Key Responsibilities

Advanced professional responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, executing and maintaining a comprehensive biosafety and biosecurity management program for all units of ILRI. To ensure compliance with appropriate regulatory requirements for animal research facilities and laboratories (BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3. ABSL1 and ABSL2). Ensure ILRI and hosted institutions operations uphold highest quality management systems standards specifically GLP, GCP, OHSMS, SMS, EMS, ETS and ISO. To establish and maintain a viable EOHS program by implementing procedures in line with ILRI guidelines, external legislative and regulatory requirements worldwide.

Biosafety and biosecurity


Develop and implement Biosafety Biosecurity management system at ILRI.
Maintain an inventory of select agents and toxins in line with existing regulatory and statutory requirements
Review Research protocols, perform protocol risk assessment and maintain records for all research proposals submitted to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
Ensure that approvals as required by legislation are obtained from the relevant authorities for work involving risk group 2 and above animal, plant and human pathogens
Ensure ILRI maintains compliance with current requirements for Biosafety Biosecurity as per WHO, WAHO, Legislative laws within countries of operations especially in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Ensure ILRI research samples collected by ILRI and hosted CGIAR scientists meet Nagoya protocol and in country legislative requirements.
Ensure safety, Environment and Occupational health policies and procedures are consistent with current requirements for biosafety and biosecurity, safety laws and related legislations, and that these are effectively implemented.
Advise on disinfection and waste disposal policies and arrangements in line with existing laws and regulations
Provide technical support to Scientist at ILRI when compiling dossier for application for approval from regulatory agencies for work involving pathogenic biological materials and GM.
Ensure compliance to approval conditions for research involving genetically modified material and any research using restricted material due to the risk of introduction and spread of pests and diseases.
Provide training to ILRI staff for shipping of research materials and provide technical support when staff package and ship research materials, ensuring compliance with existing local and international best practices.
Audit and monitor standards of safety performance in the ILRI research facilities to ensure adherence to the Laboratory safety manual and applicable policies and guidelines.


Management Systems


Design prescribed management systems procedures and specifications to ensure alignment such that the system set in place is one but meets all requirements of management systems and review existing procedures to ensure compliance to management systems.
Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and standards in the field of EOHS, Biosafety Biosecurity, Radiation safety, GCP, GLP, SMS, EMS, OHSMS etc.
Have a system in place that ensures that all outputs of research from both animal research facilities and Laboratory research facilities meet the requirements for registration as products and patents.
Accountable for insurance and maintenance of controlled documents at ILRI to ensure correct implementation, access and upkeep of documents as prescribed procedure.
Develop and manage ILRI management system dashboard.


Emergency response


Develop contingency plans for ILRI research projects and containment facilities to ensure timely and effective response in the event of an emergency
Coordinate development, implementation of ILRI emergency response plan at all ILRI Facilities.
Coordinate development and implementation of an accident and incident investigation, response and reporting guidelines at ILRI facilities.


Training


Advise on training needs for work involving biological agents, hazardous chemicals and radioactive material to ensure competence of staff in working safely.
Implement yearly EOHS and research compliance training at ILRI to ensure staff meet ILRI, national and donor requirements.


Chemical and radiation safety


Manage the ILRI chemical hygiene plan by maintaining an inventory of hazardous chemicals, training in safe use and responding to chemical spills and emergencies.
Oversee development of Standard Operating Procedures, fact sheets, and guidance documents for hazardous chemical materials and processes.
Oversee the use of radioactive materials through management of radioactive material licensing and implementation of radioactive waste management programs.
Manage the radiation safety training program to ensure competence of staff in compliance with ILRI guidelines and regulatory requirements


Requirements


Masters Degree in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, industrial
hygiene, chemistry, Public health, or related field required with training in Biosafety and Biosecurity.
5 years relevant work experience
Quality management systems certification
Biosafety and Biosecurity certification
Occupational Safety and Health Certification,
Safety management systems
Environmental management systems
EOHS Lead auditor
Good Clinical Practise (GCP)
Good Laboratory Practise (GLP)
Ability to carry out auditing, monitoring and evaluation for compliance to regulatory, biosafety committee approval conditions and compliance with management systems in place.
Good communication and report writing skills
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment
Highly effective multi-tasking skills, with ability to coordinate, prioritize, delegate, and organize workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure.
Capacity to lead, take initiative, demonstrate good judgment and work under minimal supervision