Biological and Chemical Safety Officer

BioTalent are partnered with a highly ambitious scientific research institute in Oxford that is building a major new biology and genome engineering capability, backed by long-term funding and significant investment. This is not a standard lab safety role. The organisation is scaling rapidly, with a growing laboratory footprint and expanding research activity across biological agents, recombinant DNA work, and hazardous chemical programmes. They are now hiring a Biological and Chemical Safety Officer to help build and maintain the safety framework that will support hundreds of researchers as the institute grows.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being hands-on in laboratory environments and wants genuine ownership over biosafety and chemical safety programmes, rather than operating as a purely administrative H&S function.

The Role

• You will act as the biological and chemical safety lead within a major research institute, working closely with scientists, lab operations teams, and central EHS colleagues to ensure safe, compliant, and effective research activity.
• You will support risk assessment processes, lead audits and lab inspections, deliver training, and provide incident response expertise across a dynamic, fast-growing research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement biosafety procedures aligned to containment standards
• Support biological risk assessments for lab protocols and operational activities
• Provide expertise in pathogen handling, recombinant DNA work, and biohazard waste processes
• Lead chemical safety programmes including chemical hygiene practices and hazardous material oversight
• Review chemical risk assessments, SOPs, and SDS documentation
• Conduct routine lab walks, inspections, and safety audits
• Lead incident investigations and corrective/preventive action planning
• Deliver biological and chemical safety training to researchers and staff
• Support internal and external audits and maintain documentation frameworks
• Contribute to a proactive safety culture across a growing scientific organisation

Who This Role Suits

This role will suit someone who has worked in a laboratory safety function within biotech, pharma, research institutes, universities, or healthcare environments, and who is confident engaging directly with scientists and technical stakeholders. You will likely have experience as a Biological Safety Officer, Chemical Safety Officer, Laboratory Safety Officer, or EHS Specialist, with strong working knowledge of COSHH and UK safety compliance frameworks.

Why Someone Would Move

• Opportunity to join a major institute at a key scale-up stage
• High visibility role with real ownership and influence
• Strong scientific environment with long-term investment and growth
• Chance to shape safety systems properly from the ground up
• Excellent benefits package including bonus, travel allowance, private medical, and electric car scheme

Location / Working Setup

Oxford based, with strong on-site presence required. Candidates must live within commuting distance or be willing to relocate. Right to work in the UK is required, with sponsorship considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you'd like to hear more, please apply or message directly for a confidential discussion.