Inside Higher Ed
Join to apply for the
Biosafety Manager
role at
Inside Higher Ed .
Department Summary UCLA Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is dedicated to encouraging and promoting a strong safety culture that practices sound health, safety, and environmental stewardship. It engages and informs the UCLA campus and community by providing collaborative, proactive, and responsive safety and compliance expertise across its divisions: Fire & Life Safety, Emergency Management, Research Safety, Information Technology, Administration, and Environmental, Occupations & Safety Programs.
Position Summary The Biosafety Manager is responsible for overall leadership, strategic planning, finances, and management of UCLA’s comprehensive biosafety, high containment, and vivarium safety programs. The role works closely with faculty, staff, and students to ensure safety and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations and UC Office of the President’s mandates related to biological safety. The Biosafety Manager directly oversees six EH&S professionals and ensures the safety and compliance of biological research, high‑containment facilities, and vivarium environments.
The Biosafety Manager will act as the campus Biosafety Officer (BSO) and serve as the campus subject matter expert for biological safety/biosecurity at UCLA. The Biosafety Manager is an ex‑officio member of the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and advises the committee on best management practices for mitigating biological hazards.
The Biosafety Manager Will
Act as the Alternate Responsible Official to the High Containment Director and Associate Biosafety Officer for the Select Agent Program.
Support and oversee the High Containment Director in managing the BSL‑3 facilities & operations.
Support and oversee the Vivarium Safety Officer in providing safety services to vivarium staff and researchers working with animals and plants.
Set schedules and assignments of biological use authorization reviews.
Set inspection assignments of laboratories with biological hazards, including animal biocontainment facilities.
Function as point of contact during regulatory inspections (NIH, CDC, USDA, etc.).
Review and manage the campus medical waste program.
Provide input for Research Safety Plan Reviews.
Manage biosafety training development.
Develop and maintain campus documents and policies such as the UCLA Biosafety Manual, Exposure Control Plans, Standard Operating Procedures/Policies, etc.
The Biosafety Manager is expected to function independently with minimal supervision and provide full personnel administration—including hiring, performance evaluation, work assignments, merit increases & reclassifications, discipline & discharge, and complaint & grievance resolution—for up to six EH&S Specialists.
The Biosafety Manager will oversee comprehensive financial management for the unit, ensuring accountability for all allocated resources. This includes day‑to‑day budget management, specialized laboratory equipment acquisition, inventory management, personnel training programs, regulatory compliance expenditures, systematic expense tracking, and detailed financial reporting. The role also involves developing, maintaining, and forecasting fiscal documentation for research initiatives when pursuing supplementary funding opportunities.
The successful incumbent may also be called upon to lead or participate in campus hazardous materials spill response efforts for regular and off‑hour emergencies.
Salary & Compensation
UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors such as budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.
Qualifications
Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in biosafety, including management of BSL‑3 or higher containment facilities and working with infectious agents, human gene transfer, recombinant and/or synthetic nucleic acids. (Required)
Animal handling experience. (Preferred)
Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing professional staff in a highly regulated environment, including mentoring and performance management. (Required)
In‑depth knowledge of NIH Guidelines, Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard, and federal select agent regulations. (Required)
Experience working with vivarium operations and high‑containment environments, managing risks associated with animal care, zoonotic diseases, and infectious agents. (Required)
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other staff members, administrators, managers, subordinates, and academia. (Required)
Ability to analyze complex technical data from environmental surveys, using logic and quantitative reasoning. (Required)
Ability to make oral presentations, lead meetings, and persuade others to accept a specific action or opinion, and also provide information to explain procedures, policies, etc. (Required)
Skill in writing grammatically correct, concise, and accurate communication for the purpose of training, inspection, gathering, and dissemination of information relevant to biosafety. (Required)
Demonstrated experience in coordinating and delegating tasks with various groups to meet common goals. (Required)
Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations
Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Biology, Industrial Hygiene or related biological science or safety disciplines, or equivalent experience/training. (Required)
Master’s Degree or PhD (advanced degree) in biological sciences, microbiology, or related field, or equivalent experience/training. (Preferred)
Current professional biosafety registration or certification (RBP or CBSP) or eligibility for certification. (Required)
Special Conditions for Employment
Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
Live Scan Background Check: Must be completed prior to the start of employment.
Pre‑Placement Physical: Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory physical examination.
COVID and Flu Vaccinations: Position requires evidence of inoculation.
Driving Record: Position is subject to the California DMV “Pull Notice System”; continued employment contingent upon a satisfactory driving record.
Subject to medical surveillance and safety training as per university and state policies.
May require response to emergencies on evenings and weekends.
Schedule 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Union/Policy Covered 99‑Policy Covered
Seniority Level Director
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Other
Industries Online Audio and Video Media
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Biosafety Manager
role at
Inside Higher Ed .
