Founded in 1987 by the late David Packard, MBARI is a nonprofit oceanographic research center advancing marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Located in Moss Landing, California, the heart of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, MBARI offers ready access to the open ocean and deep sea. Ongoing research programs range across autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicle systems, control technologies, ocean physics, chemistry, geology, biology, ocean instrumentation, and information management. MBARI hosts approximately 200 employees, with shore facilities that include state-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories, manufacturing and electrical fabrication shops, and dock facilities for MBARI vessels.

MBARI has a position open for an onsite part-time Chemical Safety Officer. The job of the Chemical Safety Officer (CSO) primarily consists of two phases: (1) chemical & safety instruction and (2) hazardous material collection and proper disposal.

Primary responsibilities:

• Conduct safety orientation for new employees. Perform periodic safety rounds and inspections to ensure proper chemical segregation, labeling, fume hood and personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and to ensure safety equipment and egresses are unobstructed.
• Provide safety training for the proper use of cryogenics (liquid nitrogen and dry ice), familiarize all personnel with the appropriate techniques for the handling the cryogenics via hands on instruction, and to evaluate them regarding their readiness for access to these materials.
• Oversight of the specimen storage room including communication with staff regarding the maintenance of their samples, coordination of staff access to the room to include air monitoring, and coordination of disposal for any specimens which are no longer required.
• While the principal investigator retains ultimate responsibility for safety in each lab, the CSO will provide information and support as needed. This includes but is not limited to helping the PI or lab technicians obtain the required material safety data sheets for all chemicals used in the lab, assist with the proper storage and handling of the materials, and arrange for the necessary containers for collecting and disposing of hazardous waste.
• Assist all PIs, shop supervisors and ship crew with any questions they may have regarding chemical safety.
• Assist the HR and Safety Assistant as needed with the preparation of the annual chemical use reports for the Monterey County Health Department and Monterey Bay Air Resources District.
• Serve as a member of the Emergency Response Team and assist with any and all matters pertaining to the chemical safety.
• Serve as a resource for all MBARI personnel regarding any chemical use questions and how to prepare for chemical and battery emergencies.
• Perform all the duties associated with ensuring for the proper collection of hazardous waste and appropriate segregation of hazardous waste, including but not limited to all chemicals, materials, and lithium batteries and lithium primary batteries.
• Maintain the hazardous waste bunker in a safe and efficient manner:
• Be on “standby” to assist with various hazardous waste emergencies including but not limited to spills, lab accidents, flooded battery cases and lithium battery thermal run-aways.

Qualifications:

• Must have a Master’s in Chemistry or equivalent scientific discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Must have previous experience working in science labs.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills are required.
• Must be able to work with diverse groups of people.
• Experience working in an oceanographic institute is a plus.