Brandeis University is delighted to announce a career opportunity for a Director, Laboratory Safety, Compliance & Integrity (
) & Vivarium Operations in the Office of Research Administration. If you are looking for an opportunity to work at a beautiful university campus with lots of perks including free parking and access to a top of the line athletic facility, look no further! At Brandeis we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package which includes medical, dental and life insurances. If you hope to advance your career through educational opportunities, Brandeis offers tuition benefits for employees, dependents and spouses. Our 403b retirement savings plan includes a generous match.
Brandeis University's encompasses an array of inter-related programs to provide infrastructure, administration, and support to the Laboratory Safety, Compliance & Integrity team as well as to the research community. Such programs include (but are not limited to) the Animal Care & Use Program including the IACUC and the vivarium (Foster Biomedical Research Laboratory), the Biosafety Program and Institutional Biosafety Committee, the Controlled Substances Program, the Radiation & Laser Safety Program, the Laboratory Safety Program, including safety oversight of other core research facilities, as well as the Responsible Conduct of Research Program. The LabSCI team is responsible for maintaining full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, institutional policies and guidelines, and implementing best practices to ensure that research is conducted safely and ethically.
As the leader of the LabSCI team within the Office of Research Administration, the Director, LabSCI & Vivarium Operations is responsible for providing leadership and institutional oversight of the day-to-day management of all the programs and facilities under the LabSCI team's purview and maintaining the office's reputation for superior support to our research community and impeccable records with our regulators and accreditors. Rooted in a deep and continuously updated understanding of all federal, state, and local regulations as well as institutional guidelines, the Director will work collaboratively with the Associate Provost for Research Administration and the Vice Provost for Research to develop policies and programs and lead their implementation at Brandeis University. This work will often require the Director to work horizontally across cross-functional teams and manage projects involving indirect reports from other departments within the university. They will also represent the university in various external professional forums. This role requires technical knowledge and experience rooted in a deep, nuanced, and continuously-updated understanding of applicable laws, regulations, and best practices in all aspects of laboratory safety, biosafety, chemical hygiene, radiation safety, laboratory animal welfare as well as the fiscal and operational management of animal and research facilities to cultivate a culture of safety and compliance in the teaching and research labs, vivarium, and core research facilities to support Brandeis' dual mission as a top teaching and research institution.
Responsibilities:Laboratory Safety, Compliance & Integrity Program Oversight (50%)
- Strategic Leadership Provides strategic leadership, communications, and oversight for the university's laboratory safety programs, cultivating a culture of excellence, safety, cleanliness, compliance, and ethical research among the laboratory personnel through the development of effective policies, procedures, training programs, and a laboratory safety program. Leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Brandeis' laboratory safety strategy, aligning laboratory operations with best practices and regulatory requirements. Works with ORA & VPR leadership to establish and prioritize work plans for the LabSCI team and long-range goals for the enhancement of LabSCI programs. Continually assesses the current state of research and pursues a strategic plan that supports future strategic growth as it pertains to these programs, including programmatic needs and necessary compliance initiatives.
- Program Development and Management Works with campus stakeholders including the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), the Laboratory Safety Committee, and other school, division, and department contacts to evaluate, implement, review annually, and make updates, as needed, to the Chemical Hygiene Plan and Laboratory Safety Manual. Serves as an ex officio member on the Laboratory Safety Committee and may serve in an advisory capacity on other regulatory compliance committees (i.e. IBC, IRB, IBC, Laser/Radiation Safety, etc.). Responsible for the Laboratory Safety database and all records associated with the operations of the Laboratory Safety Program.
- Laboratory Safety Advising & Oversight Leads the LabSCI team in performing laboratory commissioning and decommissioning, oversight, inspections, corrective actions, equipment maintenance, coordination, and approvals. Coordinates the onboarding of new faculty members, including advising on new laboratory construction and provides technical expertise on all laboratory safety matters to the research community. Receives, reviews, and reports on all reports of laboratory safety incidents and coordinates investigations and follow up where appropriate.
- Training Develops and conducts laboratory safety training sessions for laboratory personnel, classes, and assists laboratory supervisors in developing and conducting hands-on training sessions with personnel. Supports other training initiatives throughout the university, including the Responsible Conduct of Research, IACUC, IBC, IRB, and other trainings. Advises community and other compliance committees on laboratory safety principles and best practices.
Vivarium Management, Animal Care & Programmatic Support (50%)
- Vivarium Management & Operations Directs, manages, monitors, and administrates the animal care facility, and provides similar support to the Satellite Animal Facilities, which includes the development of annual operating and capital budgets, cost projections, per diem rates and charges, monthly billing, day-to-day operations and oversight (animal deliveries, ordering supplies, etc.). Provides appropriate, cost-effective animal care through the development and implementation of short-term and long-range plans, policies, and procedures, ensuring all applicable guidelines and regulations are followed for the care of all research animals. Hires, trains, and manages a small team of animal care staff to support the operations of the facility.
