Biological and Chemical Safety Officer - Generative Biology Institute in Oxford

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we are on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real-world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators, and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This ambitious work demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you will join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs.

Welcome to the Generative Biology Institute (GBI) at the Ellison Institute of Technology, led by Founding Director Jason Chin. The GBI is tackling key challenges in making biology engineerable, unlocking the unrivalled power of biology for the benefit of humanity. To achieve this, we must overcome two key challenges:

• The ability to write in the natural language of biology, enabling the rapid and scalable synthesis of entire genomes with precision.
• Understanding what to write – determining which DNA sequences will generate biological systems that perform the desired functions.

Addressing these challenges will allow us to harness the full power of biology to create transformative solutions across health, agriculture, clean energy, and more. GBI will have sustained and substantial funding to support its ground-breaking vision for engineering biology.

Your Role: We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Biological and Chemical Safety Officer (BCSO) to support the safe, compliant, and effective operation of GBI laboratories. The role is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring biological and chemical safety programmes in line with institutional policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

The BCSO supports safe research, teaching, and operational activities involving biological agents, hazardous chemicals, and other regulated materials through risk assessment, training, audits, inspections, and incident response. The role also assists in maintaining health and safety procedures, ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance, and supporting day-to-day laboratory safety operations as GBI research activities evolve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with GBI research colleagues to develop, implement, and maintain biological safety procedures in compliance with relevant regulations and guidance.
• Support researchers to develop biological risk assessments for research protocols, laboratory activities, and operational processes.
• Act as an expert resource for biological safety practices, including pathogen handling, recombinant DNA work, and biohazardous waste management.
• Carry out routine lab walks for laboratories using biological agents, advising on best practice and encouraging safe research approaches.
• Lead investigations regarding biological safety incidents, exposures, and near misses, and recommend corrective and preventive actions.

• Develop and provide oversight of GBI chemical safety programmes, including chemical hygiene practices and hazardous material management.
• Review and advise on chemical risk assessments, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and safety data sheets (SDS).
• Ensure compliance with requirements for chemical storage, labelling, handling, and disposal.
• Support chemical inventory control and hazardous waste management.
• Lead investigations regarding chemical safety incidents, exposures, and near misses, and recommend corrective and preventive actions.

• Develop, implement, and maintain GBI health and safety policies in line with UK legislation and industry best practice.
• Act as the GBI lead for internal and external audits and inspections, including maintaining accurate records and documentation.

• Develop training materials, guidance documents, and SOP templates in alignment with GBI research needs.
• Coordinate and deliver biological and chemical safety training for GBI researchers, staff, students, and contractors.

• Participate in emergency responses to biological and chemical incidents.
• Provide technical support and leadership during spills, exposures, or containment breaches.

• Monitor safety performance and identify trends or areas for improvement.
• Recommend enhancements to safety programmes, procedures, and controls.
• Stay informed of emerging regulations, risks, and best practices in biological and chemical safety.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology, environmental health, occupational safety, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in biological and/or chemical safety, laboratory safety, or EHS.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills.

• Master's degree in a relevant scientific or safety discipline.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CBSP, RBP, CSP, CIH, or equivalent).
• Experience in academic research, healthcare, or industrial laboratory environments.

• Risk assessment and hazard analysis.
• Regulatory interpretation and compliance.
• Training delivery and instructional design.
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis.

Benefits:

• Travel allowance + Bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, assessed on a case-by-case basis. You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).