Join the HJF Team!

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

This position will be in support of Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch (DCB). The incumbent will be responsible for providing safety support for the Diagnostics and Countermeasures Branch (DCB), within the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR), at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). The incumbent will be responsible for assisting the DCB Safety Officer in maintaining a high standard of safety practices for all of the DCB laboratories and staff. The incumbent will become knowledgeable of appropriate WRAIR, HJF, local, state and federal safety policies and help to ensure that harmonized safety practices occur within DCB’s College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited laboratories, research units and administrative areas. He/She will be responsible for supporting the DCB Safety Officer with the coordination, operation and support of safety programs within DCB as well as helping to develop and implement a safety training program for all staff.

• Serves as the Assistant Safety Officer for DCB Laboratories and reports directly to the DCB Safety Officer.
• Helps to implement the safety program for all DCB staff in accordance with OSHA, NIOSH, CDC, CAP and other agencies providing recommendations for safety practices while ensuring staff adhere to requirements outlined in DCB Procedures, WRAIR and HJF safety programs. Will also help to ensure lab compliance with WRAIR and HJF safety plans, procedures and policies following FDA, CAP, CLSI, GCLP, CDC, NIOSH and OSHA guidelines.
• Will continuously review current and revised safety practices, keeping well versed on new recommendations from regulatory agencies and in accordance with activities of the laboratory and administrative areas for DCB.
• Will conduct safety audits and generate risk assessment reports, audit reports and share observations and findings with DCB Leadership.
• Will help to assesses risks and possible safety hazards for all aspects of operations within DCB.
• Will serves as a DCB Assistant Collateral Duty Safety Officer (CDSOs) and an Assistant Environmental Compliance and Chemical Hygiene Officer (ECCHOs), and will work with DCB’s CDSOs and ECCHO to monitor and track current and newly implemented safety practices.
• Will conduct weekly laboratory safety audits for all DCB laboratories and provide audit reports to Laboratory Directors for review.
• Will help manage the annual review of DCB’s chemical hygiene inventory and the safety data sheets.
• Will assist to ensure the safe storage, disposal, inventory, and reporting of all hazardous materials, including Safety Data Sheet accessibility.
• Will assist in safety incident investigations, tracks incidents, near incidents and assigns and implements corrective and preventive actions.
• Will assist in providing annual or as needed safety trainings and respiratory fit tests for DCB staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Has a background in scientific laboratory processes and a keen interest to learn and assess chemical and biological safety issues within laboratory operations.
• Experience working in a regulated environment is highly preferred.
• Effective communication and writing skills including writing Standard Operating Procedures.
• Highly skilled in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other relevant computer skills.
• Experience tracking multiple projects and timelines.

• Lifting: Requires lifting materials up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

• Associates degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred in chemical physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science.
• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience required

• Will work to obtain required professional and educational experience in order to obtain a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) certification or Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) credentials from the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) International.

Some positions or sites may require that the incumbent be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination may be required.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.