Senior Scientist

OVERVIEW

Merrick & Company, an employee-owned company, is seeking an experienced Science and Safety Professional with combined expertise in biological, chemical, and physical hazards to join our growing team. The person would become a crucial part of a key Merrick growth initiative in Life Sciences within the Academic, Public Health, Healthcare, and Biotechnology markets serving local, US, and international clients. This position is located at our client site in Manhattan, Kansas, not a Merrick office.

The Scientist will coordinate and support a multifaceted series of projects related to laboratory planning, programming, and operations; facility transition planning and decommissioning; hazard, risk, and exposure assessment, control, and management; chemical safety, hazardous materials, and hazardous waste; biocontainment, biological safety, and biosecurity; and regulatory and code compliance, as well as the integration of guidance and consensus standards (e.g., BMBL, ANSI, ASHRAE), manufacturers’ use instructions, and industry best practices.

The selected candidate will support the Science & Technology division with duties and coordination as part of an interactive team of scientists, engineers, and subject matter experts. This position will work interactively with Merrick architects, engineers, and commissioning agents responsible for the design and commissioning of high-containment, teaching, research, clinical, and biotech laboratories, and vivaria (i.e., small- to large-animal use programs and facilities) located at academic, public health, healthcare, and biotechnology institutions, as well as federal, state, and local government sites.

As a Senior Scientist, you will:

• Provide strategy, development, execution, and technical knowledge for project deliverables related to facility and laboratory operations, hazard and risk identification, assessment, characterization, and management, exposure assessment and control, general safety, public health and environmental management, occupational and industrial hygiene, pharmacy and healthcare compliance, consensus standards and industry best practices, domestic, exotic, and research animal housing, care, and use, in sectaries and disease vectors, and regulatory and code compliance.
• Possess strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Effectively interface with Merrick team members to:
  • Prepare project deliverables (e.g., complex studies, reports, plans, specifications, and other products);
  • Ensure adherence to project quality;
  • Address regulatory and code compliance as it pertains to facility and laboratory operations, client safety, and the proper handling, storage, and disposal of chemical, biological, and physical hazards;
  • Support document preparation to aid clients in obtaining registrations and permits, maintaining required regulatory compliance (e.g., OSHA, EPA, FSAP, USDA, APHIS, CDC, NIH Guidelines, FDA, FAA, DOT, and CBP), and adhering to codes (e.g., NFPA), standards (e.g., ANSI), certifications (e.g., Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)) and accreditations (College of American Pathologists, The Joint Commission, and AAALAC); and
  • Support proposal development and marketing initiatives.
  • Support leadership to ensure that project schedules and budgets are met and communicate to leadership any issues and concerns.
• Exercise initiative, judgment, and knowledge commensurate with the responsibilities of the position.
• Adopt and apply all Merrick policies and procedures on assignments.
• Educate clients on pertinent regulations, consensus standards, manufacturers’ use instructions, and best practices concerning their facilities, laboratories, operations, safety programs, hazard control systems, biocontainment, equipment, hazardous materials storage, waste treatment and disposal processes, and all associated document and recordkeeping.

This position requires the ability to be proficient not only in multiple safety disciplines, but also in public health, clinical, and academic laboratory operations, with an understanding of how laboratory activities, controls, and equipment function to support the containment, isolation, and safe use of chemical, biological, and physical hazards. This person will support the development of high-level technical products and deliverables for high-visibility projects and, as such, must possess excellent communication and writing skills.

This position requires a high level of demonstrated…