Vacancies at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities

• Waste Management
  • Implement ILRI waste management guidelines for different waste categories
  • Maintain the various licenses and ensure compliance with license conditions.
  • Develop and maintain a database and trends of waste quantities
  • Apply and follow up for issuance of the necessary licenses and permits.
• Water management
  • Develop, document and maintain water sources, obtain and maintain abstraction licenses, and ensure compliance with the license conditions.
  • Coordinate water and wastewater sampling and analysis
  • Monitor consumption and advise where efficiencies can be improved.
  • Follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions.
  • Develop pollution incident response plan as may be required.
  • Apply and follow up for issuance of the necessary licenses and permits.
• Soil management
  • Identify and document potential sources of soil contamination
  • Recommend, document and coordinate implementation of mitigation measures.
  • Where necessary, coordinate soil sampling and analysis, and follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions
  • Develop pollution incident response plan as may be required.
  • Coordinate the integrity testing of various underground installations for integrity assurance.
• Energy use
  • Identify and document energy sources, monitor consumption and advise where efficiencies can be improved.
  • Follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions.
• Air quality
  • Coordinate monitoring of ambient air quality, indoor air (including noise monitoring – environmental & occupational) quality and emissions measurements.
  • Follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions.
  • Apply and follow up for issuance of the necessary licenses and permits.
• Safety and health committees
  • Coordinate the activities of the safety and health committees including meetings, training, investigations, workplace inspections, etc.
• First aid
  • Implement ILRI first aid guidelines to ensure compliance with legal requirements including training of first aiders and management of first aid supplies, etc.
  • Implementing a risk-based approach in management of first aid.
• Fire safety
  • Implement ILRI fire safety guidelines to ensure compliance with legal requirements including periodic testing and servicing of fire safety equipment, and training of fire marshals, training of staff on fire safety, maintain a database for all fire safety equipment, etc.
  • Coordinating internal inspection of all fire safety equipment to assure readiness for use in an emergency.
  • Organising and coordinating fire safety drills periodically and as may be required.
• Incident management
  • Implement incident management guidelines.
  • Coordinate reporting (including statutory reporting) and investigation of all incidents (accidents, near-miss incidents, dangerous occurrences, cases of occupational ill health).
• Training, education and awareness
  • Implement EOHS training, education and awareness schedule as may be required to ensure there is continuous EOHS training, education and awareness for employees, contractors and others legally withing ILRI’s premises.
• Plant, equipment and machinery
  • Develop and maintain a register for all plants and equipment and ensure their periodic examination as required to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
  • Follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions resulting from statutory examinations undertaken.
• Risk assessment
  • Assist in conducting and or coordinating various EOHS related risk assessments as may be required following guidelines for hazard identification and risk assessment.
  • Coordinate implementation of recommended prevention and or mitigation measures resulting from the risk assessments.
• EOHS Databases
  • Maintain EOHS databases relating to use of natural resources, pest control, accidents, near-miss incidents, cases of occupational ill health, sick leave, dangerous occurrences and any other EOHS related incidents.
  • Coordinate the collection and maintaining data required for the preparing of sustainability reporting.
• Audits and inspection
  • Implement an internal EOHS audit and inspection program to monitor compliance and implementation of corrective action measures to ensure continuous EOHS improvement.
  • Assist in coordination of external EOHS audit and inspection including statutory audits as may be required.
• Biosafety and biosecurity
  • Maintain an inventory of select agents and toxins in line with existing regulatory and statutory requirements
  • Ensure biological material is packaged and shipped in accordance with existing local regulations and international best practices.
• Occupational health
  • Coordinate pre-employment, in-employment, post-employment and return to work medical examinations as may be required.
  • Coordinate the distribution and examination of the TLD badges for all staff working with radioactive isotopes.
  • Undertaking fit testing for staff and others who may be required to use respiratory related PPE.
  • Follow up with internal stakeholders for implementation of recommended corrective actions required.
• Chemical safety
  • Coordinate the implementation of the chemical hygiene plan and other chemical safety requirements.
  • Apply and follow up for issuance of the necessary licenses and permits.
• Kitchen hygiene and Food safety
  • Coordinate the implementation of food safety management system in catering facilities and during organised events.
• Consultation and participation
  • Coordinate the undertaking of the EOHS stakeholder including employees and communities around ILRI premises.
• Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a science, Environmental Health and Safety and other relevant field
• Minimum of 2 years’ of experience in EOHS management Internal Auditing Training in Occupational safety and health will be an added advantage
• Strong knowledge of Kenya's EOHS regulations and international standards
• High level of independence in performing responsibilities is highly desirable
• Good communication and networking skills
• Ability to focus on and handle many projects at the same time.
• Training in biosafety and biosecurity
• Quality management systems (QMS)
• Occupational safety and health
• First aid and fire safety
• Good Clinical Practices (GCP) training

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Key Responsibilities

Advanced professional responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, executing and maintaining a comprehensive biosafety and biosecurity management program for all units of ILRI. To ensure compliance with appropriate regulatory requirements for animal research facilities and laboratories (BSL1, BSL2 and BSL3. ABSL1 and ABSL2). Ensure ILRI and hosted institutions operations uphold highest quality management systems standards specifically GLP, GCP, OHSMS, SMS, EMS, ETS and ISO. To establish and maintain a viable EOHS program by implementing procedures in line with ILRI guidelines, external legislative and regulatory requirements worldwide.

Biosafety and biosecurity

• Develop and implement Biosafety Biosecurity management system at ILRI.
• Maintain an inventory of select agents and toxins in line with existing regulatory and statutory requirements
• Review Research protocols, perform protocol risk assessment and maintain records for all research proposals submitted to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
• Ensure that approvals as required by legislation are obtained from the relevant authorities for work involving risk group 2 and above animal, plant and human pathogens
• Ensure ILRI maintains compliance with current requirements for Biosafety Biosecurity as per WHO, WAHO, Legislative laws within countries of operations especially in Kenya and Ethiopia.
• Ensure ILRI research samples collected by ILRI and hosted CGIAR scientists meet Nagoya protocol and in country legislative requirements.
• Ensure safety, Environment and Occupational health policies and procedures are consistent with current requirements for biosafety and biosecurity, safety laws and related legislations, and that these are effectively implemented.
• Advise on disinfection and waste disposal policies and arrangements in line with existing laws and regulations
• Provide technical support to Scientist at ILRI when compiling dossier for application for approval from regulatory agencies for work involving pathogenic biological materials and GM.
• Ensure compliance to approval conditions for research involving genetically modified material and any research using restricted material due to the risk of introduction and spread of pests and diseases.
• Provide training to ILRI staff for shipping of research materials and provide technical support when staff package and ship research materials, ensuring compliance with existing local and international best practices.
• Audit and monitor standards of safety performance in the ILRI research facilities to ensure adherence to the Laboratory safety manual and applicable policies and guidelines.

Management Systems

• Design prescribed management systems procedures and specifications to ensure alignment such that the system set in place is one but meets all requirements of management systems and review existing procedures to ensure compliance to management systems.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and standards in the field of EOHS, Biosafety Biosecurity, Radiation safety, GCP, GLP, SMS, EMS, OHSMS etc.
• Have a system in place that ensures that all outputs of research from both animal research facilities and Laboratory research facilities meet the requirements for registration as products and patents.
• Accountable for insurance and maintenance of controlled documents at ILRI to ensure correct implementation, access and upkeep of documents as prescribed procedure.
• Develop and manage ILRI management system dashboard.

Emergency response

• Develop contingency plans for ILRI research projects and containment facilities to ensure timely and effective response in the event of an emergency
• Coordinate development, implementation of ILRI emergency response plan at all ILRI Facilities.
• Coordinate development and implementation of an accident and incident investigation, response and reporting guidelines at ILRI facilities.

Training

• Advise on training needs for work involving biological agents, hazardous chemicals and radioactive material to ensure competence of staff in working safely.
• Implement yearly EOHS and research compliance training at ILRI to ensure staff meet ILRI, national and donor requirements.

Chemical and radiation safety

• Manage the ILRI chemical hygiene plan by maintaining an inventory of hazardous chemicals, training in safe use and responding to chemical spills and emergencies.
• Oversee development of Standard Operating Procedures, fact sheets, and guidance documents for hazardous chemical materials and processes.
• Oversee the use of radioactive materials through management of radioactive material licensing and implementation of radioactive waste management programs.
• Manage the radiation safety training program to ensure competence of staff in compliance with ILRI guidelines and regulatory requirements

Requirements

• Masters Degree in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, industrial
• hygiene, chemistry, Public health, or related field required with training in Biosafety and Biosecurity.
• 5 years relevant work experience
• Quality management systems certification
• Biosafety and Biosecurity certification
• Occupational Safety and Health Certification,
• Safety management systems
• Environmental management systems
• EOHS Lead auditor
• Good Clinical Practise (GCP)
• Good Laboratory Practise (GLP)
• Ability to carry out auditing, monitoring and evaluation for compliance to regulatory, biosafety committee approval conditions and compliance with management systems in place.
• Good communication and report writing skills
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Highly effective multi-tasking skills, with ability to coordinate, prioritize, delegate, and organize workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Capacity to lead, take initiative, demonstrate good judgment and work under minimal supervision