EHS Biosafety Officer

Job Description

Do you have a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or biotechnology or similar and experience with managing risks associated with biological agents (including GMOs) and do you understand biocontainment systems and concepts? Then we are looking for you to join our Biosafety team!

For our Animal Health location in Boxmeer we have the exciting opportunity for: EHS Biosafety Officer

Welcome in our team

The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) department provides safety and environmental support for all the Animal Health Netherland operations in order to drive towards world class EHS performance. The department covers all the essential EHS expertise fields in state-of-the-art pharmaceutical research in a unique biosafety manufacturing environment.

Reporting into the Manager Biosafety and Industrial Hygiene at the EHS department for Animal Health the Netherlands, the Biosafety Officer will provide expert guidance for leading and driving the site’s Biosafety program, ensuring compliance with both regulatory and company requirements. The biosafety officer wil provide biosafety support for both R&D as well as our divers vaccine manufacturing processes.

Primary responsibilities

• Subject Matter Expert for the Biosafety program of the site, including site processes to anticipate, recognize, and evaluate workplace health hazards and recommend proper control strategies to manage identified risks.
• Identify and assess Biosafety related risks, develop, and assist with defining and implementing corrective and preventive action plans. Monitor and communicate overall status of these plans.
• Proactively identify improvement opportunities and collaborate with other EHS staff/ Engineering, Operations and R&D personnel to leverage best practices and drive continuous improvement efforts.
• Maintain the required technical competencies, proficiencies, and regulatory knowledge to ensure responsibilities are effectively executed.
• Technical expertise needs to include but is not limited to risk assessment of biological operations; control strategies and prevention (including, engineering controls and work practice controls), applicable regulatory and requirements.
• Establish and maintain excellent communication processes to ensure site management, , as well as affected employees in R&D and Manufacturing understand the workplace biohazards, , and accompanying biological risks including exposure prevention methods and  control strategies;
• Provide technical support for engineering projects and modifications to ensure proper Biocontainment facility design, containment verification, as well as evaluation before and after process / equipment is installed or implemented.
• Conduct biosafety program assessments, area inspections & audits.
• Develop and contribute to an effective Biosafety training program for both management and employees.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology / biotechnology (or similar)
• Industrial (occupational) hygiene (Arbeidshygiene) or Safety engineering (Hogere Veiligheidskunde) education is a plus.
• Experience with managing risks associated with biological agents, experience with GMO legislation (BVF permit), understanding of biocontainment systems and concepts.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret results/ trends, decide appropriate, cost-effective corrective actions and provide clear recommendations to both management and employees.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, ability to work transparently and with a sense of urgency across various roles.
• Excellent technical leadership and communication (oral & written) skills in English and preferably also in Dutch.

What we offer

We welcome you to a truly global, dynamic, and challenging environment with great opportunities for personal development. Our benefits are competitive, and the summary below will give you an idea of what you can expect.

• Competitive salary and a 3% year-end bonus.
• 35,5 days of leave;
• Attractive collective health care insurance package with considerable reduction rates.
• Solid Pension Plan;
• Incentive Plan;
• Travel allowance for commuting;
• Numerous training, coaching, and e-learning modules for long term job opportunities and development.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

12/25/2024

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID: R320314