Senior Biosafety and Biogovernance Manager

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability. 

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Senior Biosafety and Biogovernance Manager to lead the Biosafety and Biogovernance Functional Area (BBFA) at LLNL.  In this role, you will provide day to day management and technical leadership of the functions, disciplines, and personnel within the BBFA. Additionally, you will be counted on for strategic vision and technical oversight to meet the goals and objectives of BBFA customers and stakeholders. You will be a key member of the Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Directorate management, with overall responsibility for managing the risk associated with biological research including biological select agents and toxins, laboratory animal research, and human subjects, and ensuring that the Biosafety, biosecurity, and Biogovernance Programs at the Laboratory are effective, efficient, and with regulatory and contractual requirements while supporting execution of important Laboratory mission. This position is in the ES&H Directorate.

This position may offer a hybrid schedule, which includes the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week, after a probationary period. 

You will 

• Serve as an integral member of the ES&H management team, develop high-level organizational strategies and priorities, manage the investment of resources, and develop programs to sustain core competencies, evolve and enhance biosafety compliance capabilities, and attract and retain a diverse staff of biosafety professionals.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to the BBFA and a staff of 6+ employees, and ensure successful execution of its mission, programmatic interfaces, and technical performance.
• Provide solutions to complex and/or sensitive issues, analyze and interpret highly complex information and regulatory requirements, determine applicability across a wide spectrum of biosafety standards and regulations to provide technical guidance and support to Laboratory programs regarding biosafety and biogovernance responsibilities and regulations.
• Engage internal and external customers, and stakeholders to ensure comprehensive integration and teaming to operate with shared fate and as a valued and trusted partner.
• Provide expert level understanding of biosafety and biogoverance-related regulatory and contractual requirements to effectively liaison with the DOE Livermore Field Office (LFO) on regulatory interpretation and to resolve highly unusual, complex and/or sensitive technical issues.
• Advise Directorate and Laboratory senior management on broad issues of biosafety, biosecurity, and biogorverance regulatory compliance, collaborate with other organizations to gain concurrence/acceptance on complex issues affecting all areas of the Laboratory.
• Develop and maintain meaningful, data driven performance measures for the BBFA that inform Laboratory decision makers and accurately reflect the health of the BBFA at the Laboratory.
• Provide oversight and strategic vision/planning for LLNL’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Biological Review Committee (BRC), Institutional Review Entity (IRE), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Oversee BBFA performance management, salary management, and manage hiring and recruiting activities, including career development of employees and organizational succession management. Maintain a commitment to attract high-quality staff, and to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
• Collaborate with and benchmark against other DOE sites to share practices and continuously improve.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or industrial hygiene or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and significant related experience.
• Extensive experience leading and managing within a diversified organization, with proven ability to proactively maintain a strong safety culture in the workplace.
• Expert level subject matter knowledge and significant experience in biosafety compliance and Biogovernance committee (IBC, BRC, IRE, IACUC, IRB or equivalent committees) oversight with advanced knowledge of biosafety, environmental science, toxicology, industrial hygiene chemistry and/or laboratory research practices.
• Expert knowledge of general laboratory operations, pathogenic microbiological techniques, and biosafety containment concepts.
• Extensive experience with relevant ES&H regulations and standards (e.g., Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 5th Edition).
• Proven ability to anticipate problems in work assignment areas, review associated risks, identify appropriate solutions, determine functional area needs, and direct workflow.
• Experience using independent judgment to strategically manage an organization, establish organization objectives and interpret policies, delegating, directing, and monitoring the work of others.
• Significant experience with project planning, budgeting, workforce planning, and identifying strategic goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact and collaborate with others in a consistently positive manner, exercise discretion and tact, and gain consensus in an environment where others may have strongly conflicting ideas and goals.
• Significant experience in performance management and supervision of organizational staff and managers, including performance issues, career development, annual performance appraisals, and salary management with the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse group of personnel.
• Expert communication, facilitation, collaboration, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills necessary to effectively explain, direct, present, advise, negotiate, and influence all levels of management, both internal and external to the Laboratory.

Qualifications We Desire

• Current certification or registration by the American Biological Safety Association as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) and Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP).
• Knowledge of current National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines, NIH/CDC publication entitled Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) and Select Agent regulations and current experience in the role of Responsible Official or Alternate Responsible Official.
• Knowledge of current regulations governing IBC, IRE, IACUC and/or IRB committees.
• Experience with applicable DOE Directives, Orders, and Prime Contract requirements flow down.
• Extensive experience leading programs in a research laboratory environment.

Pay Range: $282,210 - $359,700 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance.  If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing.  Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship. 

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession.  This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.  

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas.  Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

How to identify fake job advertisements

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to post fake job advertisements. LLNL never extends an offer without a personal interview and will never charge a fee for joining our company. All current job openings are displayed on the Career Page under “Find Your Job” of our website. If you have encountered a job posting or have been approached with a job offer that you suspect may be fraudulent, we strongly recommend you do not respond.

To learn more about recruitment scams: https://www.llnl.gov/sites/www/files/2023-05/LLNL-Job-Fraud-Statement-Updated-4.26.23.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory.  If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request. 

California Privacy Notice

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