Director, High Containment Operations
Pfizer Inc.
Pearl River, NY
Job posting number: #7280554 (Ref:pf-4919960)
Posted: September 18, 2024
Job Description
ROLE SUMMARY:
The Director – High Containment Operations directs all aspects of the administration and management of Biosafety Level – 3 and Animal Biosafety Level -3 (BSL3/ABSL3) laboratories in the Pearl River. The high-containment labs have enhanced safety and security requirements compared to Pfizer Vaccine R&D BSL-2 lab to address working with higher pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
The Director also manages all Vaccine R&D high containment research at external facilities. They will be the Subject Matter Expert on working in and managing high containment laboratories. They will be recognized as an expert outside Pfizer, within the greater high containment laboratory community.
The Director will be the key point of contact for interactions across multiple functions within Vaccine R&D, within Pfizer, and outside with local, state and federal (possibly international) government agencies (e.g. CDC, USDA, NIH). They oversee bio-safety, security, and common laboratory standard operating procedures and processes in Pfizer Pearl River BSL3/ABSL3 laboratories including use of federally regulated Select Agents.
The incumbent ensures that proper budgetary, operational, and regulatory compliance needs are met in the BSL/ABSL-3 laboratories. They will manage a team of high-containment professionals who will establish and coordinate all necessary scheduling and usage of laboratory resources. The incumbent acts as liaison with the Pfizer Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Health, Vaccine R&D Leadership, and Principal Investigators. Their team will work closely with Pfizer Global Workplace Solutions Facilities Management team regarding facility engineering controls required for proper function of high containment laboratory.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Ensure all necessary research safety, facility planning and maintenance, and researcher training programs are in place and operations to conduct high containment research at Pfizer Pearl River. In addition they will consult across the global Pfizer network any future high containment research
Serve as Pfizer’s subject matter expert in all high containment research providing direction and oversight internally as well as externally for all Vaccine R&D high containment research conducted outside Pfizer Pearl River at contract facilities
The Director -High Containment Ops will work to influence the external industry of high containment labs utilizing their expertise to provide opinions and background information to the Pfizer Government Affairs group for communication to and with federal and state officials
Direct and manage all activities of the high containment operations group in Pearl River. This group is responsible for supporting Vaccine R&D high containment research and running of the high containment labs.
Establish and oversee federal programs within high containment laboratories including the Select Agent program, including acting as the Responsible Officer. The Select Agent program is a federal security program required for Pfizer to conduct research on various toxins, bacteria, and viruses which are considered a potential biosafety threat to national security due to possible development as bioweapons.
Manager all federal, state, and local interactions and inspections of Pearl River high containment laboratories
Server as liaison for all Vaccine R&D high containment research conducted outside Pfizer Pearl River at contract facilities
Serve as Chair and lead research committees that oversee and approve projects in the high containment laboratories (Institution Biosafety Committee, Biosafety Committee, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee)
Coordinate with Vaccine R&D research leaders to ensure high containment facilities and program meets needs for future program plans
Works to lead & develop expertise of high containment lab knowledge and experience in the over 100 researchers using the high containment labs
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Ph.D. in relevant field (Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Immunology) required
At least 10 years of relevant experience working in and managing high containment laboratories
Recognized industry leader in laboratory safety relating to high containment laboratories
Extensive experience managing and maintaining compliance with federal research regulations required for high containment laboratories (CDC, USDA, GLP, Select Agent, etc.)
Professional certification demonstrating high containment laboratory knowledge (i.e. CBSP)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrated leader, management of direct reports
Expertise in a Containment Facility design
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Work, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to work in high containment environment
NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Generally, work is done in an office, laboratory, vivarium, or production facility environment with pleasant working conditions. There is good lighting and ventilation, it is reasonably quiet, and the work hours are reasonably regular.
Occasional travel require to interact with contract companies, regulatory agencies and attend appropriate conferences
Other Job Details:
Last day to apply is October 1, 2024
Work Location Assignment: On Premise
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.
