Biosafety Officer
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain biosafety policies and standard operating procedures
- Review research and laboratory activities for biological risk
- Lead biosafety risk assessments and recommend controls
- Deliver biosafety training and track completion
- Conduct lab inspections and document findings
- Investigate incidents and near misses and implement corrective actions
- Oversee safe handling, storage, transport, and disposal of biological materials
- Support occupational health coordination for staff working with biological agents
- Maintain records for audits and regulatory reporting
- Serve as a point of contact for biosafety questions from researchers and leadership
Top Skills for Success
Risk Assessment
Safety Program Management
Incident Investigation
Training Development
Lab Inspection
Regulatory Compliance
Documentation
Stakeholder Communication
Change Management
Biological Hazard Knowledge
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Senior Biosafety Officer
Biosafety Program Manager
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Laboratory Safety Manager
Compliance Manager
Transition Opportunities
Environmental Health and Safety Director
Risk Manager
Quality Assurance Manager
Research Compliance Officer
Occupational Health and Safety Manager
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Formal Risk Assessment MethodsIncident Root Cause AnalysisAudit ReadinessTraining FacilitationProgram Metrics
Development SuggestionsBuild repeatable templates for risk assessments and inspections, practice incident investigations using clear timelines and evidence, and create a simple reporting dashboard for training, inspections, and corrective actions. Seek supervised exposure to audit preparation and present findings to non technical leaders.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 60,000 to 80,000
Mid LevelUSD 80,000 to 110,000
Senior LevelUSD 110,000 to 150,000
Growth Trend
Steady growth, driven by expansion in life sciences research, biomanufacturing, and stronger safety and compliance expectations.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Research universitiesAcademic medical centersPublic health laboratoriesBiotechnology companiesPharmaceutical companiesContract research organizationsVaccine manufacturersGovernment agencies
Industry Sectors
Higher educationHealthcareBiotechnologyPharmaceuticalsPublic healthBiomanufacturingGovernment
Recommended Next Steps
1
Create a portfolio with a sample risk assessment, inspection checklist, and corrective action plan2
Take training in biosafety fundamentals and laboratory safety auditing3
Shadow an experienced biosafety professional during inspections and protocol reviews4
Volunteer to update a biosafety training module and deliver it to a small group5
Set up a simple tracking system for inspections, incidents, and corrective actions6
Network with local biosafety associations and attend chapter meetings