Biological Safety Officer
About the role
Your Opportunity:
Are you a detail-oriented problem-solver with a passion for biological safety? Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is looking for a Biosafety Officer (BSO) to lead the implementation and oversight of its biosafety and biosecurity program and support health and safety in APL. In this Calgary Zone-based role, you'll support APL sites in the South Sector to ensure regulatory compliance, conduct risk assessments, deliver training, and lead incident response efforts. You'll work closely with your North Sector counterpart, the provincial APL Safety team, and stakeholders across the province to establish and promote a standardized approach to safety and biosafety across the organization. Your sound judgment, organizational skills, and ability to collaborate with diverse teams, virtually and in-person, make you a great fit. Your ability to inspire and build confidence in others and foster strong relationships enables you to confidently promote best practice and consensus-based decisions. Experience with Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) and occupational health and safety legislation is essential. The successful applicant will be located at the Diagnostic Scientific Centre in Calgary, Alberta and a hybrid work arrangement may be negotiable. Relocation assistance may be available with a Return of Service Agreement.
Description:
Reporting to the APL Safety Lead, the Biosafety Officer (BSO) is responsible for managing and maintaining APL's biosafety and biosecurity program. Key responsibilities include developing policies, implementing programs, and monitoring compliance. The BSO conducts various risk assessments—including overarching, biosecurity, local, and pathogen-specific—as well as internal and external inspections and audits. This role oversees biosafety and biosecurity-related training, supports health and safety training, assists with incident investigations, and prepares documentation and reports required by regulatory agencies. The BSO also serves as a liaison with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), containment zone personnel, environmental services staff, and contractors on biosafety matters. Additionally, the position supports continuous program improvement and provides preliminary occupational hygiene services, ergonomic assessments, fit testing, and other health and safety evaluations. The BSO also contributes to incident management and health and safety document control.
- Classification: Biological Safety Officer
- Union: LAB EXEMPT
- Unit and Program: APL Safety and APL Biosafety
- Primary Location: South Health Campus
- Location Details: Eligible to work hybrid (on/off site) within Alberta
- Employee Class: Regular Full Time
- FTE: 1.00
- Posting End Date: 05-DEC-2025
- Date Available: 15-DEC-2025
- Hours per Shift: 7.75
- Length of Shift in weeks: 2
- Shifts per cycle: 10
- Shift Pattern: Days
- Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
- Minimum Salary: $30.90
- Maximum Salary: $53.08
- Vehicle Requirement: Driver's License, Vehicle Required
Required Qualifications:
Completion of a two-year post-secondary program in safety, biological safety, microbiology or a related field. Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) or Technician (CRST) designation, or eligible to apply for certification with a commitment to complete requirements within three (3) years.
Additional Required Qualifications:
One (1) year of recent (within the last 5 years) experience working in microbiology, biosafety, biosecurity or a related field. Minimum one (1) year of recent (within the last 5 years) experience working in Occupational Health & Safety or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
Recent (in the last 5 years) experience with accreditation or inspections. Three (3) years' experience within the last five (5) working in a clinical laboratory setting, ideally in an organization of significant size, complexity, and diversity. Process Improvement Certification. (e.g. AIW Green Belt). Change Management certification (e.g. ProSCI). Project Management certification.
Please note:
All postings close at 23:59 MT of the posting end date indicated.
Security Screening:
A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with APL.
About Alberta Precision Labs
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alberta Health Services, delivering high-quality, responsive diagnostic lab services across our healthcare system.
Our team of more than 5,500 healthcare professionals have an unwavering commitment to protecting the health of Albertans while demonstrating our shared values of Kindness, Inclusion, Innovation, Agility and Accuracy.
Biological Safety Officer
About the role
Your Opportunity:
Are you a detail-oriented problem-solver with a passion for biological safety? Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is looking for a Biosafety Officer (BSO) to lead the implementation and oversight of its biosafety and biosecurity program and support health and safety in APL. In this Calgary Zone-based role, you'll support APL sites in the South Sector to ensure regulatory compliance, conduct risk assessments, deliver training, and lead incident response efforts. You'll work closely with your North Sector counterpart, the provincial APL Safety team, and stakeholders across the province to establish and promote a standardized approach to safety and biosafety across the organization. Your sound judgment, organizational skills, and ability to collaborate with diverse teams, virtually and in-person, make you a great fit. Your ability to inspire and build confidence in others and foster strong relationships enables you to confidently promote best practice and consensus-based decisions. Experience with Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) and occupational health and safety legislation is essential. The successful applicant will be located at the Diagnostic Scientific Centre in Calgary, Alberta and a hybrid work arrangement may be negotiable. Relocation assistance may be available with a Return of Service Agreement.
Description:
Reporting to the APL Safety Lead, the Biosafety Officer (BSO) is responsible for managing and maintaining APL's biosafety and biosecurity program. Key responsibilities include developing policies, implementing programs, and monitoring compliance. The BSO conducts various risk assessments—including overarching, biosecurity, local, and pathogen-specific—as well as internal and external inspections and audits. This role oversees biosafety and biosecurity-related training, supports health and safety training, assists with incident investigations, and prepares documentation and reports required by regulatory agencies. The BSO also serves as a liaison with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), containment zone personnel, environmental services staff, and contractors on biosafety matters. Additionally, the position supports continuous program improvement and provides preliminary occupational hygiene services, ergonomic assessments, fit testing, and other health and safety evaluations. The BSO also contributes to incident management and health and safety document control.
- Classification: Biological Safety Officer
- Union: LAB EXEMPT
- Unit and Program: APL Safety and APL Biosafety
- Primary Location: South Health Campus
- Location Details: Eligible to work hybrid (on/off site) within Alberta
- Employee Class: Regular Full Time
- FTE: 1.00
- Posting End Date: 05-DEC-2025
- Date Available: 15-DEC-2025
- Hours per Shift: 7.75
- Length of Shift in weeks: 2
- Shifts per cycle: 10
- Shift Pattern: Days
- Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
- Minimum Salary: $30.90
- Maximum Salary: $53.08
- Vehicle Requirement: Driver's License, Vehicle Required
Required Qualifications:
Completion of a two-year post-secondary program in safety, biological safety, microbiology or a related field. Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) or Technician (CRST) designation, or eligible to apply for certification with a commitment to complete requirements within three (3) years.
Additional Required Qualifications:
One (1) year of recent (within the last 5 years) experience working in microbiology, biosafety, biosecurity or a related field. Minimum one (1) year of recent (within the last 5 years) experience working in Occupational Health & Safety or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
Recent (in the last 5 years) experience with accreditation or inspections. Three (3) years' experience within the last five (5) working in a clinical laboratory setting, ideally in an organization of significant size, complexity, and diversity. Process Improvement Certification. (e.g. AIW Green Belt). Change Management certification (e.g. ProSCI). Project Management certification.
Please note:
All postings close at 23:59 MT of the posting end date indicated.
Security Screening:
A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with APL.
About Alberta Precision Labs
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alberta Health Services, delivering high-quality, responsive diagnostic lab services across our healthcare system.
Our team of more than 5,500 healthcare professionals have an unwavering commitment to protecting the health of Albertans while demonstrating our shared values of Kindness, Inclusion, Innovation, Agility and Accuracy.