Biosafety & Compliance Associate

Harvard University; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Biological Safety Officer to join the Biosafety Team within the Environmental Health & Safety Office. The role provides technical and field support for biosafety programs across Harvard schools and facilities.

The ABSO will assist in risk assessments, training, and regulatory compliance, reporting to the Biosafety Manager. This is an entry-level opportunity for biosafety or career transition into the biosafety field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 3 years related work experience or an equivalency of professional training, certifications, and work experience.
• Bachelor's degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or related field or an equivalency of professional training, certifications, and work experience.
• A strong willingness and excitement to learn and grow, both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced setting, handling multiple assignments with diverse clients in various academic research areas (e.g., biology, chemistry).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, clear communication style, and attention to detail.
• Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Must be able to use database applications, Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, SharePoint, and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates the integration of biosafety into laboratory operations and promotes safe work practices based on regulatory requirements, best management practices, and University Policy.
• Develops and maintains proficiency in regulations, standards, guidelines, and trends in biological safety and environmental health and safety. Communicates requirements to EHS colleagues and University lab customers, as required.
• Collaborates with EHS Lab Safety Advisors and other Biosafety Team members to perform inspections, compliance reviews, and hazard assessments of research laboratories, research animal facilities, and other support facilities.
• Authors timely, peer-reviewed compliance reports and monitors corrective actions.
• Conducts risk assessments of biological research protocols, processes applications for registration with the Harvard Institutional Biosafety Committee (COMS), and participates in COMS meetings.
• Delivers and assists in the development of safety training, including biological, general, and physical hazard protection in laboratories, effective safety and exposure control use, hazardous materials shipping, and other customized trainings.
• Updates and contributes to drafting policies, guidelines, and procedures for the University’s Biological Safety Program (BL1 to BL3), as assigned.
• Aids in the response and investigation of laboratory-related accidents or exposures.
• Supports preparation for and assists in the conducting of regulatory site visits.
• Assists with additional EHS project and program work, as needed

Skills

Willingness to learn

Excellent interpersonal skills

Clear communication

Ability to work in a fast-paced seting

Commitment to diversity

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Biology-related Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Word

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Biological Safety Officer to join the Biosafety Team within the Environmental Health & Safety Office. The role provides technical and field support for biosafety programs across Harvard schools and facilities.

The ABSO will assist in risk assessments, training, and regulatory compliance, reporting to the Biosafety Manager. This is an entry-level opportunity for biosafety or career transition into the biosafety field.