The Biosafety Specialist manages the Biological Safety Cabinet Certification, Room & Equipment Decontamination, and the HVAC Exhaust Filter Certification programs at the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH). You will report to the Biosafety Manager within the Safety and Security unit of the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB). Your work will contribute to the effectiveness of the overall biosafety program as well as the safety and health of employees.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Assists with the scheduling and performance of daily biosafety specialist work activities to ensure timely performance and value of services rendered. Identifies training needs and the receipt of training by biosafety specialists. Identifies equipment, supply, and other budget elements to ensure the operational status of the biosafety group. Develops unique strategies to ensure programs adhere to safe biosafety and biosecurity procedures. Develops measures to assess compliance with established biosafety policies and procedures. Advises management and engineering staff on suitable compliance actions to ensure mechanical systems comply with regulatory requirements. Independently schedules and conducts surveys of buildings and facilities to include laboratory facilities (BSL2 and BSL3) and animal holding facilities (ABSL2 andABLS3). Directs investigation of accidents, theft, loss, releases, or inventory discrepancies of biological agents and toxins, analyzing precipitating factors and accident cause data.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Successful completion of one-year trial period.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.
• Work is performed in an office, laboratories, indoor and outdoor animal holding facilities, necropsy rooms and building mechanical spaces. Temperature extremes are common.
• Work involves the frequent performance of surveys and on-site visits to laboratories and animal facilities.
• Walking and climbing of stairs will be required during on-site evaluations.
• May be exposed to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical and physical agents, disagreeable odors, and working around frightened, unpredictable and ill-natured animals.
• Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with human diseases.
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, hearing protection, eye protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls.
• The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Implementing recommendations regarding biosafety, including risk assessment, incident reporting, and emergency preparedness. Inspecting buildings, work areas, practices, and operations to ensure compliance with biosafety standards. Investigating incidents and accidents to determine root cause and identify corrective actions. Reviewing safety regulations, policies, and standards to proactively identify safety program needs. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]