Careers

Description:

Environmental Health & Safety has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Coordinator, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to coordinate and facilitate all the support functions associated with the IBC. This position will also support the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Research and Occupational Safety Section to implement a compliant occupational health and safety program for oversight of hazardous materials in the animal care and use environment. The individual serving in this position will join an integrated and multi-disciplinary team consisting of biosafety, occupational health, occupational hygiene, radiation safety, and diving safety professionals.

This position is essential for the support of the University’s research and teaching mission. This position must exercise significant judgment and discretion in the interpretation and application of federal, state, local, and University policies, protocols, and regulations. This position requires knowledge and application of the NIH Guidelines for Recombinant/Synthetic DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines), occupational safety and health requirements, animal care and use research requirements, and funding agency requirements related to the use of biological agents and occupational health and safety in a research setting. This position will also monitor and analyze the compliance of the IBC and associated research with biological agents and animal research.

This position must interface effectively with EH&S colleagues, the IBC, Office of Animal Welfare, principal investigators (PIs) and researchers, departmental chairs and deans, research support personnel, facilities staff, animal care staff, the Infectious Waste Committee, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the Human Subjects Division.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance Efforts:

• Monitor and analyze compliance of Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and processes for review and approval of research involving all biohazards. Report findings and recommendations to EH&S management and IBC Chair.
• Responsible for quality analysis and integrity of information maintained in the biosafety database. This is an essential duty to help ensure compliance with the NIH Guidelines, CDC, and WA Department of Labor and Industries.
• Coordinate with EH&S and research staff regarding the review of biological and other hazardous agents in research protocols.
• Develop compliance tools and templates to assist PIs/supervisors meet their responsibilities related to biosafety, occupational health, and chemical safety.
• Determine and report metrics for the biological safety program, IBC, and review of research protocols involving hazardous materials in animals.
• Monitor and analyze IBC review of human gene transfer and PI compliance with NIH reporting regarding any updates and adverse events. Report results and recommendations to EH&S management and IBC.
• Responsible for records management compliance and retention periods for all IBC program records and meeting materials.

Evaluation Functions/Procedures:

• Assess and evaluate IBC functions and procedures for compliance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Recombinant DNA and implement/recommend process changes as needed.
• Screen, review, and analyze all Biological Use Authorization Applications (BUAs) for completeness; communicate and work with researchers to correct incomplete applications.
• Manage and track the status of Biological Use Authorization (BUA) application reviews and communicate status to EH&S staff, Principal Investigators (PIs), researcher staff, research support staff, and partner organizations.
• Lead the effort of sending and following-up on Biological Use Authorization (BUA) renewal notices to PIs as necessary.
• Communicate IBC determinations to PIs.
• Manage, coordinate, and ensure that the development of content and material as well as the proper maintenance of both the EH&S and IBC websites is performed on a routine basis.
• Review animal research protocols, screen for hazardous materials and safety considerations, and route to appropriate subject matter experts for further review.
• Incorporate strategic planning initiatives from the EH&S Strategic plan into the section’s and position’s routine workplan. Support data gathering for metrics and performance monitoring of programs to ensure organizational efficiencies and desired outcomes are met and program goals are reached.

Administrative/Training Functions:

• Responsible for the coordination and preparation of monthly IBC monthly meetings per requirements in the NIH Guidelines for recombinant DNA, preparation of meeting agendas and technical meeting minutes, and providing meeting documents for monthly public records requests.
• Facilitate the training and orientation of new IBC members.
• Coordinate all administrative support at every level to all IBC members, PIs, etc. as required.
• Develop, maintain, and coordinate all necessary updates (as needed) to all IBC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Operations Manual, and IBC charter.
• Provide coordination support to the University’s Infectious Waste Committee.

Other duties as assigned.


Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Environmental or Occupational Health & Safety, Public Health, Biology, or related field.
• Three years of cumulative professional work experience to include: experience supporting a compliance program (preferably a research compliance program or Institutional Biosafety Committee) and experience reviewing research protocols (especially those including animal research) and electronic grant and contract forms.
• Demonstrated teamwork, client service, decision-making skills, ability to foster collegial and cooperative relationships with co-workers and clients
• Attention to detail as well as strong written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience in data management systems
 

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

• Familiarity with the NIH Guidelines for Recombinant or Synthetic DNA/RNA, Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) for worker health and safety including Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Laboratory Chemical Hygiene
• Experience generating metrics and performing program evaluations

Working Environment

• Primarily an office environment with the ability to telecommute some work hours. In-person laboratory visits may be needed to support biosafety programs.


As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.