Laboratory Biosafety and Mitigation Officer (#MGBZ07)
$72,687.00 Yearly Min / $96,916.00 Yearly Mid / $121,145.00 Yearly Max

A class incumbent is assigned to Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health Laboratory, and serves as the Laboratory Biosafety and Mitigation Officer.  A class incumbent examines the handling and processing of patients and specimens affected by highly infectious microorganisms. A significant aspect of work is recommending mitigation strategies, biosafety and biosecurity plans and prevention measures to minimize exposure and risk to health care, research and laboratory personnel, patients and the general public.

An incumbent in this class reports to an administrative supervisor. The class incumbent ensures that staff in hospitals, laboratories, clinics and other organizations are knowledgeable in the proper practices and overall management of patients with highly infectious diseases and specimens that harbor highly infectious organisms (such as: anthrax, CoVID 19, Ebola, tularemia, Zika, tuberculosis etc.).  The incumbent examines and defines risks in hospitals, laboratories, clinics and other organizations that are associated with the handling of live, highly infectious microorganisms and applies mitigation measures that prevent spread into the State population. 

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Examines and defines infection and transmissibility risks in hospitals, laboratories, clinics and other organizations associated with the handling and processing of patients and specimens affected by highly infectious, live microorganisms.
   
• Performs inter-organizational planning and coordination to ensure containment of organisms and the protection of State populations.
   
• Ensures resources are optimally used in order to coordinate resources and laboratory personnel, physicians, nurses, first responders and ancillary care providers among all health care organizations and laboratories.  Determines risks, and identifies the use of resources to intensify biosafety practices, criteria and measures. 
   
• Completes studies to identify the gaps in laboratory operating procedures, laws, rules, regulations, and policies that apply to the management of patients and specimens that have highly infectious organisms and the prevention of the spread of these organisms into the State population. Recommends mitigation strategies based on the results of assessments. 
   
• Interacts with professionals such as laboratory personnel, physicians, nurses, first responders and ancillary care providers to ensure that all are consistently knowledgeable and well trained in managing high risk patients with infectious diseases.
   
• Develops, communicates and promotes trainings and workshops on protocols and regulations involving organizational leaders (laboratories, hospitals, clinics, etc.), community leaders, advocates and affected parties to develop strategies, educate and convey updated information for the medical community in the infectious patients.
   
• Develops rules, regulations, policies, guidance, and Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP), with regards to the management of highly infectious cases, in cooperation with experts and officials within and outside of Delaware including: Federal Government officials (National), Delaware State officials, neighboring state officials (regional), and medical personnel (county).
   
• Serves as the subject matter expert in matters involving biosafety and biosecurity to all laboratories in Delaware.
   
• Provides training and education to Delaware medical personnel as well as serving as a reference to any organization within Delaware (Delaware Public Health, hospital, laboratory, clinic, etc.) in facilitating and implementing biosafety and biosecurity planning and prevention measures.
   
• Develops biosafety and biosecurity plans, processes, and implementation measures, ensures compliance with biosafety and biosecurity rules, regulations, policies and practices.  
   
• Reviews annually the plans and policies for revision to ensure applicability to changing environmental conditions and operational needs.
   
• May supervise professional and clerical staff.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of biology, medical technology or related disciplines. 
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal biosafety and biosecurity laws, rules, regulations and standards.
• Knowledge of current advances in clinical laboratory science and procedural techniques and instrumentation.
• Knowledge of the principles of planning, management and administration.
• Knowledge of the procedures, methods and techniques used in assessing biosafety risks and recommending appropriate mitigation to reduce risk and exposure.
• Knowledge of statistics and their use as an analytical and evaluative tool.
• Knowledge of supervisory techniques.
• Skill in analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating complex scientific information and data.
• Skill in the proper handling, processing, and storage of infectious microorganisms. 
• Ability to organize training programs.
• Ability to develop biosafety and mitigation tools and evaluation systems.
• Ability to communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences. 
• Ability to work with medical professionals and technical staff from a diverse and multidisciplinary background.  

Job Requirements for Laboratory Biosafety and Mitigation Officer
Applicants must have education, training, and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelor's degree or higher in Biology, Chemistry, or laboratory related sciences.
2. Two years’ experience in quality improvement such as evaluating the quality of services, identifying problems and needs and recommending corrective action and improvements to ensure optimum service delivery, goals and objectives are met and ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and standards.
3. Two years’ experience in laboratory risk management which includes assessing and monitoring standards such as Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL); Centers for Disease Control/National institute of Health; American Biological Safety Association (ABSA International); Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP); bioterrorism regulatory commission through CDC/USDA.
4. Two years’ experience working in a clinical, environmental or research laboratory setting.
5. Six months’ experience in developing laboratory policies or procedures.
6. Knowledge of federal, state, and local requirements for biosafety, lab safety, or infectious waste management.