Biosafety Manager

EHS MGR 1 (000473)

UCPath Position ID: 40056878

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1002494

Approved Date:

6/24/2025 11:50:20 AM

Date Last Edited:

6/24/2025 11:50:12 AM

Last Action Effective Date:

9/21/2023

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

5000O

Organization:

ADMINISTRATIVE VICE CHANCELLOR

Division Code:

5901D

Division:

ADMINISTRATION

Department:

340100 - ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40056878

Position Description ID

165474

UC Payroll Title:

EHS MGR 1 (000473)

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

Grade 25

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

A: Manager - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40040869

Reports to Payroll Title:

EHS MGR 2

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40061967

Department Head Payroll Title:

EHS MGR 3

DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent establishes procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives in a broad area of work. Only the final results of work done are typically reviewed. Incumbent typically develops procedures within the limits of established policy guidelines.

000358

EHS SPEC 4

3

007146

EHS SPEC 3

3

POSITION SUMMARY

The Biosafety Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic planning, finances and management of UCLA's comprehensive biosafety, high containment and vivarium safety programs. The Biosafety Manager works closely with faculty, staff and students, ensuring safety and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations or requirements, and UC Office of the President's mandates related to biological safety, high containment and vivarium safety. This position directly oversees six Environmental, Health & Safety (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), which serves as the campus subject matter expert for biological safety/biosecurity at UCLA. The Biosafety Manager will be ex-officio member of the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and is tasked with advising the committee on best management practices for mitigating biological hazards.

The Biosafety Manager will: 

-  also 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; and

-  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 (Hiring, Performance Evaluation, Work Assignments, Merit Increases & Reclassifications, Discipline & Discharge, Complaint & Grievance Resolution) for up to six EH&S Specialists — three Assistant Biosafety Officers (EHS SPEC 3), an Associate Biosafety Officer (EHS SPEC 4), the Vivarium Safety Officer (EHS SPEC 4) and the High Containment Director (EHS SPEC 4).

The Biosafety Manager will oversee comprehensive financial management for their unit, ensuring accountability for all allocated resources. They will administer the day-to-day budget with particular focus on specialized laboratory equipment acquisition, inventory management, personnel training programs, and required certifications. The role includes monitoring regulatory compliance expenditures, implementing systematic expense tracking protocols, and producing detailed financial reports. Additionally, they will develop, maintain, and forecast 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.

UCLA Environment, Health & Safety's mission is to encourage and promote a strong safety culture that practices sound health, safety, and environmental stewardship.  This is accomplished through engaging and informing the UCLA Campus and Community by providing collaborative, proactive, and responsive safety and compliance expertise, through the various divisions within EH&S: Fire & Life Safety, Emergency Management, Research Safety, Information Technology, Administration, and Environmental, Occupations & Safety Programs.

Our Mission

Encourage and promote a strong safety culture that practices sound health, safety and environmental stewardship.

Our Vision

Engage and inform the UCLA Campus and Community by providing collaborative, proactive and responsive safety and compliance expertise.

Our Divisions

UCLA Fire

Emergency Management

Research Safety

Information Technology

Administrative

Environmental, Occupational and Safety Programs

Biosafety Program Management

1. Provides daily management of Biosafety staff workload and schedules, inspections of laboratories, risk assessments, review of biological use authorization (BUA) in support of researchers to perform research.  Direct Biosafety and High Containment staff in the design of laboratory safety protocols, develop and implement UCLA's Biosafety Program, ensure all Federal, State, UCOP, UCLA biological safety policies, practices and procedures are in compliance with the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee requirements and the State and Federal regulatory agencies requirements.  Develop an executable budget to support funding of the Biosafety FTE's salaries, general monetary funding of activities for Biosafety Program (PPE, equipment, consultants, etc.), personnel training, and collect appropriate metrics to manage the direction of the Biosafety Program in support of the Researchers. (E)

2. Serve as a technical expert in support of the Biosafety staff in the areas of, but not limited to biological safety, High Containment Facility (BSL-3) laboratory operations.  Ability to meet the requirements of the Federal Select Agent Program to become the Campus Responsible Official, and have oversight of the FSAP.  Provide managerial level participation as a member of the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to assure all State, Federal, UCOP, UCLA and Best Management Practices are followed in approving of Biological Use Authorizations for research.  (E)

3. Oversee the Biosafety Staff in the development, updating and implementing exposure control plans, a UCLA Biosafety Manual and relevant guidelines for researchers and students working with hazardous biological materials.  Develop an executable budget to support funding of the Biosafety Program and interface with the EH&S CAO/CFO in the overall EH&S Budgetary process.  Provide metric data to the EH&S Data Analytics staff for strategic planning purposes; be a partner member on the EH&S Strategic Planning Committee providing necessary input into the overall direction of EH&S.  (E)

