BACKGROUND:
MSD is an employee-owned company of over 600 professionals who support the diverse technical, scientific, and administrative needs of the Federal government. We are currently searching for an experienced Senior Biosafety Specialist to support the Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This opportunity is a permanent, full-time position with MSD and it is on-site at the NIH in Bethesda/Rockville, MD.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position will assist in the development, interpretation, and implementation of policies related to biosafety and biosecurity issues.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify unresolved and emerging biosafety, biosecurity, human subjectâ??s protection, oversight, bioethical, and other relevant issues, especially in the area of biotechnology research. Assist in developing recommendations.
• Continuously research, propose, advise and coordinate new methods and ideas to communicate programs, services, and requirements and to increase understanding of NIH policies among various groups and organizations.
• Establish strong lines of communication between Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) and other institutional oversight committees such as Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that may review research subject to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines).
• Review reports of alleged violations of the NIH Guidelines and conduct analyses pertinent to understanding the nature of possible non-compliance and the appropriate response.
• Participate in a program of not-for-cause site visits to institutions to assess compliance with the NIH Guidelines and to discern best practices in the biosafety oversight of recombinant DNA research.
• Identify points of emphasis in education activities by conducting assessments of various issues related to biosafety compliance.
• Perform strategic analysis of public information needs and develop initiatives to ensure timely dissemination of information based on target audiences.
• Assist in the development and implementation of programs of education and compliance relevant to the oversight of recombinant DNA research.
• Conduct research and gather informational materials that may be of use in various outreach and educational activities, to include synthesizing materials to make them more accessible to NIH staff, committee members, and other end users.
• Develop an inventory of best practices in the oversight of recombinant DNA research.
• Assist in the development of educational materials, such as a Web page for IBCs, to convey key compliance information and aid in the understanding and interpretation of the NIH Guidelines.
• Assist in conducting evaluations to measure the success of educational and compliance-oriented activities to ensure that all messages, materials, and strategies for target audiences are credible, clear, and meaningful.
• Prepare drafts of informational materials associated with external communications initiatives to include speeches, PowerPoint presentations, reports, news releases, briefing papers, etc.
• Attend national and regional meetings.

Interested applicants should submit resume and salary requirements to Francine Terrell, Recruiter. fterrell[at]mail.nih.gov. Please contact 703-891-6400 with any questions. EOE/AA

REQUIREMENTS:

• Expertise in the principles of biosafety, including methods of physical and biological containment of potentially hazardous organisms required.
• In-depth understanding of scientific principles concerning microbiology, molecular biology, genetics and recombinant DNA required.
• Familiarity with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules and/or the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories required.
• Laboratory experience and personal exposure to the research environment required.
• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) required.
• Ability to analyze the information needs of various segments of the public, professions, other Federal agencies, and organizations to develop appropriate promotion materials to disseminate information to these groups required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.

LOCALE:
Out of area candidates will be considered for this position. Job location is in Bethesda/Rockville, MD.

COMPENSATION:
YES

HOW TO APPLY:
Please apply to fterrell[at]mail.nih.gov