- Physical Plant Oversight Develops, implements, and enforces policies and SOPs to support the operations of the facility and satellites. Works closely with the University Facilities Department to ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of the animal facilities, ensuring all regulatory standards are met and addressing all physical-plant concerns; this includes being on call after hours and on weekends. Assists in design and supervision of all renovation projects. Liaises with relevant campus partners including EHS, Occupational Health, and other safety groups to ensure the safety all personnel exposed to laboratory animals; Public Safety to ensure proper monitoring of animal facility alarm points and Public Safety response; ID Card office for facility access to users.
- Animal Care Ensures that the animal species housed within the facility and satellites are provided appropriate care, including housing, husbandry, food and water, enrichment, and all other species-specific requirements. In conjunction with the Attending Veterinarian, provides guidance and training to researchers on animal care, handling, housing, disease control etc. and establishes criteria for animal health and for the prevention of zoonotic disease transmission in humans in conformance with established standards of the profession. Operates an animal health surveillance program, addressing animal health concerns. Ensures that all personnel are properly trained in animal handling techniques, have completed all required trainings, and that they have received proper occupational health clearance prior to entry into the Facility. Act as a gatekeeper to ensure that the laboratory animals are properly handled and cared for at the institution.
- Programmatic & Regulatory Support Ensures that all SOPs and policies set by the IACUC are properly applied by the research teams within the animal satellites and the facility. Works with investigators to support their compliance by assisting in the development of protocols, protocol revisions, and by answering animal-care-related questions. Provides expert guidance to researchers and IACUC members regarding regulatory and policy requirements for the institution's Animal Care and Use Program. Assists with maintaining federally required documentation, and supporting institutional compliance with all Federal, State, and local regulations, coordinating, the semi-annual program reviews, and supporting and working in close collaboration with the IACUC Office to prepare the reports to the USDA, OLAW, AAALAC, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Works closely with the attending veterinarian and the IACUC Office to support any investigations into the use of animals at Brandeis or into the animal care and use program.
Education & Work Experience:- Master's degree required with a PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a related field preferred.
- 8-10 years of related experience, including at least 5 years of supervisory experience in managing an animal facility.
- Knowledge of research involving vertebrate animals, biosafety, OSHA, chemical hygiene or other relevant regulations, and experience working directly with faculty or researchers conducting, managing or reviewing research. Ability to understand and analyze complex research proposals.
- 5-8+ years of progressively responsible supervisory experience is required.
Additional Requirements:- Knowledge of federal and local laws and regulations, guidance documents, and institutional policies, particularly those associated with (T)OSHA, ANSI, ASTM, ASHRAE, EPA, and applicable building codes, along with familiarity with federal regulations concerning the oversight requirements of biological materials, controlled substances, chemical, environmental, and occupational health and safety principles and practices, key concepts of hazards associated with scientific methods including current research techniques, and knowledge of standard laboratory equipment and engineering controls, as well as their proper use, the use of animals in research and sponsored programs, federal regulations concerning the oversight requirements of biological materials.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Google Suite Programs: Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, etc.; Internet Functions; Adobe Professional; FileMaker Pro.
- Direct budgetary management experience; understanding and experience with regulations governing cost recovery centers; project management experience with ability to manage projects to tight deadlines, within budget with minimal oversight.
- Ability to manage ambiguity and be able to juggle and prioritize multiple time-sensitive demands in a rapidly changing organization and environment.
- A collaborative and inclusive professional style, ability to build strategic relationships with staff, faculty and students at all levels, excellent organizational and communication skills (written, verbal, listening), ability to make strategic connections, and the utmost respect for discretion, confidentiality and professionalism.
- Excellent ability to communicate complex concepts to a lay audience, effectively train and develop staff to a high level of competency, and strong data management and analytical skills with the ability to develop and present training materials for broad audiences.
- Excellent team leadership, mentorship, and management skills.
- Ability to speak and understand Spanish a plus but not required.
- May be eligible for minimal hybrid work but does require significant on-campus presence (at least 4 days/week), as this role serves the on-campus research community and will work in physical campus spaces.
- This position will be on call after hours and on weekends to handle emergencies. Will be exposed to a laboratory environment, BSL 2+ areas, and research animals in the vivarium during routine job functions and will require occupational health clearance.
- Must be capable of lifting 50 pounds and be able to wear a variety of respirators/PPE, as necessary.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionDiversity, equity and inclusion are important values at Brandeis today and always have been for they are rooted in our founding as an institution. These values serve as a reminder for self-reflection, and a continuous call to grow for us as Brandeisans. Founded as a model institution for ethnic and religious pluralism, Brandeis University welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all nationalities, religions, and orientations. Moreover, social justice is central to the mission of Brandeis, which endeavors to foster a just and inclusive campus culture that embraces the evolving diversity of our larger society. Read more online about our Mission and Diversity Statements at Brandeis Mission and Diversity Statements.
If you are interested in a role and have relevant experience but your work history does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we nevertheless encourage you to apply.
Closing StatementBrandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working and where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law.
