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with a collaborative orientation.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection equipment (negative pressure PAPR or N95).
• Must have sufficient mobility, dexterity, and endurance to perform field visits.
• Must be able to access any area of the University to perform inspections, job safety assessments, emergency response, etc.
• Ability to successfully pass and maintain a Security Risk Assessment (SRA) background check through the Criminal Justice Investigation Service of the Department of Justice in order to use, transfer, or store biological select agents and toxins.
• Must be able to maintain a personnel suitability profile, including successful pre-assessment and ongoing assessment of suitability for work with select agents considered TIER 1 select agents.
• Ability to achieve and maintain a Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Enhanced Accreditation through the NSF/ANSI. The certification must be achieved one year after completion of an approved training course, unless already held.
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Five years of directly related experience in biosafety laboratories, including containment levels of BSL2/ABSL2 or BSL3/ABSL3
• NSF 49 Advanced Certification

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a University research environment
• Background accessing and performing facility verification in laboratories working with infectious materials and/or those laboratories registered for use of select agents, BSL3/ABSL3, or other high consequence biological pathogens

Responsibilities

• performing biosafety cabinet, primary containment devices and inline, and boxed HEPA filters certifications
• providing services directly to Tulane University at the Tulane National Primate Research Center and New Orleans campuses through field consultations, mechanical inspections, and training
• supporting the development of a comprehensive primary containment certification program following NSF/ANSI 49 requirements and university policy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees