Executive Manager, Biosafety and Biorisk

**Acknowledgement of Country**:
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

**The Opportunity**:

- **Embed biosafety best practice in this influential enterprise-wide role**:

- **Collaborate broadly across the organisation to further integrate biosafety**:

- **Bring your energy, expertise and influence to champion the highest biosafety standards**

CSIRO is Australia’s National Science Agency and is one of the world’s largest and most successful publicly funded research and development organisations. We deliver world-class science and outcome-focused research that generates economic, environmental, and social benefits for Australia in a global context. We have improved the lives of many around the world through our research and developments including BARLEYmax, WiFi, Relenza (influenza medication), the Hendra virus vaccine, Tuberculosis diagnosis in animals & humans, and the Total Wellbeing Diet.

Following the pandemic, the world has turned to science to lead prevention and resilience efforts. CSIRO has a long history of working across the whole-of-system health domain, including a focus on addressing challenges in human, animal, and environmental health. CSIRO’s COVID-19-related response has demonstrated the value of a multi-disciplinary, cross-business unit effort. While biosafety and biorisk plays a greater part in CSIRO’s research within the health and biosecurity domains, there is significant benefit in taking a broader perspective and considering the impact across the wider organisation, across all sites and science domains.

This newly created role will adopt an organisation-wide perspective in leading and delivering a program of best practice processes, systems, training and advice across biological safety, biosafety, bioethics, and biorisk; and champion its importance within the business. You will be responsible for integrating biosafety into all activities and facilities where people may potentially interact with biological material, including on farms, in the field, and in glasshouses. You will hold senior management responsibility for compliance to quarantine, gene technology, and security sensitive biological agent (SSBA) regulations; work closely with relevant regulatory agencies and institutional biosafety committees to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines; and will be instrumental in ensuring the safety of staff, researchers, and the public across all facilities and activities within CSIRO.

**Your duties will include**:

- Develop and maintain a comprehensive biosafety approach that meets or exceeds all applicable laws, regulations, and standards related to biological safety, biosafety, bioethics, and biorisk. Provide insight and ensure reporting on biosafety risks, incidents and other relevant information, with regular reports to senior management on the status of biosafety management at CSIRO.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and institutional biosafety committees to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines.
- In conjunction with CSIRO’s Biosafety Officers and Managers and other key internal stakeholders, provide advice on biorisk management issues to senior and executive management and where relevant, to external customers, including on biosafety issues, including risk assessments, controls, and emergency response planning.
- Evaluate and manage biological safety risks associated with research activities and facilities, including laboratory operations, field research, and animal facilities.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the compliance requirements and ensure concise, effective, and accurate policies, procedures and associated resources are available in liaison with CSIRO’s governance team.
- Represent CSIRO's interests at external forums, advocate CSIRO's position with government bodies, and secure network support for CSIRO's preferred position.
- With assistance from the Learning team, develop and deliver training programs on biosafety management for staff, contractors, and visitors.
- Keep up to date with developments in biosafety regulations and standards and ensure that CSIRO is compliant with any changes.

**Location**: Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, or Perth preferred (other locations with a CSIRO site may be considered)
**Salary**: Attractive package plus up to 15.4% superannuation
**Tenure**: Specified term of 3 years
**Reference**: 93605

**To be considered you will need**:

- Tertiary qualifications and/or demonstrated extensive experience and knowledge in biosafety, biorisk, environmental health, and safety or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in biorisk management with extensive k