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Provost Office of Research Safety

About the Department

The University of Chicago Office of Research Safety (ORS), led by the Associate Provost for Research Safety, reports to the Vice Provost of Research. ORS activities and services are coordinated and integrated with other research support efforts through partnerships with UChicago students, faculty, staff, deans and other UChicago leadership to support and promote research safety and compliance. The ORS contributes to the UChicago institutional research infrastructure via partnerships with other units that report to the Vice Provost of Research including University Research Administration, Research Development Support, Research Computing Center, Globus and the University of Chicago Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering.

The Office of Research Safety provides a research safety framework, subject matter expertise, emergency response, and management of research safety support activities for the University to ensure that laboratory and field research are conducted safely and in accordance with federal and institutional guidelines. The ORS leads the development of university-wide research safety standards, policies, and procedures to ensure a safe research environment and to facilitate research compliance and is guided institutionally by the Research Safety Policy Council, chaired by the Vice Provost of Research. Other members include Divisional Deans, the Dean of Shared Research Facilities, and a Senior Associate General Counsel. The ORS works closely with counterparts in the academic Divisions, the University Environmental Health and Safety Office, the Medical Center Environmental Health and Safety Office, Facilities Services, Physical Plant, Project Management, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Job Summary

The Director of Operations (DO) at the University of Chicago (UC) Hyde Park Campus manages the University\'s Laboratory inspection program, emergency response and hazmat shipping program, and is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of a comprehensive laboratory hazard control program to ensure a safe environment for research and teaching laboratories. This includes providing technical guidance, training, and inspective/risk analysis of hazards and related operational issues that may arise in university laboratories operating at Biosafety Levels 1-3 (BSL_), and Animal Biosafety Level 1-3 (ABSL_). The DO manages a team of Laboratory Safety Specialists, and works closely with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), the HTRL Institutional Biosafety Committee (HTRL-IBC), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Animal Resources Center, the Office of Environmental Health & Safety, Medical Center Environmental Health & Safety, UC faculty, staff, and students to coordinate services, review facilities, and provide appropriate safety training and technical support as necessary. The DO manages all aspects of Laboratory inspections, Incident Response, and hazardous material shipping, including communications related to the program, both internally within the program and externally with the NIH, CDC and USDA. The DO is also appointed as an Alternate Responsible Official for UC\'s Federal Select Agent Program at the Howard T. Ricketts Laboratory (HTRL) on the Argonne campus. The DO also leads the University of Chicago\'s Hyde Park emergency response team for situations involving hazardous agents and/or potentially hazardous materials.

Responsibilities

Perform investigations, inspections and follow up to ensure compliance with local and federal governing bodies.

Develop, deliver and update programming designed to educa e, protect and ensure safety compliance across all Research Unit departments.

Assist in the development of computer-based systems to track and document laboratory inspection outcomes, safety trainings and other necessary data points.

Act as Biological Safety Officer for the UC and respond professionally and courteously to requests for biological safety assistance. Act as a biological safety technical & information resource to the University and provides guidance on biological safety related matters, making independent, on-the-spot decisions involving risk assessments, emergency response and related corrective actions.

Conduct construction plan reviews for biosafety level two (BSL2) and biosafety level three (BSL3) facilities, provide review comments in writing, and sign off on final plans. Conduct pre-occupancy checks for all BSL2 and BSL3 laboratories and participate in their proper laboratory commissioning and decommissioning.

Evaluate the health risks associated with research involving biological agents and their by-products, and work with university investigators and staff to implement biohazard control policies and procedures on general biosafety, select agents and toxins, biosafety cabinet use, and laboratory emergency response plans.

Compile reports, protocol status summaries, quarterly reports, and conduct other administr