The posting
About Arc Institute
Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.
Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.
Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:
- Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
- Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.
More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.
About the position
As Biosafety Manager, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, supporting, administering, and managing Arc's Biosafety Program. As an experienced biosafety specialist, you will combine biosafety subject-matter expertise with the ability to independently address a broad range of difficult problems.
About you
- You thrive on building and translating regulations and risk assessments into a robust, consistent, and administratively user-friendly Biosafety Program for Arc.
- You are genuinely curious about our science and driven by a desire to understand our research on a deeper level.
- You are excited to build programs and foster cross-functional partnerships, helping to strengthen our community and support our mission.
In this position you will
- Establish and lead the Arc Biosafety Program and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) operations to ensure seamless oversight of biological agent usage.
- Serve as subject matter expert on biological safety for Arc's researchers, representing Arc to local, state, and federal authorities on biosafety matters; provide input to regulators on the development and revision of regulations.
- Act as primary point of contact for IBC protocol review: assess all research protocols involving biohazards or potentially biohazardous materials, provide pre-review guidance to researchers, and manage approvals and renewals to keep documentation aligned with regulatory requirements.
- Validate ongoing biosafety program compliance through site inspections and follow-up on biological use authorizations.
- Advise on biosafety requirements for proposed research, work, and facilities; provide technical guidance on permitting and shipping of biological materials and material transfer agreements (MTAs).
- Design, deliver, and evaluate biosafety training, including employee onboarding, and keep the biosafety manual and related materials current with practice and regulation.
- Participate on relevant committees (e.g., IACUC) as an EH&S/biosafety resource.
- Maintain on-call availability to respond to emergencies (e.g., spills), directing or performing field response as needed.
In addition to core biosafety duties, this role provides support and serves as backup coverage across Arc’s general EH&S program, including:
- Serve as one of two EH&S leaders at Arc, providing shared safety leadership and subject matter expertise aligned with Arc Institute’s operating principles, and advising the administrative team on safety and compliance for specific projects and operations.
- Help maintain EH&S programs, procedures, and tracking systems (chemical inventories, SDS, near-miss reporting, permits) in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and lend expertise to programs such as the Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, chemical safety, radiation safety, and controlled substances.Support delivery of EH&S employee safety and onboarding training, with a focus on efficiency and engagement.
- Contribute to environmental compliance, including the industrial wastewater discharge permit, hazardous waste requirements, and regulatory permitting; serve as backup for regulated hazardous waste programs and vendor contracting, and as backup point of contact for regulatory and certifying agencies.
- Participate in risk assessments, safety audits, inspections, and walkthroughs across Arc’s labs to identify chemical, physical, biological, and radiological hazards; help remediate them and recommend continuous improvements.
- Investigate accidents, incidents, injuries, and complaints concerning potential hazards or unsafe conditions to determine root causes and preventive measures.
- Help coordinate procurement and maintenance of safety equipment and supply inventory, and respond to emergency situations involving hazardous materials.
Requirements
- 5+ years of laboratory experience, including 3+ years in Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and Biosafety with a strong grounding in virology or microbiological sciences.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, biology, microbiology, occupational safety and health, or a related field; Master's degree or PhD preferred.
- Expert knowledge of biosafety and laboratory safety practices, including biosafety cabinet operation, fume hoods and ventilation, PPE, and chemical safety and storage.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects efficiently and accurately.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize resources, positively influence group behaviors, and work with associates to gain consensus on safety best practices.
- Advanced written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; able to work both independently, with minimal oversight, and as part of a dynamic team, with a positive attitude, a strong sense of urgency, and a bias toward action.
- Interest in learning new techniques, keeping accurate records, following instructions, and complying with company policies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in a biological, life science, or related field.
- Certification as a Biosafety Professional (CBSP), Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Knowledge and experience in Animal Research Occupational Health and Safety.
- Experience in research with laboratory animals involving biohazardous or hazardous material.
The base salary range for this position is $127,000 to $157,000. These amounts reflect the range of base salary that the Institute reasonably would expect to pay a new hire or internal candidate for this position. The actual base compensation paid to any individual for this position may vary depending on factors such as experience, market conditions, education/training, skill level, and whether the compensation is internally equitable, and does not include bonuses, commissions, differential pay, other forms of compensation, or benefits. This position is also eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus, with the amount dependent on individual and institute performance factors.
In addition to the Base Salary and Annual Bonus above, you will be eligible to participate in the Institute’s Compound Cash Grant Program (the “CCGP”). The CCGP is a program designed to offer multi-year cash grants providing for a fixed dollar amount paid out in semi-annual installments to reward employees for staying and contributing to the Institute. As soon as reasonably practical after your start date, you will receive a grant letter describing the terms of your award under the CCGP.
