Item 3.B-June 13, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/hr/compensation-and-evaluation for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable): Paul Michael Kivistik
Position #(s): 16152
Current Title: Manager, Animal and Biological Research
Current Range: 3
Compliance (JCC:86942;3B)
Department: Environmental Health & Safety
College/Division: Vice President, Research
Account #(s): 1101-121-0006
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
(X) Title Change, Proposed Title: Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
() Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
Range:
JCC (Current
or new HR
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature Ben Owens, Asst Dir, EH&S Safety
__________________
Date
____________________________________________________________
Director/Chair/Dean
Stephanie Woolf, Director, EH&S
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Mridul Gautam
Date
Vice President, Research and Innovation
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
67562 Range:
3
Pos #(s): 16152
JCC:
EEO: 3B
Eff: 6/1/2014
Approved Title: Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012
Position Description - Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety, is responsible for managing essential elements of the
University’s research compliance program for applicable Federal, State, and institutional regulations
and policies within the professional framework of the Responsible Conduct of Research. The Senior
Specialist is responsible for operations management of the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR)
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee
(IBC). The Senior Specialist supports the Laboratory Safety program within the Environmental Health
and Safety (EH&S) Department by working to improve laboratory safety work practices and
compliance with regulatory requirements. The Senior Specialist is responsible for identifying
laboratory risks, making recommendations for reducing identified risks, and ensuring resolution. The
position develops and presents training and educational materials for laboratory safety training
sessions and other forums. The position serves as the Alternate Responsible Official for the
University of Nevada, Reno select agent program (bioterrorism agents) in the absence of the
Responsible Official (EH&S Assistant Director for Laboratory Safety) and develops and trains
employees on select agent topics. The position reports to the EH&S Assistant Director for Laboratory
Safety.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
35% - Laboratory Safety
 Develops educational materials and presents training for IACUC, IBC, and laboratory safety
training sessions and academic classes
 Conducts assessments of laboratory work spaces to identify potential risks and works with
laboratory personnel to improve chemical safety, biosafety, and physical safety work practices
and procedures
 Monitors and ensures compliance with laboratory safety regulations
 Evaluates personnel exposures to chemical, biological, and physical hazards; evaluates
exposure control systems and procedures; and develop methods to ensure exposures and
risks are at safe levels
20% - Research Compliance
 Manages animal care and biosafety elements of UNR’s research compliance program for
applicable Federal, State, and institutional regulations and policies within the professional
framework of the Responsible Conduct of Research
 Assists with assessment and assurance that animal care and use practices and animal
housing and use facility operations are in compliance with Federal, State, and UNR policies
regarding research animal care and use and occupational safety
 Ensures equipment and programmatic issues are properly addressed and reported to
appropriate personnel
 Functions as a liaison between the IACUC and the IBC Committees
 Assures consistency of grant proposal with IACUC protocol
20% - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Coordination
 Serves as ex-officio permanent voting member of the IACUC
 Ensures completion of semi-annual review reports for the Institutional Official
 Assists with preparation of accreditation-related communications
Position Description - Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
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Provides animal research protocol assistance to faculty, staff, and students
Assists with development and distribution of standard operating procedures and policies
related to animal care and use
Provides support to the laboratory staff providing animal care in on-campus and outlying
facilities
20% - Institutional Biosafety Committee Coordination
 Serves as ex-officio permanent voting member of the IBC
 Facilitates the protocol process and provides protocol assistance to faculty, staff, and students
 Provides newly submitted protocols to the IBC Committee for review and collects comments
from the IBC members
 Compiles protocol changes and communicates the requested modifications in writing to the
faculty, staff, and/or student submitting the protocol
 Assists in revising protocol with the responsible faculty, staff, and/or student and redistributed
revised protocol to the IBC members who make a formal review in a convened meeting
 In discussion and concurrence with the Biosafety Officer and other relevant personnel,
provides guidance to laboratory personnel and other university groups (including the IBC) with
regard to the safe handling, use, and disposal of biological and select agents, including human
body fluids, infectious agents, and recombinant DNA
 In discussion and concurrence with the Biosafety Officer and other relevant personnel,
develops and distributes regular communications to faculty who perform biological research
 Serves as the alternate responsible official for the UNR select agent program (bioterrorism
agents) which requires individual to be able to obtain approval from the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for access to select agents as
specified in various federal public health regulations and policies
5% - EH&S Operations Support
 Provides operational support to EH&S staff in areas of:
o Radiation safety
o Chemical waste management and spill response
o Emergency planning
o Laboratory ventilation
o Chemical inventory
o Occupational safety
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
The Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety, has the freedom to make decisions in the field
commensurate with his/her knowledge and experience. More involved decisions or decisions beyond
individual’s level of expertise is discussed with the IACUC, IBC, and/or EH&S Assistant Director. In
the absence of the Responsible Official, the Senior Specialist in his/her role as Alternate Responsible
Official has the authority and freedom to make decisions and take action on issues related to safety,
security, and regulatory compliance of select agents. Issues that involve other EH&S functions are
discussed with the appropriate EH&S personnel. In consultation with the Assistant Director, the
incumbent may make recommendations for laboratory modifications and safety devices that may
result in large financial commitments.
