ACL-Facility Manager

Salary: $ - $ Annually

Final date to receive applications: N/A

Hiring Pay Scale: $108,100 - $156,500 / Year

The Facility Manager operates a recommissioned, high-containment ACL-3 suite Containing two distinct areas, with strict separation maintained through room assignment, containment procedures, decontamination protocols, personnel flow, and access control. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Research in the School of Biological Sciences.

The Facility Manager ensures safe, compliant, and efficient operation under USDA ACL-3 regulations—among the most heavily regulated biological research environments globally, subject to regular USDA, CDC, and California Department of Food and Agriculture oversight and unannounced inspections. Core responsibilities include maintaining continuous compliance, administering federal permits for, serving as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, and preserving audit-ready records.

The role encompasses annual facility shutdown coordination, verifying HVAC systems, biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, and secondary containment integrity; aligning different ABSL-3 users to prevent resource conflicts; and managing facility access and documentation. The manager develops and continually updates a comprehensive safety manual and standard operating procedures for containment, decontamination, and emergency response; designs and delivers biosafety training with certification tracking; oversees specialized ACL-3 PPE inventory, distribution, and respiratory-protection standards;

and creates emergency response plans for containment breaches, spills, and personnel exposures, serving as the principal contact with EH&S and UC Police during incidents and coordinating timely reporting to federal agencies such as the CDC and USDA.

Expected outcomes include zero regulatory violations, successful annual certifications with minimal research disruption, consistent training compliance, and prompt incident response. The Facility Manager will collaborate directly with the Dean’s Office of the School of Biological Sciences, Abkari lab researchers, and the principal faculty investigator(s) to refine and expand the functional scope of the position.

• Academic background and experience in selected area of research. Doctorate in biological sciences, entomology, microbiology, or a closely related field required.
• Demonstrated background in insect biology, biosafety science, agricultural pest research, or a closely related research discipline is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices, preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of ACL-2/ACL-3 arthropod containment practices, BSL-2/BSL-3 biosafety protocols, and the federal regulatory frameworks governing high-containment biological research (including USDA, CDC, and IBC requirements). Demonstrated experience managing safety documentation, BUA/LHAT/HCP compliance records, and audit preparation.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, regulatory agency representatives, institutional safety officers, and facility users at all levels.
• Advanced ability to think creatively and independently on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills. Demonstrated ability to independently diagnose facility operational problems, assess compliance risks, and develop practical solutions under time pressure and with minimal supervision. Ability to anticipate and proactively address regulatory, safety, and logistical challenges in a complex, multi-user high-containment environment.
• Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work…