Job Description
Biological Safety Officer (Biosafety & Chemical Safety) | Oxford | On-site
BioTalent are partnered with a major scientific research institute in Oxford building a next-generation biology and genome engineering capability, backed by long-term funding and serious investment.
This is a hands-on, lab-facing biosafety position where you will work directly with scientists operating across recombinant DNA, biological agents, and complex chemical environments. You will be embedded in the research environment, shaping how safety actually works in practice, not just on paper.
You will act as the go-to biosafety and chemical safety expert on-site, supporting a rapidly expanding laboratory footprint. This is a visible, high-impact role where you will:
- Spend time in labs, not behind a desk
- Work directly with scientists to challenge, guide, and improve practices
- Build safety systems as the organisation scales
What You’ll Actually Be Doing
- Advising scientists on biological risk (GMOs, recombinant DNA, pathogens)
- Supporting and reviewing COSHH and biological risk assessments
- Leading lab walks, containment checks, and real-time safety interventions
- Owning biosafety procedures aligned to UK containment standards
- Driving chemical safety programmes and hazardous material handling
- Investigating incidents and implementing practical corrective actions
- Delivering training that scientists actually engage with
- Helping scale a safety framework that supports hundreds of researchers
What We’re Looking For
You’ve likely worked as a:
- Biosafety Officer
- Biological Safety Advisor
- Laboratory Safety Officer
- EHS Specialist in a lab-heavy environment
More importantly:
- You’re comfortable walking into labs and challenging unsafe practice
- You understand UK biosafety frameworks, containment, and COSHH
- You’ve worked around biological agents, GMOs, or regulated lab environments
- You prefer being close to the science, not purely administrative
Why This Role
- You’ll join at a genuine build phase, not maintain what already exists
- High visibility across a growing, well-funded institute
- Real ownership over how safety is designed and implemented
- Strong benefits package including bonus, private medical, and electric car scheme
Location
Oxford, fully on-site.
You must be able to commute or relocate. UK right to work required, sponsorship may be considered.
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