Position Description

Title: Trainee Biosafety Officer

Branch: Biosecurity New Zealand
Reports to: Manager Assurance, Biosafety and Containment
Location: Wallaceville
Approved by: Director Diagnostic and Surveillance Services
Date: September 2021

Purpose of the position

The Animal Health Laboratory is an integral part of the Ministry for Primary Industries. It is
responsible for providing veterinary diagnostic testing capability to allow the diagnosis or rule
out of suspect exotic diseases and pests affecting animals, and the provision of cost-recovered
diagnostic services to third parties. It is part of the Diagnostics and Surveillance Directorate,
which is responsible for delivering the core functions of surveillance, incursion investigation and
diagnostics.

This position is within the Assurance, Biosafety and Containment Team and is primarily
concerned with supporting AHL’s biological risk management system (encompassing facilities,
equipment, procedures and staff). Because of the nature of the laboratory’s work, these
systems are critical for MPI and the country as a whole.

The Trainee Biosafety Officer position is a three-year position that, providing the associated
biosafety competency framework is successfully completed, will transition into a full Biosafety
Officer role with the associated re-banding. Refer to Biosafety Competency Framework and
Biosafety Officer position description.

This position is for someone with a strong desire to pursue a career as a biosafety professional
as the work undertaken, training and qualifications gained will be solely focussed on this highly
specialised area.

What you will be doing

 Work closely with the Biosafety Officer and/or AHL management to ensure that
scientific operations within the laboratory (whether undertaken by MPI or a tenant
organisation) operate at the required levels of biosafety, biocontainment and
biosecurity.
 Contribute to maintaining biocontainment by ensuring compliance with relevant
policies, procedures and standards.
 Write and contribute to risk assessments relating to biological risk management.
 Write and review standard operating procedures relating to biological risk
management, biosecurity and biocontainment.
 Participate in and lead audits relating to biological risk management, biosecurity and
biocontainment.

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  Contribute to the ongoing development of the system, day to day decision making and
fostering a culture of effective risk organism management.
 Contribute to the provision of expert biosafety advice to both MPI and external
stakeholders.
 Contribute to training of staff and visitors.
 Participate in AHL’s Biosafety Committee.
 Support safe and compliant implementation of new work/procedures
 Operate, and instruct others in the safe operation of key biosafety and containment
related equipment and methods.
 Contribute to biological safety leadership and standard setting within the High
Biosafety Laboratory Team Lead and contribute to simulation and training exercises
required for ongoing laboratory capability.
 Undertake projects that improve methods and understanding of biosafety within the
laboratory.
 Present and publish biosafety related work.
 Develop strong links with national and international biosafety networks to support
maintenance of best international practice in biosafety.
 Stand in for the Biosafety Officer when they are away.

Training and competency development

 Develop expert knowledge of international best practice in: biological risk
management; containment systems and standards; risk assessment and infectious
materials.
 Develop expertise in AHL’s biological risk management system.
 Develop a high level of knowledge of the practical application of biosafety and
microbiological security methods, underlying biological theory and applicable national
and international standards.
 Successfully complete an internationally recognised biosafety related qualification.
 Meet the requirements of AHL’s Trainee Biosafety Officer competency framework.

General
Respond to the changing needs of the Ministry, performing other tasks as reasonably required.

Maintain a strict sense of professional ethics, maintain confidentiality and privacy, and abide by
MPI’s Code of Conduct.

Aspects of this role will require being able to operate in physical containment level 2 (PC2) and
enhanced physical containment level 3 (PC3+) laboratories. All Animal Health Laboratory staff
are expected to adhere to procedures that ensure microbiological security, quality assurance,
health and safety and information security at all times.

This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of tasks, but to act as guide as
to the main duties and responsibilities of the position. Its content will be subject to regular
review in conjunction with the job holder.

