Health Science Specialist (Research Safety Officer)

About the role

The Research Safety Officer (RSO) is a Health Science Specialist position established within the Office of the Associate Chief of Staff for Research (ACOSR). In collaboration with, and under the guidance of the Deputy ACOS for Research (DACOSR), the RSO is responsible for management of the Research Safety Program for the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS). This includes general administration, planning and oversight of all research safety.

Responsibilities

• Reviews all research protocols related to biohazard, chemical, physical, radiation and occupational safety concerns for compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines prior to submission, and works with investigators to facilitate changes as appropriate.
• Prepares safety inspection and vulnerability assessment of all research labs.
• Develops equipment specifications for grant proposals.
• Prepares records of animal facility inspections and reports.
• Develops and updates policies and procedures related to biohazards, chemicals, radiation, and occupational safety concerns.
• Monitors compliance with all applicable research safety regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements.
• Analyzes and communicates legislation, VA Central Office and other regulatory directives, to develop research safety policies/standards covering Research Safety Program.
• Facilitates maintenance of accreditation with the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) and the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).
• Designs, oversees, implements, and/ or participates in scientific research studies including the development, supervision and performing of experiments, surveys, investigations, or projects, to develop information in such areas as disease prevention, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and control.
• Develops local procedures, which implement agency policies, on basic and applied research program development, administration and evaluation and assesses the impact of the above listed agents on the safety of research participants and personnel working in research laboratories.

Requirements

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Reviews all research protocols related to biohazard, chemical, physical, radiation and occupational safety concerns for compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines; Prepares records of animal facility inspections and reports; Reviews Safety Research Subcommittee (SRS) operations including internal and external safety/infection control inspections, lab access, training compliance; Monitors compliance with all applicable research safety regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements; Analyzes and communicates legislation, VA Central Office and other regulatory directives, to develop research safety policies/standards; Facilitates maintenance of accreditation with the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) and the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC); Develops and updates policies and procedures related to biohazards, chemicals, radiation, and occupational safety concerns; Monitors compliance with all applicable regulations, policies and guidelines related to biological, chemical, physical and radiation hazards requirements; Designs, oversees, implements, and/ or participates in scientific research studies including the development, supervision and performing of experiments, surveys, investigations, or projects, to develop information in such areas as disease prevention, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and control; Develops local procedures, which implement agency policies, on basic and applied research program development, administration and evaluation and assesses the impact of the above listed agents on the safety of research participants and personnel working in research laboratories.

  Qualifications

  To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2026.