High Containment Director

Department Summary

UCLA Environment, Health & Safety’s mission is to encourage and promote a strong safety culture that practices sound health, safety, and environmental stewardship.

Our Vision: Engage and inform the UCLA Campus and Community by providing collaborative, proactive and responsive safety and compliance expertise.

Divisions

• UCLA Fire
• Research Safety (Chemical, Biosafety & High Containment, Laser & Photobiological, Radiation, Diving)
• Information Technology
• Administration & Training
• Environmental, Occupational and Safety Programs (Safety & Compliance, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, Environmental Compliance)

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Biosafety Manager/Officer, the High Containment Director will provide specialized expertise for research conducted in high‑containment laboratories. The incumbent’s primary responsibilities include planning and implementing efficient operations, laboratory security, uniform safety and training programs, and state‑of‑the‑art Select Agent programs for high‑containment facilities. The director will provide expertise to faculty, laboratory staff, and students who work with pathogens requiring high‑containment and/or Select Agents in laboratory and non‑laboratory environments, and establish a “best in class” program for conducting research at UCLA and ancillary off‑site facilities.

Other responsibilities in partnership with design engineers include assisting in the design, renovation, maintenance, and validation of these facilities, laboratory security, and provision of uniform BSL3 safety training programs in accordance with the UC BSL3 Training Standard. The incumbent serves as the Responsible Official (RO) or Alternate Responsible Official (ARO) for the Select Agent operations and may perform other duties as assigned. The position requires onsite presence five days per week.

The High Containment Director reports directly to the Biosafety Manager/Officer within EH&S and functions with a high level of autonomy and self‑direction in managing all high‑containment or Select Agent facilities on and off campus. Supervisory control is maintained through formal and ad‑hoc review.

Salary & Compensation

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are uncommon. Benefits commence on day one and include the UC Benefit package and total compensation estimated by the UC Total Compensation Estimator.

Qualifications

• Several years’ equivalent combination of education and experience (Required)
• Experience in the high‑containment/Select Agent facilities environment of a major research university or medical center and its education, public service and patient care missions (Required)
• Experience and knowledge of high‑containment facility practices, protocols, compliance issues, etc. (Required)
• Experience and knowledge of Select Agent regulations and best practices (Required)
• Demonstrated detailed experience in development and implementation of a successful training program (Required)
• Two years of demonstrated work experience in a bacteriology/virology/microbiology laboratory or equivalent (Required)
• Ability to train personnel involved in Select Agent and non‑Select Agent laboratory research to prevent exposure incidents (Required)
• Ability to operate key laboratory equipment sufficient to assess and identify risks, recommend mitigation measures, investigate incidents, ensure appropriate decontamination, and address other biosafety issues (Required)
• Ability to perform comprehensive risk assessment to document program strengths and recommend timely action for areas in need of improvement (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to read blueprints and work with Capital Programs in the design of efficient, secure, and safe high‑containment facilities (Required)
• Working knowledge of personal computers sufficient to use current Windows applications such as Microsoft Office; understanding of cybersecurity issues to coordinate with IT specialists for Select Agent information security standards (Required)
• Demonstrated excellent organizational and communication skills; ability to independently complete multiple duties with competing deadlines and prioritize work (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and maintain cooperative working relationships with administrative personnel, investigators, other institutions, external organizations, campus personnel, faculty, students, staff members and the public representing UCLA and the UC system nationally (Preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to function as a team leader; ability to make strategic decisions, originate procedures and generate alternatives (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex and specialized scientific/medical information, process information as received, reach logical conclusions and formulate a plan of action (Required)
• Detail skill/experience in modifying and preparing laboratory protocols consistent with regulatory requirements; working knowledge of procedures for establishing and maintaining confidential files consistent with governing policies/laws (e.g., HIPAA) and ability to interpret federal, state and university policies in laboratory, non‑laboratory and healthcare work environments (Required)
• Ability to respond to emergencies after normal work hours, weekends and holidays (Required)
• Continued employment contingent upon satisfactory completion of Select Agent background check, including American citizenship or citizenship of a non‑sensitive country as defined by Select Agent guidelines; ability to undergo and pass health and suitability assessments for high‑containment/Select Agent access (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

• Bachelor’s Degree in microbiology, virology or bacteriology and/or equivalent experience/training (Required)
• Master’s Degree in microbiology, virology or bacteriology and/or equivalent experience/training (Preferred)
• PhD in microbiology, virology or bacteriology and/or equivalent experience/training (Preferred)
• Must possess, upon hire, and maintain a valid CA noncommercial Class C License in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Pre‑Placement Physical: Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory physical examination.
• Hepatitis Test: Employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory physical examination (including Hepatitis A testing/immunization).
• TB Test: Continued employment is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory TB test.
• Ability to respond to emergencies after normal work hours, weekends and holidays (Required)
• Continued employment contingent upon satisfactory completion of Select Agent background check, including American citizenship or citizenship of a non‑sensitive country as defined by Select Agent guidelines (Required)
• Ability to undergo and pass health and suitability assessments for high containment/Select Agent access (Required)

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., variable as needed

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered

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