Biorisk Management and Epidemiology Subject Matter Expert

The Biorisk Management (BRM) and Epidemiology (Epi) Subject Matter Expert (SME) is a member of the New Country Assessment (NCA) team, which is a part of the Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) team supporting Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Directorate, Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP).

Assessment of a new country follows the Department of Defense/Office of Secretary of Defense for Policy (DOD/OSDP) determination and authorization. It is a process involving open-source research, phone calls and meetings with United States Government (USG) and international partners for discovery and validation of information. These assessments gather information on the entirety of the capabilities of both human and animal health systems in an assigned country.

The NCA BRM and Epi SME serves as a subject matter expert responsible for identifying and analyzing the biosafety and biosecurity capabilities as well as epidemiological reporting, communications, and surveillance systems of countries in assessment. This position is directly responsible for conducting assessments of all assigned countries in cooperation with all other subject matter experts on the assessment team, and development of all deliverables for the assessments.

The successful applicant will be able to identify and analyze documents related to BRM practices, regulatory frameworks, and legislation, complete thorough open resource- and interviews-based research and develop and brief PowerPoint presentations on findings. The candidate will have a varied biorisk management skillset with expertise in the following areas: laboratory and field biosafety and biosecurity, biological risk assessment; working knowledge of the Laboratory Biosafety Manuel (LBM) and Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL); microbiology; BRM equipment, procedures, and administrative controls; Centers for Disease Control/United States Department of Agriculture (CDC/USDA) Biological Select Agents and Toxins; BRM training; safe and secure laboratory design; and comprehensive insight to selecting activity-appropriate biorisk mitigation features for procedures involving the use, transfer, and/or storage of human and animal pathogens.

Additionally, the successful applicant will be able to identify and analyze documents related to epidemiological reporting, communications, and surveillance systems, complete thorough open resource- and interviews-based research and develop and brief PowerPoint presentations on findings. The candidate will have prior experience and training in infectious disease epidemiology and/or public health.

Duties: 

• Serve as the BRM and epidemiology expert on the NCA Team. Share BRM and epidemiology expertise and assist other teams and individual staff, as needed.
• Conduct thorough research, analyze, and synthesize information on overall potential prospective partner country capacities as they relate to BTRP mission by researching BRM topics, epidemiological reporting, communications, and surveillance systems as well as other adjacent, relevant domains (e.g. One Health).
• Organize data in the presentation decks, Data Collection Forms (DCFs), and other documents, as required by the NCA process.
• Follow format, style, and other client deliverable requirements; maintain consistency.
• Analyze and document information received during interviews; incorporate new information into deliverables.
• Maintain awareness of the assessment schedules, meet deadlines. Anticipate and share issues related to potential schedule delays, recommend solutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s Degree (MPH, MS) or higher in relevant fields such as epidemiology, infectious disease, global health, or health security, microbiology, molecular biology or related fields.
• 10+ years of relevant experience which must include time spent in biological laboratory settings and strong familiarity with BRM programs, techniques, and approaches.
• Knowledge of assessing biological risks and selecting risk-mitigating controls. Working knowledge of and experience with different biosafety levels, high-containment laboratories, dual use equipment, and dual use research of concern (DURC).
• Working knowledge of the WHO LBM, 4th Ed., and the United Sates CDC BMBL, 6th Ed.
• Experience in infectious disease surveillance, infectious disease epidemiology, global health, and One Health.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• Demonstrated ability to develop white papers and presentations for briefings.
• Ability to work collaboratively (supporting teamwork) as well as independently (completing one’s tasks/deliverables).
• Strong attention to detail, excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Secret clearance or Ability to obtain Secret clearance prior to start date 

• Ph.D. Degree in biohazardous threat agents, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, infectious disease epidemiology, or related fields.
• Familiarity with ISO35001:2019
• Experience working with international partners, in low to middle income countries’ health settings, or with the US government on health security.
• Strong knowledge of pathogens on the United States CDC/USDA Biological Select Agents and Toxins List.

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI, and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us

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At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits page on our Careers site.

Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package.

Noblis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race (as well as because of or on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Noblis is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Noblis will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact employee-relations@noblis.org.