Department Summary UCLA Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is dedicated to encouraging and promoting a strong safety culture that practices sound health, safety, and environmental stewardship. It engages and informs the UCLA campus and community by providing collaborative, proactive, and responsive safety and compliance expertise across its divisions: Fire & Life Safety, Emergency Management, Research Safety, Information Technology, Administration, and Environmental, Occupations & Safety Programs.
Position Summary The Biosafety Manager is responsible for overall leadership, strategic planning, finances, and management of UCLA’s comprehensive biosafety, high containment, and vivarium safety programs. The role works closely with faculty, staff, and students to ensure safety and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations and UC Office of the President’s mandates related to biological safety. The Biosafety Manager directly oversees six EH&S professionals and ensures the safety and compliance of biological research, high‑containment facilities, and vivarium environments.
The Biosafety Manager will act as the campus Biosafety Officer (BSO) and serve as the campus subject matter expert for biological safety/biosecurity at UCLA. The Biosafety Manager is an ex‑officio member of the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and advises the committee on best management practices for mitigating biological hazards.
The Biosafety Manager Will
Act as the Alternate Responsible Official to the High Containment Director and Associate Biosafety Officer for the Select Agent Program.
Support and oversee the High Containment Director in managing the BSL‑3 facilities & operations.
Support and oversee the Vivarium Safety Officer in providing safety services to vivarium staff and researchers working with animals and plants.
Set schedules and assignments of biological use authorization reviews.
Set inspection assignments of laboratories with biological hazards, including animal biocontainment facilities.
Function as point of contact during regulatory inspections (NIH, CDC, USDA, etc.).
Review and manage the campus medical waste program.
Provide input for Research Safety Plan Reviews.
Manage biosafety training development.
Develop and maintain campus documents and policies such as the UCLA Biosafety Manual, Exposure Control Plans, Standard Operating Procedures/Policies, etc.
The Biosafety Manager is expected to function independently with minimal supervision and provide full personnel administration—including hiring, performance evaluation, work assignments, merit increases & reclassifications, discipline & discharge, and complaint & grievance resolution—for up to six EH&S Specialists.
The Biosafety Manager will oversee comprehensive financial management for the unit, ensuring accountability for all allocated resources. This includes day‑to‑day budget management, specialized laboratory equipment acquisition, inventory management, personnel training programs, regulatory compliance expenditures, systematic expense tracking, and detailed financial reporting. The role also involves developing, maintaining, and forecasting fiscal documentation for research initiatives when pursuing supplementary funding opportunities.
The successful incumbent may also be called upon to lead or participate in campus hazardous materials spill response efforts for regular and off‑hour emergencies.
Salary & Compensation
UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors such as budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.
Qualifications
Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in biosafety, including management of BSL‑3 or higher containment facilities and working with infectious agents, human gene transfer, recombinant and/or synthetic nucleic acids. (Required)
Animal handling experience. (Preferred)
Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing professional staff in a highly regulated environment, including mentoring and performance management. (Required)
In‑depth knowledge of NIH Guidelines, Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard, and federal select agent regulations. (Required)
Experience working with vivarium operations and high‑containment environments, managing risks associated with animal care, zoonotic diseases, and infectious agents. (Required)
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other staff members, administrators, managers, subordinates, and academia. (Required)
Ability to analyze complex technical data from environmental surveys, using logic and quantitative reasoning. (Required)
Ability to make oral presentations, lead meetings, and persuade others to accept a specific action or opinion, and also provide information to explain procedures, policies, etc. (Required)
Skill in writing grammatically correct, concise, and accurate communication for the purpose of training, inspection, gathering, and dissemination of information relevant to biosafety. (Required)
Demonstrated experience in coordinating and delegating tasks with various groups to meet common goals. (Required)
Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations
Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Biology, Industrial Hygiene or related biological science or safety disciplines, or equivalent experience/training. (Required)
Master’s Degree or PhD (advanced degree) in biological sciences, microbiology, or related field, or equivalent experience/training. (Preferred)
Current professional biosafety registration or certification (RBP or CBSP) or eligibility for certification. (Required)
Special Conditions for Employment
Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
Live Scan Background Check: Must be completed prior to the start of employment.
Pre‑Placement Physical: Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory physical examination.
COVID and Flu Vaccinations: Position requires evidence of inoculation.
Driving Record: Position is subject to the California DMV “Pull Notice System”; continued employment contingent upon a satisfactory driving record.
Subject to medical surveillance and safety training as per university and state policies.
May require response to emergencies on evenings and weekends.
Schedule 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Union/Policy Covered 99‑Policy Covered
Seniority Level Director
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Other
Industries Online Audio and Video Media
#J-18808-Ljbffr