Laboratory/Biosafety Leader

Indiana University; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental-insur

Health savings account (HSA) with IU"s

Flexible spending accounts

Life insurance

Retirement plan contributions

Tuition subsidy for IU courses

Paid holidays and winter break

Generous paid time off

Parental leave

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

Indiana University Public Safety in Indianapolis is seeking a Sr. Operational leader to direct laboratory safety programs, defining methodologies and standards across campuses.

The role oversees staffing, budgets, and compliance with local, state, and federal safety requirements, guiding multi-project initiatives and reporting to senior administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 5 years of lab safety support or related experience; 1 year of management experience.

Responsibilities

• Directs and oversees laboratory safety initiatives to maintain a safe workplace across campuses.
• Provides leadership and guidance on safety projects and standards for assigned staff.
• Develops short- and long-term operational plans, timelines, and resource plans for multi-project initiatives.
• Handles personnel actions including hiring, performance management, and promotions.
• Manages resources and budgets, negotiating cross-department initiatives.

Skills

Demonstrated problem solving

Proficient communication

Excellent collaboration

Conflict management

Inspires staff development

Team building

Organizational goals

Judgment and decision making

Time management

Quality commitment

Regulated environment experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

Indiana University (IU) Public Safety pursues IU's commitment to providing the greatest degree of safety for all members of the IU community, consistent with the university's mission and environment, applicable legal and professional standards, and available resources. IU Public Safety directly oversees the IU Police Department, University Environmental Health and Safety, and Emergency Management and Continuity with a team of approximately 300 dedicated staff on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year operational basis across all campuses.

Responsibilities

• Directs and oversees biological and laboratory safety initiatives to maintain a safe and healthy workplace on all campuses.
• Provides highest level of operational leadership and coordination of assigned staff members to define laboratory and biological safety methodologies and standards; provides direction and guidance on high priority safety projects/initiatives.
• Establishes short‑term business plans and long‑term operational objectives, including managing project timelines/deliverables and developing resource plans for multi-project/multi-phase safety initiatives.
• Conducts a variety of personnel actions to include, but not limited to hiring, promotion, performance management, and dismissal.
• Manages high level assignments and allocation of resources, including negotiating and coordinating initiatives that involve staff in other departments/areas/teams.
• Makes budgetary recommendations/proposals based on resource needs and ensures cost containment.
• Conducts research and stays up‑to‑date on local, state, and federal safety requirements, best practices, services, protocols/processes, and/or standards in support of biological and laboratory safety efforts; responsible for the implementation of new protocols/procedures to address business needs.
• Prepares management reports and summaries for senior administration, executive, steering and advisory committees; acts as an advisor to executive committees; serves on various university committees and task forces related to biological and laboratory safety.

Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in a related field)

Preferred

• Advanced degree

Work Experience

Required

• 5 years of lab safety support or related experience
• 1 year of management experience

Preferred

• Higher education work experience
• Toxicology work experience or academic coursework

Licenses and Certificates

Required

• Valid driver's license with the ability to be insured by Indiana University upon date of hire

Preferred

• Certification in one or more of the following: CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CBSP (Certified Biological Safety Professional), and/or CCHO (Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer) upon date of hire

Skills

Required

• Demonstrated problem solving skills
• Proficient communication skills
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills
• Effective conflict management skills
• Ability to inspire and develop staff
• Builds and manages effective teams
• Instills commitment to organizational goals
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrated time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Experience in a regulated environment

The role regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate. The role frequently requires the ability to move about the work environment and to position oneself to operate laboratory equipment effectively. The role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds and will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Indianapolis, Indiana

$105,060 annually

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long‑term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU‑sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Sr. Operational

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Legal, Safety, & Protection

Job Family: Environmental Health & Safety

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [e-mail] or by visiting IUPD.