Laboratory Safety Specialist
Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in neuroscience and imaging. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an intellectually distinctive environment for scientists to do creative, collaborative, hands-on work. Our integrated teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders pursue a small number of scientific questions with potential for transformative impact. We share our methods, results, and tools with the scientific community. It is a uniquely innovative and collaborative atmosphere that reflects HHMI’s reputation for excellence.
About the Role:
The Laboratory Safety Specialist will serve as a member of Janelia’s Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) team. The mission of the EH&S Department is to support ground-breaking research by providing innovative environmental, health, safety, and compliance solutions. The Laboratory Safety Specialist will participate in this mission by performing risk assessments; employing risk mitigation measures; running specific safety or compliance programs within the department; serving as a collaborative and dependable safety resource for researchers; serving as a member of the Janelia Safety Advisory Committee and serving as a member of Janelia’s emergency response team. The Laboratory Safety Specialist is also responsible for mentoring and advising members of the EH&S team on biomedical research practices!
What We Provide:
- A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
- A flexible hybrid schedule with one day per week work from home
- Professional memberships to safety organizations, budget for annual professional development and certifications, team morale events, community engagement opportunities
What You'll Do:
Lab Safety:
- Serve as a subject matter expert in laboratory processes and safety, and lead laboratory safety evaluations and training initiatives.
- Perform risk assessments and recommend risk mitigation measures.
- Perform audits and inspections of laboratories across all research disciplines.
- Develop and conduct personnel training on various safety-related topics.
- Assess laboratory facilities or facility design, processes, equipment, and personal protective equipment use for compliance with Janelia policies, procedures, and appropriate local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines.
- Establish collaborative relationships with all research laboratories and facilitate communications between EH&S and the laboratories.
Compliance:
- Manage the various regulatory reporting requirements for programs within the Laboratory Safety Specialist’s area of responsibility (e.g., OSHA, DOT, EPA, VA DEQ, etc.).
General EH&S:
- Participate in rotation for departmental after-hours on-call emergency response (1 week/mo.)
- Train and mentor new department members on areas within the scope of responsibility.
- Respond, investigate, suggest mitigation measures, and provide technical guidance regarding workplace incidents, including injuries, illnesses, hazardous materials exposures, spills of hazardous materials, and other incidents. Prepare reports as needed.
- Lead and/or participate in safety projects which may require coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
- Manage safety programs and may serve as radiation safety officer, laser safety officer, biosafety officer, chemical hygiene officer, or competent person as defined in OSHA regulations
What You Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred (i.e., Master’s, Ph.D.), in the life sciences or physical sciences, preferably biology, chemistry, or neuroscience.
- Certifications or certificates relevant to the area of specialty (e.g., Certified Safety Professional, Registered Biosafety Professional), preferred.
- Four (4) years minimum experience required working hands-on in biomedical research laboratories, including work with hazardous chemicals and biological (BSL2) materials.
- One (1) or more years of experience preferred in the field of laboratory safety, which can include leading safety inspections, running safety and compliance programs, conducting risk assessments, researching and interpreting regulations, providing safety training, and/or serving on a safety committee.
- Ability to develop creative and effective solutions
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels of an organization
- Ability to perform within a team in a fast-paced, highly diverse, multi-disciplinary scientific environment.
- Proven track record of executing sound professional judgment.
Physical Requirements:
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Compensation and Benefits
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.