Head of Biorisk and Compliance

Location: The Francis Crick Institute, Midland Road, London

About us 

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

To learn more about the Crick, click here.

About the role  

As our Head of Biorisk & Compliance, you will be a trusted advisor and leader, shaping the Institute's approach to biorisk management, regulatory compliance and assurance. You will lead specialist teams, provide independent oversight, and work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of safety and compliance are maintained. 

What you will be doing  

You will: 

Health and Safety, and Biorisk Oversight and Assurance

• Own systems and processes to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation, including SAPO, GM (Contained Use) and COSHH across containment levels 2–4
• Assure the effectiveness of risk assessment processes, governance arrangements and control frameworks for complex biological work

Regulatory Compliance and Engagement

• Lead regulatory engagement from an assurance and compliance perspective
• Oversee governance, tracking and close‑out of actions arising from external audits and inspections

Monitoring, Audit and Performance Reporting

• Own the maintenance and operation of assurance frameworks, including audits, inspections and performance monitoring
• Analyse and evaluate audit and inspection data to identify systemic weaknesses and emerging risk

Leadership, Capability and Culture

• Lead, coach and develop the biorisk and compliance health and safety team.
• Build effective positive working relationships and collaboration within and across the H&S team and ensure consistent communications to all stakeholders 

Please see full job description here 

About you  

You will bring 

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Strong background in Health and Safety management, including compliance and assurance activities, in line with the ‘Check’ element of HSG65 Managing for Health and Safety. *
• Extensive senior experience in biological safety and regulatory compliance within complex research environments. *
• Experience managing specialist safety teams with multiple internal and external stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of SAPO, GM regulations, containment principles and biological safety legislation. *
• Proven experience delivering assurance, audit or regulatory oversight functions. *
• Credibility with regulators, senior leaders and scientific communities. 

Minimum criteria* 

About Working at the Crick

Our values  

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. 
• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. 
• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community. 

At the Crick, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. If you need assistance with your application, please contact karen.au@crick.ac.uk

To read more about our EDI approach, click here.  

What will you receive?  

We value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development. You can find out more about what we offer here.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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