Manager, Safety, Health and Environment, KBI 3 at The Kenya BioVax Institute

Vacancy No.: KBI/05/02/2025

Job Purpose:

• The Manager of Safety, Health, and Environmental Management will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive program to ensure the safety of employees, protect the environment, and maintain compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations such as WHO GMP and the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (Cap 387).
• Ensure compliance to biosafety and biosecurity measures within the organisation, by promoting a culture of safety awareness and proactive risk mitigation across all departments.
• This role will be required to create linkages and coordinate knowledge transfer of Safety, Health, Environment, Social Safeguards and Biosafety/Biosecurity standards/processes/procedures in accordance with national, regional and international requirements.

Requirements:

• At least thirteen (13) years’ experience in the relevant field, three (3) years of which must have been in a Supervisory position in the Public Service or Private Sector.
• Master’s degree in any of the following fields; Biomedical Sciences, Health sciences, Public Health, Medical laboratory sciences, Environmental Safety, Occupational Safety and Health or any relevant Health Sciences or its equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution.
• Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields: Biomedical Sciences, Health sciences, Public Health, Medical laboratory sciences, Environmental Safety, Occupational Safety and Health or any relevant Health Sciences or equivalent qualifications from a recognized Institution.
• Demonstrated merit and ability in managerial, administrative, and professional competence in work performance and results.
• Leadership course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.
• Membership to a relevant professional body.
• Must have demonstrated merit and ability as reflected in work performance and results.
• Meet the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution.

Job Specification

Key Competencies and skills:

• Knowledge of health, safety, social safeguards, biosafety, biosecurity and environmental management requirements.
• Understanding of conducting site audits.
• Strong managerial, organisational and decision-making skills.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.
• Strategic, Analytical and conceptual skills.
• Ability to form and maintain partnerships and collaborations.
• Negotiation, influencing and conflict management skills.
• Supervisory, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Integrity.
• Results-driven.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervising all aspects of biological waste from laboratories and clinics, and ensuring the effective execution of the waste management plan from transportation, handling and disposal.
• Formulating and execution of a strategic plan to enhance the Institute’s Biological Specimen Repository processes, working closely with IT specialists and senior laboratory management to drive improvements.
• Reviewing all SHE, Biosafety and Biosecurity documentation for regulatory submissions, compliance reviews, and internal reports.
• Developing and testing of contingency plans for Safety Health and Environment and Biosafety and Biosecurity incidents.
• Overseeing development of emergency management and response plans while assessing potential vulnerabilities and risks in the Institute in collaboration with relevant functional areas.
• Evaluating the Institutional compliance with Environmental, Health and Safety Laws and Biosafety and Biosecurity laws and regulations and recommend changes and new strategies for continuous improvement.
• Oversee the implementation of all Institutional matters of SHE, Biosafety/Biosecurity in key areas such as Laboratories, biobanks etc. for compliance with regulatory requirements and report to the General Manager.
• Overseeing the development of the Institute’s bio-risk assessment procedures and activities across Production and Research departments, scientific proposals, projects, and integrated biosciences to identify, control, and manage hazards effectively.
• Ensuring implementation of audit report on third party contractor requirement to meet Corporate SHE, Biosafety and Biosecurity policy and procedures.
• Planning and coordinating all new study/project sample storage requests in close liaison with researchers.
• Preparing and implementing internal SHE, Biosafety, and Biosecurity audit schedules.
• Overseeing environmental safety, biosafety, and biosecurity drills and prepare a report for submission to the General Manager.
• Ensuring inspection servicing, verification, of all safety equipment is conducted.
• Organizing Safety, Health, Environment (SHE) and Biosafety/Biosecurity training, workshops and seminars for capacity building, sharing of research information and networking.
• Identifying and secure funding to support the Safety Management and Risk Framework, and provide strategic advice on effective solutions for biobanking.
• Leading the development of research proposals and review manuscripts and proposals to ensure they meet institute regulations.
• Reviewing all Board papers generated by the Division, for accuracy, relevance, and presentation to the General Manager.
• Implementing Board’s strategies, decisions and policies as communicated by the General Manager.
• Scheduling and facilitating all Divisional meetings at a minimum quarterly.
• Setting corporate targets and goals for SHE, Biosafety and Biosecurity performance improvement.
• Identifying, initiating, and maintaining collaboration and partnership to build and strengthen Safety, Health, Environment (SHE) and Biosafety/Biosecurity activities involving compliance management.
• Controlling, managing and executing biosafety & biosecurity procurement plan.
• Initiating and overseeing income generating activities in line with institute mandate.