Biosafety & Compliance Specialist (Entry Level)

Harvard Central Administration (CADM) Talent Acquisition; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off including paren

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Biological Safety Officer to support the Biosafety Team within the Environmental Health & Safety Office. This entry-level opportunity offers exposure to biosafety programs related to biohazardous materials and recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids across Harvard schools.

The ABSO will collaborate with EHS staff, liaise with principal investigators, facilities management, and research personnel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years related work experience or an equivalency of professional training, certifications, and work experience.
• 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.
• 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

Interpersonal skills

Communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Word

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Harvard University is seeking an Associate Biological Safety Officer to support the Biosafety Team within the Environmental Health & Safety Office. This entry-level opportunity offers exposure to biosafety programs related to biohazardous materials and recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids across Harvard schools.

The ABSO will collaborate with EHS staff, liaise with principal investigators, facilities management, and research personnel.