25%

Management

1. Develop and implement Biosafety Group/Team goals and objectives.  Collect metrics identified as prudent in presenting workload and accomplishments.  Develop strategies to assure the Biosafety Group/Team is properly supporting the UCLA Researchers under the sphere of the Biosafety and High Containment Offices.  Provide day to day management of all Biosafety and High Containment staff in supporting UCLA Researchers to include, but not limited to, reviewing staff laboratory inspection schedules.  Biological Use Authorizations (BUA) review, risk assessments, and overall assessment of the Biosafety Team’s workload.  Planning of staff effort to complete inspections and reviews,  Provide staff mentorship and technical guidance to the Associate BSO, Assistant BSO's, High Containment Director and Vivarium Safety Officer.  (E)

2. Ensure the Biosafety and High Containment Team conduct regular safety inspections and risk assessments in high-containment facilities, biological research areas, and animal research areas - addressing areas of non-compliance and implementing corrective actions and supporting the BSL-3 facility operations.  Gather the metrics generated during inspections in/out of compliance, hazard communication, criteria for safe work environment, as established in the CDC BMBL, to be utilized for progressive business decisions in support of research activities.  (E)

3. Assure the organization objective established by the Assistant Vice Chancellor or properly identified, coordinated and accomplished by the Biosafety and High Containment staff.  Provide developmental opportunities for the team, ensuring alignment with the departmental goals and career development plans.  Develop an executable budget to support funding of the Biosafety Program and interface with the EH&S' CAO/CFO in the overall EH&S Budgetary process.  Provide metric data to the EH&S Data Analytics staff for strategic planning purposes; be a partner member on the EH&S Strategic Planning Committee providing necessary input into the overall direction of EH&S.  (E)

40%

Regulatory Compliance and Audits

1. Direct the Biosafety/High Containment staff, working with Researchers, to assure compliance with State, and Federal biosafety regulations, including but not limited to. NIH Guidelines, Cal/OSHA, Cal Department of Public Health, CDC, USDA, CDFA and UCOP and UCLA policies and mandates, (e.g. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURCs).  (E)

2. Direct Biosafety/High Containment staff in internal audits and in conjunction with UCLA Audit and Advisory Services, State and Federal regulatory inspectors.  Review draft investigations of laboratory incidents involving biological materials and research animal handling for your final signature.  Liaise with external regulatory agencies, providing reports, documentation and follow-up actions as necessary for compliance assurance.  (E)

15%

Program Development/ Training and finances

1. Develop and implement comprehensive biosafety training programs tailored to different research and operational needs; ensuring that all researchers, faculty, staff, and students are equipped with the necessary knowledge to work safely with and around biological materials.  (E)

2. Lead the training of new biosafety procedures for handling Risk Group-2 and Risk Group-3 agents, recombinant DNA and animal research, especially in high-containment laboratories.  (E)

3. Provides strategic financial oversight for the division by establishing and maintaining precise budgetary frameworks aligned with institutional biosafety priorities and regulatory mandates.  Executes comprehensive budget management through monitoring, accurate forecasting, and disciplined spending controls to maximize resource utilization despite fiscal constraints.  Demonstrate exemplary financial stewardship to safeguard university resources while ensuring operational objectives are consistently met.  (E)

15%

Hazardous Incident Response

1. Lead the Biosafety Response Team in the event of exposure incidents or loss of containment involving biological agents; ensuring timely containment, investigation and reporting of incidents.

 Provide support to emergency response personnel in managing biohazardous spills and exposure incidents in high-containment and vivarium environments.  (E)

5%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

Microbiology, biology, industrial hygiene or related biological science or safety disciplines or equivalent experience / training

Required

Or

Master's Degree

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) is preferred but not required in biological sciences, microbiology, or related field or equivalent experience / training.

Preferred

Minimum 7 years

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

Current professional biosafety registration or certification (RBP or CBSP, respectively) or eligibility for certification is strongly preferred.

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, with persons of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds to persuade others to accept a specific action or opinion, and also to 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

In-depth knowledge of NIH Guidelines, Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard, and federal select agent regulations.

Required

Demonstrated experience in coordinating and delegating tasks with various groups to meet common goals.

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A 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: The position is subject to providing evidence of inoculation.

Driving Record: The position is subject to the California DMV "Pull Notice System" and continued employment is contingent upon proof of a satisfactory driving record.

Subject to medical surveillance and safety training as per university and state policies. 

Required

May require response to emergencies on evenings and weekends.

Required

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Strathmore Building, 4th Floor

Standing/Walking

X

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

X

Climbing

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

X

Loud noise levels

X

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

X

Exposures other

X

Other Environmental Requirements

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

Other Mental Requirements

If "Mental demands other" was selected above, please explain:

X

Classification 1: Position in which required tasks routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues, potential spills, and splashes. Use of appropriate measures is required for every employee in this position.