CVM Employment

Facilities Manager

Location: Columbia, MO
Date Available: Immediately
Salary: Commensurate with experience

The University of Missouri is seeking to hire a Facilities Manager for its Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. This is a full-time, fixed-term, 12-month position with renewal at the discretion of the Director. Under the direction of the RBL Director/Associate Director, the BSL-3 Facility Manager provides technical guidance to faculty and staff regarding facilities, work practices and equipment for protection of personnel, laboratories and environment from biological hazards in accordance with applicable University policies and state and federal laws. The BSL-3 manager plans, organizes, schedules and manages operation of the Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) containment facilities and works extensively in consultation with appropriate University health and safety offices.

Duties:

Oversight of University's BSL3 Research Readiness

• Reviews experiment design, protocols and procedures and conducts risk assessments; assists faculty in development of protocols to ensure safe practices

• Reviews research grant applications, proposals, and activities involving hazardous materials and recombinant DNA to ensure safe practices in support of the University's BSL3 Research Readiness Committee, IBC and IRB Committees. The BSL3 Manager will coordinate with the IBC, the University's Biosafety Officer and the Office of Occupational Health & Safety to implement approved practices and procedures

• Identifies individuals for participation in Occupational Health and Safety Program

• Regularly reviews and updates Facility Operations & Management Manual in consultation with appropriate health and safety offices as well as facilitlies maintenance and utilities personnel.

• Coordinates with the Responsible Official to enforce all aspects of the federal Select Agent Regulation

• Coordinates with appropriate facilities staff in the review of plans for laboratory renovation of existing facilities to assure adherence to current biosafety and biosecurity practices

BSL3 Facilities & Equipment Management

• Inspects research facilities for compliance with regulations and University policies and procedures pertaining to use, handling, and disposal of potential biohazards and recombinant DNA

• Approves access of trained personnel to use facilities

• Schedules use of facility

• Coordinates with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Energy Management, District maintenance staff, and outside contractors to annually test and re-certify containment equipment and the facility

• Together with the Biosafety Officer, Principal Investigators and RBL Director determines if/when facility decontamination is needed and the type of decontamination. Coordinates decontamination activities.

• Coordinates scheduling of building and equipment maintenance procedures.

• Monitors the operation of facilities equipment and coordinates with MU facilities staff where non-routine maintenance and repairs are needed.

• Responds (on call) to off normal incidents in the facility.

 

BSL3 Lab Operations

• Develop and provide biological safety training for faculty, staff and students;

• Train personnel on safe work practices in a BSL/ABSL-3 laboratory in accordance with applicable federal, state, granting agency regulations and institutional policies and procedures.

• Maintains training records specific to level 3 containment facilities;

• In consultation with appropriate health and safety offices, investigates accidents in regard to Biosafety issues and develops corrective action plans;

• Develops and implements emergency response procedures for incidents involving biohazardous agents and materials; run periodic drills to test readiness, coordinating with the Department of Environmental Health and Safety and/or other offices as appropriate

• Responds (on call) to hazardous materials incidents as appropriate

• Advises on and assures compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and guidelines;

• Provides compliance reporting as required by health and safety offices

• Consults on containment laboratory operations and security

• Perform inspections of delivery vehicles and oversees building security operations.

 

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree required in microbiology or related field;

• Minimum of 2 years post-doctoral experience, preferably in infectious disease or biological safety;

• Experience working in BSL-3 containment laboratories strongly preferred;

• Experience working with or managing select agents research is strongly preferred;

• Documented management and supervisory experience;

• Working knowledge of NIH and CDC guidelines for biosafety, recombinant DNA and select agent research;

• Excellent verbal, written, computer, and interpersonal skills;

Special Requirements

Ability to respond and move rapidly and frequently without restrictions, transport up to 30 pounds or more, and wear respiratory protection, including SCBA's. Any offer of, as well as continued employment in the position, is contingent upon successful completion of a DOJ/FBI Security Risk Assessment for individuals seeking access to select biological agents and toxins.

 

Applicants should submit a curriculum vita and three letters of recommendation to:

Anne Chegwidden, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
e-mail: Chegwiddena@missouri.edu

Applicants also need to complete all requirements here: https://jobs.missouri.edu/vacdetails.php?vac=1010855

Review of applications will begin on May 5th, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled.

The University of Missouri is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. To request ADA accommodations, please contact our ADA Coordinator at 573-874-7278.