Biosafety Officer Advisor (Hybrid)

Advises Center Directors, Laboratory Directors, Research Leaders, and staff on national and international laws, and regulations on receipt and shipment of agricultural biologics. Informs superiors and research laboratory personnel of potential or newly identified biological safety concerns that may have major influence on the programs in the agency. Initiates and maintains personal contacts with key officials in agricultural, biological, and biomedical research, and occupational safety and health in government, industry, and academia to promote efforts to enhance the biosafety and quality of the research environment, review major issues, exchange ideas, and to provide expert advice as requested.The enrollee shall not sign federal documents, authorize the use of federal funds, nor initiate or conduct federally funded research projects. The enrollee shall not author articles for publication as a federal employee, nor coordinate scientific research between the Government and private industry. The enrollee shall not present themselves as a Government employee or Government representative at meetings both foreign and domestic or when coordinating federal agencies? areas of research. The enrollee shall not make decisions on federally based research on behalf of Government policy makers, and the enrollee shall not supervise any Government employees.

• Conducts, or helps organize and carry out, biological safety program, animal care program, and emergency preparedness program reviews. Follows up on recommendations, assists in implementation, and maintains records of reviews. Makes periodic site visits to maintain up-to-date knowledge of research locations? biological safety, emergency preparedness, and animal care programs, personnel, and facilities. Advises on site reviews of these laboratories to evaluate the adequacy of each laboratory's facilities, equipment, staffing, and operating procedures as they relate to biological safety, animal care, and emergency response and recommends changes to management.   50%
• Serves as the PA subject matter expert advisor for biosafety, biosecurity, and animal care regarding Federal, State, local, USDA, and ARS laws, regulations, standards, and procedures, as well as professionally accepted and recognized standards and procedures.   20%
• Provides expert guidance to PA laboratories engaged in work with biohazardous agents (e.g., pathogens, toxins). Provides technical leadership in risk assessment and biosafety principles for IBCs, IACUCs, senior PA managers, principal investigators, research scientists and technical staff. Advises on research projects as they relate to biocontainment, biological safety, biosecurity, and animal care.   10%
• Assists in the coordination of PA oversight, training, and assistance to location Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC), and other biosafety related committees.   10%
• Plans and conducts educational, advisory, and technical assistance programs related to the use of safe practices, containment equipment, and facilities in biological research at PA laboratories as well as interacting with other collaborators on biosafety issues of mutual interest. Coordinates and lectures at biological safety and animal care training courses or workshops presented at ARS laboratories where appropriate.   10%

• Travel Requirements: Makes periodic site visits to maintain up-to-date knowledge of research locations? biological safety, emergency preparedness, and animal care programs, personnel, and facilities.
• Overnight travel: up to 4 weeks a month
• Air travel anticipated: up to 4 weeks a month
• Rental cars: up to 4 weeks a month
• Health and Safety Considerations: This position would be using expertise and training obtained from other sources to advise on identification and correction of health and safety issues.
• Physical requirements: Ability to travel and inspect facilities and grounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.