Operational Biosafety and Chemical Safety Specialist

Location

Zwijnaarde

Working hours

Full-time

Contract Type

Permanent

Working area

R&D

Join the team

The Operational Biosafety & Chemical Safety Specialist is responsible for ensuring that biosafety and chemical safety requirements arising from Belgian legislation, LTO permits, European regulations, and BASF standards are effectively implemented across the BASF sites.

The position provides dedicated operational support for laboratory, greenhouse and research activities involving biological and chemical materials, ensuring that all activities remain compliant, audit-ready and authorized to operate.

A primary objective of this role is safeguarding the site’s biosafety permit compliance while simultaneously ensuring robust chemical safety governance through the effective management of chemical inventories, hazard communication, regulatory compliance and operational risk controls.

Failure to adequately execute these responsibilities may result in permit non-compliance, regulatory findings, safety incidents, operational restrictions, interruption of research activities and increased business risk.

Responsibilities

1. Biosafety Compliance & Permit Management

Maintain continuous compliance with Belgian biosafety legislation and LTO permit conditions.
Monitor implementation of biosafety requirements across laboratories and greenhouse facilities.
Support preparation and maintenance of documentation required to sustain permits and authorizations.
Identify and address compliance gaps related to biological activities.
Act as operational subject matter expert during inspections and audits.
Maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with regulatory obligations and permit requirements.

2. Chemical Safety & Regulatory Oversight

Ensure effective management and oversight of chemical safety across research and operational facilities.
Maintain the integrity of LabCup as the central source of information for chemical products on site.
Monitor approximately 1,600 chemical registrations representing nearly 900 unique products, ensuring the accuracy of hazard classifications, SDS documentation, storage locations and lifecycle information.
Identify, investigate and resolve discrepancies between Safety Data Sheets and locally available information.
Ensure compliance with applicable GHS, CLP, REACH and SDS requirements.
Monitor and implement changes in product classifications, hazard information and regulatory requirements.
Support chemical product substitutions, lifecycle management and Management of Change (MOC) processes.

3. Operational Safety Oversight

Conduct routine inspections of laboratories, greenhouses, storage facilities and operational workspaces.
Verify compliance with biosafety and chemical safety requirements.
Assess storage conditions, containment measures, inventory management and expiry status of materials.
Review operational practices and identify opportunities for risk reduction and continuous improvement.
Support risk assessments related to biological and chemical materials.
Promote practical implementation of safety requirements at the workplace.

4. Governance, Documentation & Inventory Control

Maintain biosafety procedures, work instructions and records.
Ensure biosafety and chemical safety documentation remains current and inspection-ready.
Oversee biological and chemical inventory management systems and ensure data quality.
Coordinate administration and operation of the Belgian Biosafety Committee.
Maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with legal, regulatory and corporate requirements.

5. Training, Awareness & Culture

Develop and deliver biosafety and chemical safety training.
Ensure employees receive appropriate instruction before working with biological or chemical materials.
Maintain training records and competency tracking systems.
Promote a strong safety culture through coaching, awareness initiatives and field engagement.
Act as a trusted advisor for operational teams, researchers and managers.

6. Audit, Inspection and CAPA Management

Coordinate internal inspections, compliance reviews and self-assessments.
Support regulatory inspections and external audits.
Investigate incidents, deviations and non-conformances related to biosafety or chemical safety.
Develop, implement and monitor corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
Track closure of findings, recommendations and compliance actions.

7. Operational Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Provide day-to-day guidance to researchers, laboratories, greenhouse teams and operational stakeholders.
Support incident response activities involving biological or chemical materials.
Collaborate with EHS, Facilities, Regulatory Affairs, laboratory management and site leadership.
Support implementation of new projects, new technologies and new products from a biosafety and chemical safety perspective.
Strengthen the integration between biosafety and chemical safety management systems.

Key Stakeholders

Colleagues working with biological and chemical materials
Laboratory Scientists and Managers
Greenhouse Operations
Site EHS Organization
Regulatory Affairs / Global Biosafety
Site Leadership Team
Belgian Biosafety Committee
Facilities and Operational Support Teams

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Life Sciences, Chemistry or related scientific discipline.
Experience in regulated laboratory, biotechnology, life science, chemical or research environments.
Experience in compliance, EHS, biosafety, chemical safety, quality systems or operational governance.
Experience supporting audits, inspections or regulatory interactions is an advantage.
Strong knowledge of biological and/or chemical hazards.
Understanding of GHS, CLP, REACH, SDS and biosafety regulatory requirements.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
Excellent organizational and analytical capabilities.
High attention to detail combined with a practical and pragmatic mindset.
Ability to influence and drive compliance across multidisciplinary teams.
Training, coaching and facilitation skills.

Benefits

A permanent contract within an attractive working environment in a professional and motivated team.
Interesting and challenging learning and development opportunities to help you make the most of your talents and your job.
An attractive base salary in relation to your diploma and competencies, an annual bonus and extra-legal benefits.
Jobgrade: 4.

Come join us in bringing the lab to the field

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. We invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2023, our division generated sales of €10.1 billion.

For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

Application process

1. Application

You found the job you like on our website. Time to hit that ‘apply’-button and let us know who you are through the application form.

2. First encounter

We are intrigued by your application and call you immediately. At this point you can expect questions like: What motivates you? And what are your skills?

3. Interview

The call went great! So here you are, ready for your interview with HR and a hiring manager. We want to know more of your story and of course, you can ask about our story as well.

4. Contract

Welcome to our team. When can you start? So we can everything ready for your first day. You know, computer, paperwork, cake, balloons …

5. Onboarding

We welcome you with open arms and get you up and running. Including our eye-opening bootscamp, from the lab to the field.