Department: Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management (SEERM)
Web Announcement:
Biosafety Officer
George Mason University Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), within the Department of Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management, is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Biosafety Officer. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Position:
The Biosafety Officer manages the biosafety program for biosafety level (BSL) 1 and 2 laboratories, and animal biosafety for animal biosafety levels (ABSL) 1-3. The position interprets and implements regulatory requirements and guidelines regarding biological safety, serves as administrator of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), advises the Institutional Review Board (IRB) on biosafety-related matters, conducts risk assessments, laboratory inspections, and hazard evaluations, assists laboratories in optimizing safety and compliance for use of biohazardous material and research involving animals, oversees management of biological waste program, provides training in all aspects of biosafety, responds to incidents as needed, serves as alternate for the Responsible Official of the university's Select Agent Program and supports select agent program requirements (lab inspections, training, inventory audits, exercises and drills, annual audit, document review, and incident investigations as needed).
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in the life sciences or related field; or equivalent combination of relevant education & experience;
Experience working in BSL-1 and 2 and/or animal biosafety levels (ABSL) 1 and 2 programs or laboratories;
Practical knowledge of biological hazards and biosafety principles and practices including knowledge of applicable regulations, guidelines, and standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity;
Knowledge of purpose, function, and use of engineering controls and primary containment devices;
Knowledge of disinfection and decontamination methods;
Ability to perform comprehensive risk assessment and determine appropriate risk management strategies to facilitate safe research;
Ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff to develop and implement best practices;
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects;
Ability to perform detailed laboratory inspections and audits of compliance programs;
Ability to safely lift 40 lbs., bend, crawl, and kneel and receive required vaccinations required for entry into BSL-3 environments as needed;
Ability to attain approval from the FBI's Security Risk Assessment for select agents; and
Must live within 25 miles of the Science and Technology campus.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in life sciences or related field;
Experience at an institution of higher education;
Registered Biosafety Professional or Certified Biosafety Professional certification; and
Considerable experience (generally 3+ years) at an academic/higher education or private research environment.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.
Location: Prince William, VA
Mason Ad Statement:
Great Careers Begin at Mason!
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report
George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.
George Mason University has 37,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries and a residential population of more than 6,000 students. Mason is a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars. 80% of our students are employed within six months of graduation. Nearly two-thirds of the 140,000 Mason alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Mason is a young university that, in just a short time, has made impressive strides in size, stature and influence. Today, as Virginia’s largest public research university, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. To that end, we have 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of study.
Mission.
We prepa...re Mason students for the demands of work, social responsibility, and life in an ever-changing global society. University Life's mission statement is core to our work. We support every student at Mason, from orientation through graduation.
George Mason: Patriotism Personified.
George Mason, for whom our university is named, was one of the greatest of the founding fathers of the United States. Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a model for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
We Are in Virginia. But We Serve the World.
Mason is committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. Located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world, we accept our responsibility to serve others: to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community, and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time.
Washington, D.C.: Land of Opportunity.
Mason’s main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
At Mason, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a beautiful wooded residential campus and outstanding college experience, as well as numerous internship and recreational opportunities that only a world-class urban setting like D.C. can offer.
You can intern with National Geographic or the Justice Department, visit the numerous museums with your Art History classmates, take a selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial, catch a Nationals baseball game, kayak along the Potomac, or check out the many neighborhoods where you’ll discover lots of great shopping, places to eat, art galleries, music venues, and much more. You can attend events and hear nationally recognized speakers. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
There’s more to explore. Students participate in a field trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Office of International Programs and Services.
In just a short drive, you can be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or walking the boardwalk in either Ocean City, Maryland, or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Our closest airports are Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport, and Mason is easily accessible by public transportation. Free shuttle buses help you get to the nearest Metro station in Vienna, Virginia, just a short distance from our Fairfax Campus. The Arlington Campus is within walking distance of the Virginia Square-GMU stop on the Orange Line.
Enriching Work Environment.
We will invest in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented and diverse faculty and academic and professional staff. We will create a vibrant campus life in which all members can grow and thrive.
Diversity.
Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
We bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do. Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective makes us more effective educators and scholars.
While at Mason, you’ll be making your own decisions and forming your own view of the world. Engaging with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty, and staff, will enrich this experience. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you.
We have a variety of communities here, and you're sure to find a group of people who are like you. The great thing is you'll also be embraced by communities of people who are not like you. At Mason, you'll be in a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds will:
•Widen your outlook of the world,
•Show you how to work and collaborate with people of differing views,
•Expose you to new perspectives from people with disparate life experiences, and
•Give you the social skills to interact with all kinds of people.
Diversity also enhances learning and creative thinking by prompting the study of new material and the awareness of fresh viewpoints. The power of many perspectives will boost your capacity to explore original ideas and solutions. Seeing issues in a new way heightens your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another benefit: As our nation becomes more diverse, students who learn in a diverse environment will be more competitive in an increasingly global economy. You’ll enhance your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to develop nuanced solutions to real-world problems.
Campus-Wide Accessibility.
Accessibility @ mason provide information regarding the physical access of all campuses and online accessibility of programs and services. Information for disability related services and resources available to all employee, students, and visitors the entire university include physical access to buildings, parking policies, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Accessible.
We are an open and welcoming community. We partner with public and private organizations in our region and around the world. We proactively engage with our community. We define our success by how many talented students with potential we serve, not how many we leave out.
Social and Cultural Venues.
Our venues bring world-class performances to the community through vibrant concerts and events. Community members are invited to take part in many artistic and cultural offerings at Mason. Spaces are also available to rent for your next event.