Biological Threat Coordinator and Biological Safety Officer

Overview

This position will lead the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) at the University of Iowa in developing, evaluating, and documenting an emergency preparedness program for biological threats. It will require providing expert scientific and technical advice and expertise for conducting accurate and timely laboratory analyses. The Biological Threat Coordinator and Biological Safety Officer lead efforts to respond to natural and/or human-caused emergencies, disasters, and terrorist acts so that SHL staff can successfully perform analytical tests.

The position will validate, improve, and maintain all-hazard procedures for handling human clinical specimens, unknown environmental samples, and other potentially hazardous materials. This position serves as the Biological Safety Officer for SHL in close collaboration with University of Iowa Environmental Health and Safety. This position will serve as a source of technical information to promote, maintain, and enhance relationships with clinical laboratories and critical response partners through the design and implementation of a structured outreach program.

This position provides biosafety and preparedness coordination across sections of the Diagnostic and Clinical Division of the laboratory and works with the Chemical Threat Coordinator and others in the Environmental Health Division.

• Position Status: Regular
• Work Schedule: M-F, 8-5 p.m. Weekends as needed.
• Work Location: Coralville, Iowa
• Work Modality: This position is performed fully in-person, on-site.
• Department/Department Website: Learn more about the department at the SHL site.

• Lead SHL's emergency preparedness program for biological threats, providing expert scientific and technical advice for laboratory analyses.
• Coordinate response to natural or human-caused emergencies, disasters, and terrorist acts to enable SHL staff to perform analytical tests.
• Validate, improve, and maintain all-hazard procedures for handling human clinical specimens, unknown environmental samples, and other potentially hazardous materials.
• Serve as Biological Safety Officer for SHL in collaboration with University of Iowa Environmental Health and Safety.
• Promote and enhance relationships with clinical laboratories and critical response partners through structured outreach.
• Provide biosafety and preparedness coordination across sections of the Diagnostic and Clinical Division; collaborate with the Chemical Threat Coordinator and others in the Environmental Health Division.

• Education or Equivalency
  
  Required:
  
  A Bachelor’s degree in scientific fields such as biology, environmental science, public health or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Required Qualifications: Extentive experience (typically 5 years) directly related to clinical microbiology or public health laboratory experience, awareness of clinical and environmental chemistry practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work and collaborate in a team environment both internal and external to the laboratory.
• Project management experience, including demonstration of experience in leading teams.
• Some training or teaching experience is also necessary.
• Possession of a valid state or commercial driver's license, and the ability to meet University Fleet Safety Standards or the ability to get a valid state license within 30-60 days of employment.

• A Master s degree in a scientific field or an equivalent combination of education and experience is highly desirable.
• Knowledge or experience with incident command and national incident management systems is highly desirable.

• Experience in drills and exercises, preparation and monitoring of grants, laboratory biosecurity, and creation and implementation of new initiatives.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, LIS, and preparation of fiscal and operational reports is desirable.

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