Program Specialist

This position is located with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Facilities Engineering, Plains Area, in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, Kansas. In this position, you will be an integral member of the Quality and Select Agent Program Management Unit, serving as the primary advisor to management and employees on technical and administrative issues related to all aspects of the NBAF Select Agent Program.

Serve as an expert on select agent issues, providing counsel and advice concerning the execution of policies and functions, and ensuring compliance with relevant statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements to ensure compliance involving BSAT.

Develop, evaluate, and implement a comprehensive Select Agent Program governing possession, use, and transfer of BSAT at NBAF incorporating Federal, State, and local regulations, agency programs and policies, and best management practices.

Apply management and technical expertise in coordinating activities on matters pertaining to facility ventilation, structural integrity, and/or biological containment to maintain and document verification of facilities for select agent purposes.

Plan, maintain, and conduct training and drills related to the NBAF select agent program and implement new techniques and methods to resolve critical problems.

Direct and/or conduct investigations for reports of theft, loss, release, or inventory discrepancies concerning BSAT, analyzing precipitating factors and root cause data to recommend specific methods for prevention.

Schedule and coordinate safety inspections and/or surveys of various laboratory animal and support service areas, including but not limited to building and laboratory facilities, animal holding facilities, and registered insectary.

Develop measures to ensure program compliance with regulatory components to include, but not limited to entity site-specific security plans, site-specific biosafety plans, site-specific incident response plans, and record keeping.

Apply technical expertise in initiating interaction, communication, and activity coordination on matters pertaining to facility personnel and agent security to maintain select agent registration and control of BSAT.