WELCOME TO BASF
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.
#ForTheLoveOfFarming #TheBiggestJobOnEarth
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Key Responsabilities:
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
WHAT YOU OFFER
- 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.
WHAT WE OFFER
- 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.
HOW TO REACH US
If you need more information about the process or the vacancy, you can reach out recruiting team here.
ABOUT US
BASF is a multinational company dedicated to revolutionizing agricultural science. We are committed to developing innovative solutions that address global challenges in food security and sustainability.
Diversity is our greatest strength!
Become a part of our winning formula for success and develop the future with us - in a global team that embraces inclusion and equal opportunities irrespective of gender, age, origin, sexual orientation, disability or belief.
Our people are at the heart of everything, dedicated to delivering value for our customers every day.
By focusing on enabling our people today and in the future, we will ensure we have the talent and skills needed to succeed.
United by the love of farming, we innovate, collaborate, and strive for the best solutions together, creating connections and driving success as one team. This is how we make an impact. For the love of farming, the biggest job on Earth.