Impact:
The decisions and judgments made by the Senior Specialist directly impact personnel health and
safety and the regulatory compliance status of UNR. Poor decisions and judgments and
Position Description - Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
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misstatements adversely affect the credibility of the EH&S program and UNR and would likely result in
increased risk to university personnel, increased legal liability, and regulatory fines.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Current areas of chemical and biological research, and environmental health and safety
principles and associated Federal and State laws and regulations
 Animal research and animal care, including requirements from the Office for Laboratory Animal
Welfare (OLAW), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Institutional Animal
Use and Care Committee (IACUC) review for animal research protocols
 Biological research, including requirements from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
 Select agent regulations and biosafety level 3 laboratory requirements and safe operating
procedures
 Safety regarding the use, storage, and disposal of chemicals and biological agents in order to
reduce laboratory risks
 Chemistry and molecular biological sciences and associated research techniques
 Evaluation, assessment, and control of laboratory hazards through monitoring of chemical and
biological hazards, laboratory ventilation and other engineered controls, and personal protective
equipment
 Incident response involving chemical and biological agents, to include spills and other releases,
fire, and personnel exposure
Skills:

Education and coaching of laboratory personnel for improving protocol formulation, laboratory
safety, and regulatory compliance in individual laboratories without hindering research
productivity or teaching activities
 Effective oral and written communication, specifically concerning environmental health and
safety requirements and recommendations, IACUC and IBC requirements and
recommendations, and related technical information
 Decision-making and problem-solving skills
Ability to:
 Address research administration and laboratory safety issues in a complex environment
requiring specialized skill
 Educate and train diverse audiences on processes, procedures, and regulations
 Understand and interpret federal, state, and local regulations, as well as campus and systemwide policies and procedures
 Garner and maintain the cooperation of laboratory researchers and have a high level of
scientific and technical credibility
 Prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently
 Work independently and meet deadlines
 Effectively evaluate health and safety practices, recommend appropriate modifications to
scientific protocols and laboratory procedures, and maintain credibility with a highly educated
and skeptical audience
 Manage or administer several specialized activities within a program
 Stay current in discipline by seeking out and learning new information pertinent to performance
of duties
 Maintain approval from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)/U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Select Agent Program for access to select agents as specified by federal regulations
Position Description - Senior Specialist, Laboratory Safety
Page 5
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
Undergraduate and graduate
students, postdoctoral
researchers and research
associates, faculty, university
administrators, staff, and
laboratory faculty
Reason for Contact
To communicate daily with protocol formulation and submittal, to
explain and improve laboratory safety procedures and behaviors,
to improve the regulatory compliance status of the University; to
conduct periodic large group presentation; to provide services,
resolve problems, and provide training and education; to consult
with UNR faculty and administrators
External
Regulators, vendors
Reason for Contact
To professionally communicate with regulators and other EH&S
professionals and to assist with negotiations with regulators and
vendors
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor’s Degree and four years or a Master’s Degree and two years of laboratory
safety experience with significant responsibility for chemical and/or biological safety
and/or animal care research compliance
Preferred Licenses or Certifications:
Certified Industrial Hygienist, (CIH)
Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer (CCHO)
Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
Certificate in Research Administration (CRA)
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
Class C driver’s license to operate a State vehicle