Safety Specialist III - Biological

University of Texas at Arlington, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Arlington, TEXAS
Deadline: ;

Position Information


Posting Number S05138P
Position Title Safety Specialist III - Biological
Department Environmental Health_Safety
Location Arlington
Job Family Administrative Support
Position Status Full-time
Work Hours Standard
Work Schedule
Monday-Friday; 8:00am-5:00pm.
  • Must be able to respond to after-hours emergencies, including holidays and weekends.
  • This position participates in after-hours rotating on-call program.
  • Must be able to respond to campus within 30 minutes during on-call duty.
Open to External and Internal
Salary Salary is commensurate based on qualifications and relevant experience.
Duration Funding expected to continue
Pay Basis Monthly
Benefits Eligible Yes
Benefits at UTA
We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees at the University.
To help you understand the full value of these benefits, we have created a tool that calculates the total worth of your compensation package. This tool takes into account all of the benefits that you are eligible for, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. To access this tool and learn more about the total value of your benefits, please click on the following link:
https://resources.uta.edu/hr/services/records/compensation-tools.php
University Information
The University of Texas at Arlington is located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex, a vibrant and diverse metropolitan area that is home to over 7 million people, one of the fastest-growing tech economies in the United States, and a wide array of arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. UTA is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. The University is committed to providing access and ensuring student success, and to a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization of discoveries by our community of scholars. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 students, UTA is the second largest in the University of Texas System. As a result of its combination of rigorous academics and innovative research, UTA is designated as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution. UTA ranks No. 4 nationally in Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets: Colleges” list and is among the top 30 performers nationwide for promoting social mobility of its graduates (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). UTA is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and it has one of the top 5 most ethnically diverse undergraduate student bodies in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). Its approximately 270,000 alumni, including some who occupy leadership positions at many of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas, contribute to UTA’s $22.2 billion annual economic impact on Texas.
Furthermore, UTA is poised to experience widespread growth in the near future. The university recently launched the first phase of its RISE 100 initiative aimed at recruiting 100 new tenure-system faculty to amplify research standing and position UTA as a leader in key scholarly areas; more details are available at https://www.uta.edu/administration/president/strategic-plan/rise100 . The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to join UTA during an exciting period of growth and contribute as the university broadens its impact.
Job Summary
Establish and implement the University’s Biological Safety Program to ensure compliance and promote a safe and healthy working and learning environment. Serve as a member of the EH&S team, providing other departmental staff members with cooperation and support to further departmental mission.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Conduct safety inspections in research, teaching, and clinical laboratories.
  • Work with principal investigators and instructors to perform basic job hazard analyses and hazard assessments to recommend standard measures to control common exposures.
  • Provide accurate and effective guidance to faculty, staff, students, and research/teaching assistants regarding the interpretation of university, local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and guidelines concerning biological agents, biocontainment practices, work practices, engineering controls, and requirements for shipping biologicals in dry ice.
  • Work with university personnel to correct safety hazards and develop preventative procedures to promote safety and health compliance.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of current regulatory requirements, university program guidelines and best practices to support biological safety in university laboratories.
  • Maintain Hazmat Air Shipper Certification (IATA).
  • Serve as EH&S representative to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to support research safety.
  • Assist in the review of research protocols involving the use of biological/biological associated agents, infectious agents, toxins, and recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid molecules.
  • Develop and provide university-wide and individualized training programs related to biological/chemical/research laboratory safety.
  • Develop, review, and regularly update biological safety program-related policies, manuals, standard operating procedures, forms, etc.
  • Maintain appropriate, accurate, and complete documentation and/or records to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies.
  • Establish and regularly update procedure for testing autoclaves.
  • Validate performance of university autoclaves and manage testing data.
  • Test and inspect laboratory safety equipment.
  • Oversee the management and administration of the university biosafety cabinet certification and maintenance.
  • May support hazardous chemical and biological waste management programs from collection to manifest verification.
  • Manage access requirements and associated documentation for restricted biological laboratories.
  • Respond to chemical and biological-related incidents and other emergencies on campus including after hours, holidays, and weekends.
  • Provide technical expertise and support at emergencies such as unidentified and hazardous material spills.
  • Assist with incident investigations related to laboratories and/or biohazards/chemicals. Participate in after-hours rotating on-call program.
  • Maintain 40-hour HAZWOPER Certification.
  • Perform miscellaneous duties and assist other personnel in Environmental Health & Safety projects as assigned.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, natural science, environmental science, or related field with two (2) years of experience in biosafety, environmental science, toxicology, chemistry and laboratory research, or related field.
  • Three (3) years of related experience working in environmental health and safety or area of scientific research at an institute of higher education, research institute, or similar complex organization.
  • Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in biology, chemistry, natural science, environmental science, or related field.
  • Three (3) or more years of experience developing and implementing a Biological Safety Program in a higher education, research, or similar complex organization.
  • Experience interacting with regulatory agencies.
  • Experience in reviewing, evaluating, and implementing necessary regulatory requirements, policy, procedures, and technical documents.
  • Experience maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Knowledge of general laboratory operations and biosafety containment concepts.
  • Knowledge of current National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines, NIH/CDC publication entitled Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) and Select Agent regulations.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated record of establishing effective working relationships at different organizational levels.
  • Ability to establish and maintain professional, collaborative, service-oriented, cooperative, and effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, vendors, regulatory agencies, and co-workers through practical and positive communication.
  • Ability to foster collaboration, facilitate change, and promote compliance in an organization. Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as a member of a team.
  • Ability to complete all physical activities as needed.
Other Requirements
  • Support university events, as necessary, including those outside of normal business hours.
  • Ability to obtain/maintain 40-hour HAZWOPER Certification.
  • Ability to pass a pulmonary function test and be medically cleared to wear a respirator.
  • Ability to lift 50 pounds.
  • Must be eligible to operate a university vehicle.
  • Occasional travel required.
Working Conditions
  • May work in all weather conditions.
  • May work in extreme temperatures.
  • May work around chemicals.
  • May work around chemical fumes.
  • May work around biohazards.
  • May work around radiation hazards.
  • May work around electrical and mechanical hazards.
  • Use of manual dexterity.
  • Climbing of stairs and ladders.
  • May involve strenuous activity such as walking, lifting, and moving of material.
Special Conditions for Eligibility
CBC Requirement
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a criminal background check on any applicant who is under final consideration for employment with the University.
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or The University) to provide an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. The University also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally-protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure the University’s compliance with this policy.
ADA Accommodations
The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to 817-272-5554 or email [email protected] .


Posting Detail Information


Number of Vacancies 1
Open Until Filled
Minimum Number of References Required 3
Maximum Number of References Accepted 3
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must include in their online resume the following information: 1) Employment history: name of company, period employed (from month/year to month/year), job title, summary of job duties and 2) Education: school name, degree type, and major.

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