Job Description
Job Title: Associate Biological Safety Officer
Job Family/Level: Professional Services Job Family Level 3b
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week minimum)
Department: Safety Department
Division: Administration
Location: South Kensington Campus (but requires regular work on all Campuses)
Responsible to: College Biorisk Manager
Summary of post: There will be two key roles within this post;
1. to work with the BioRisk Manager and Biological Safety Officer to ensure compliance with biological
agents, animal and plant health College policy and legislation and
2. to implement the College’s commitment to continued monitoring of safety performance within its
biological laboratories.
Reporting to the College BioRisk Manager (BRM), the Associate Biological Safety Officer will have
a bachelor’s degree in a life science or related discipline.
Job content:
Advice
To provide professional and technical advice on all Health and Safety matters of work with biological agents,
animal and plant health to all Safety Officers, Principal Investigators and staff in areas of the College in which
work with such material, or that which may contain such contaminants, is carried out.
To provide professional and technical advice on general matters of biological safety to all Safety Officers,
Principal Investigators and staff in areas of the College. This will provide a service in addition to that already
provided by the College BioRisk Manager and the Associate Biological Safety Officer.
To provide specific advice on the biological and general aspects of COSHH, Genetically Modified Organisms
(Contained Use) Regulations, Specified Animal Pathogens Order, The Plant Health Order, The Import of Animal
Pathogens Order, clinical waste disposal and other relevant statutory and College provisions.
Ensure that all Departments/Divisions (via the BioRisk Manager or Biological Safety Officer) are made aware of
the health and safety problems, and compliance issues, regarding biological agents, animal and plant health
and of their responsibilities to the environment and the College’s reputation.
Monitoring compliance
A key role within this post will be the undertaking of formal and informal health and safety visits and inspections
of Departments and Divisions where a biological health and safety input is required. This will include arranging
inspection timetables (in liaison with the College Audit Officer), the assembly of a suitable inspection team and
the subsequent reports and action list of any issues raised.
Communication
Establish strong and effective links and liaise proactively with Departmental/Divisional Safety Officers and other
safety staff over all matters relating to biological safety to humans and the environment.
Liaise with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and DEFRA.
Liaise with Trust Safety staff to ensure good communication between shared College and Trust issues.
Assessing and auditing, together with departmental safety officers, all work involving biological agents, animal
pathogens and plant pests, within the College.
Liaise with members of the College Safety Department as necessary on other safety matters (radiological etc.)
that affect the College’s biological operations.
Training
To provide and co-ordinate central and local biological health and safety training. To include syllabus design
(and update), discussion with Departments and Divisions over local needs and the subsequent carrying out of
this training.
To provide regular training courses on biological agents, animal and plant health issues, following a personal
programme of continuing professional development (as directed by the BioRisk Manager or other senior Safety
Department staff) so that the required standard of knowledge and expertise is maintained.
Health Surveillance
To assist the College Occupational Health Service in the provision of occupational health surveillance and
monitoring where necessary.
Resources and Finance
Assist the BioRisk Manager and Biological Safety Officer (and other senior Safety Department staff) as required
in the planning of budgets and resources required across the College.
Assist the BioRisk Manager and Biological Safety Officer in managing any resources and finances allocated to
the College Safety Department (Biological section) in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Premises and Accommodation
Assist the BioRisk Manager and Biological Safety Officer as required to ensure (in conjunction with the Campus
Safety Advisors and Estates Department) that any modifications, refurbishments or new constructions within the
College, relating to biological work meet College and Statutory health and safety regulations.
Accidents and Incidents
Ensure that (in conjunction with the BioRisk Manager and Biological Safety Officer and Accident Investigation
Officer) all accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences within the College relating to biological work are
reviewed, investigated and followed up. Also to ensure that all appropriate follow up and remedial actions are
taken.
Committees and Meetings
Attend the following College Committees/Groups (as required or requested)
BSO forum
Departmental and Divisional Safety Committees
Campus Safety Committees
SHRUG
General
Act as Deputy to the Biological Safety Officer in his absence (or as requested) dealing with biological safety
matters that may arise across College, taking action or referring onto other College Officers as appropriate.
Review and liaise with researchers to ensure that adequate local rules, Codes of Practice and standard
operating procedures are in place prior to work commencing.
Carry out any other project work or tasks relating to biological health and safety as directed by the BioRisk
Manager, Safety Director or senior Safety Department staff across the College as a whole.
Since job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the post-holder may be required
to undertake other duties which are broadly in line with above key
responsibilities.
The post-holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies and regulations,
for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and of eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in the
Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and
Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/ practice frameworks.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Associate Biological Safety Officer
Education and Qualification
Essential
Degree in relevant discipline
Experience
Essential
Considerable practical experience in scientific research in the biological laboratory
Desirable
 Experience in advising on and enforcing health and safety in a relevant field
 Experience in working within the educational, medical or related fields
 Experience of giving presentations and conducting training sessions
Skills
Essential
 Technical knowledge of molecular biology
 IT literate (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
 Attention to detail – ability to proof read and peer review technical documents
Personal Qualities
Essential
 Organised and able to manage own workload
 Must be a team player with ability to interact with staff and students at all
levels within the College
 Must be approachable but assertive
Desirable
 Good negotiation skills
 Pragmatic
Application Guidance
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your
application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria. If you need more
space, please attach additional sheets to the application form.
The recruitment monitoring form should also be completed and will be detached from
your application before short-listing takes place. This will be used for monitoring and
audit purposes as a basis for supporting our commitment to Equal Opportunities.