Key relationships and stakeholders

Internal Nature of the relationship
ABC Team Manager For guidance, support and advice and to report

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Other ABC team members (in particular Biosafety
Officer, NBL engineering staff, Senior Quality
Advisor and Health, Safety and Wellness Officer)
Other AHL team members
MPI Managers & Staff
Response leaders and managers
progress, and identified issues
Work planning and co-ordination. For guidance
and advice related to these business systems and
to meet operational requirements.
For work coordination and planning, when leading
or participating in projects and developments, to
share information, seek and provide assistance,
and provide oversight of microbiological security
and containment.
Administrative and logistics functions. To provide
advice.
Participate in responses, reporting to response
line manager as detailed in response role
description
Carry out all response activity based on MPI
mandated processes and systems

External Nature of the relationship

Suppliers and contractors To provide induction and information on biosafety
and microbiological security
Visitors to site To provide induction and information on biosafety
and microbiological security
NCBID Partner staff Induction, training and supervision of
microbiological systems
Equivalents in other organisations Working groups, networking and information
sharing.

FREEDOM TO ACT

 The ability to incur financial costs for a Level 6 position, as detailed in the Financial Delegations of
Authority.
 Negotiations with suppliers and contractors within delegated authority

SECURITY CLEARANCE
To fulfil the requirement of this position a Criminal Conviction Check;
security clearance classification to the Confidential
following level is required:

Education, skills and experience

Qualifications Essential
 BSc or equivalent qualification in microbiology or a relevant field.

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 Desired
 Post-graduate science qualification or equivalent in microbiology or a relevant
field.

Experience Essential
and
knowledge  Knowledge and experience of microbiological laboratories and working with
infectious organisms.
 Understanding of biosafety concepts.
 Understanding of microbiological security concepts.

Desired
 Knowledge of ISO17025, AS/NZS 2243 and other relevant standards.
 Experience of quality assurance systems.
 Experience working in a PC3 laboratory facility.
 Developing and undertaking projects.
Skills Essential
 Ability to work within and across teams.
 Strong verbal and written communication.
 Ability to influence others.
 Capacity to plan work in line with priorities and coordinate work activities
independently.
 Initiative, technical aptitude and sound judgement.
 Self-starter.
 Computer literacy.

Desired
 Provision of training.
 Ability to coordinate and improve work processes involving others.
 Meeting facilitation.
 Project management.

Competencies
CORE COMPETENCIES
Competency Skilled
22 Ethics and  Adheres to an appropriate (for the setting) and effective set of core values and
Values beliefs during both good and bad times; acts in line with those values; rewards
the right values and disapproves of others; practices what he/she preaches.
29 Integrity and  Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the
Trust unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences;
admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
53 Drive for Results  Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently
one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and
others for results.
54 Self-  Is personally committed to and actively works to continuously improve
Development him/herself; understands that different situations and levels may call for different
skills and approaches; works to deploy strengths; works on compensating for
weakness and limits.

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 INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR COMPETENCIES
Competency Skilled
17 Decision Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a
Quality mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and
suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out
by others for advice and solutions.
24 Functional/ Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of
Technical Skills accomplishment.
27 Informing Provides the information people need to know to do their jobs and to feel good about
being a member of the team, unit, and/or the organization; provides individuals
information so that they can make accurate decisions; is timely with information.
31 Interpersonal Relates well to all kinds of people– up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the
Savvy organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective
relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations
comfortably.
39 Organizing Can marshal resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; can
orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; uses resources
effectively and efficiently; arranges information and files in a useful manner.
42 Peer Can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of all; can
Relationships represent his/her own interests and yet be fair to other groups; can solve problems
with peers with a minimum of noise; is seen as a team player and is cooperative;
easily gains trust and support of peers; encourages collaboration; can be candid with
peers.
43 Perseverance Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; seldom gives up before
finishing, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks.
47 Planning Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and
goals; breaks down work into the process steps; develops schedules and task/people
assignments; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures
performance against goals; evaluates results.
61 Technical Picks up on technical things quickly; can learn new skills and knowledge; is good at
Learning learning new industry, company, product, or technical knowledge–like internet
technology; does well in technical courses and seminars.

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