Safety & Compliance Officer

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

2d•$57,000 - $63,000

About The Position

The Safety & Compliance Officer supports compliance-assurance activities for USF’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) programs. The role helps ensure institutional compliance with federal, state, and local regulations through laboratory and facility inspections, incident investigations, biosafety training, development of laboratory standards and procedures, and preparation of IACUC reports and documentation. The position develops and delivers general and laboratory-specific biosafety training, including lesson plans and presentations for BSL-2, BSL-3, and ABSL-3 settings. It conducts inspections of laboratories and animal facilities, assists with Select Agent program compliance, and serves as alternate Responsible Official for that program when the Institutional Biosafety Officer is absent. The role also supports semi-annual IACUC inspections and coordinates with IACUC and IRB administrators when protocols involve biosafety or human participants. Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC), the organizational unit for this role, is part of USF’s Research vice-presidential area. RIC oversees programs related to human research protection, animal safety, diving safety, radiation safety, biosafety, scientific misconduct, conflicts of interest in research, and HIPAA. Its clients include USF research faculty, students, and staff, as well as researchers at affiliated institutions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in safety or research compliance, or a master’s degree.
A bachelor’s degree may be substituted with four years of direct experience, subject to the stated eligibility conditions and applicable requirements.
Must meet U.S. employment eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in biological, behavioral, or social sciences, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Two years of laboratory experience involving data input and retrieval, including spreadsheets, and record management.
Working knowledge of federal regulations governing biosafety, animal care and welfare, and biosafety containment practices.
Experience in a biomedical research facility in a BSL-2 laboratory setting involving animal use and related health and safety standards.
Presentation and instruction experience, including designing classroom and web-based courses.
High-level administrative experience.

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and evaluate general and technical biosafety training programs for faculty, staff, and students who use biohazardous materials in research and testing.
Develop training materials and curricula, including lesson plans and presentations for BSL-2, BSL-3, and ABSL-3 training, and assess training needs in consultation with the biosafety program manager.
Inspect laboratories, facilities, processes, and procedures for regulatory and policy compliance; assess suitability for use and report findings.
Conduct BSL-2 laboratory inspections before IBC protocol approval and routine inspections of BSL-3 laboratories and animal facilities.
Participate in semi-annual IACUC inspections of animal facilities, including animal study areas and satellite facilities; investigate accidents and complaints.
Assist the Institutional Biosafety Officer with Select Agent regulatory compliance and serve as alternate Responsible Official for the Select Agent program in the officer’s absence.
Maintain current knowledge of Select Agent regulations, provide on-call emergency response assistance for biohazardous material releases or spills, and maintain confidential Select Agent records and legal filings.
Provide administrative support for semi-annual IACUC program reviews and inspections, including scheduling, room reservations, and preparation of prior reports and data.
Document animal facility inspections and assist in preparing IACUC evaluation reports.
Coordinate with IACUC and IRB administrators when animal protocols include biosafety components or human participants are involved.
Support submission, maintenance, and renewal of regulatory permits and prepare IBC and IACUC correspondence and reports.
Participate in special projects and provide Research Integrity and Compliance services as requested by the Biosafety Manager or IACUC Program Manager.