Animal Care/Cage Wash Technician I

National Jewish Health; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

National Jewish Health is seeking a dependable Animal Care Technician I to join the Biological Resource Center. The role supports research operations by maintaining clean, sanitized and compliant animal housing environments.

The ideal candidate enjoys hands-on work and works well in a team. The position emphasizes daily cage sanitation, safe operation of cage wash equipment, and maintaining records to ensure regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent required.
• AALAS ALAT certification preferred. Experience with animals in a research setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs cleaning, sanitation and preparation of animal caging and accessories.
• Operates cage wash equipment, autoclaves, mechanical washers and related machinery.
• Completes daily facility and department sanitation activities.
• Maintains quality control records and supports regulatory compliance requirements.
• Prepares clean, sterilized caging and supplies for daily facility operations.
• Follows traffic flow patterns to eliminate cross contamination and maintains storage areas.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Initiative

Collaboration/Teamwork

Accountability

Managing Work and Time

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

National Jewish Health is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Animal Care Technician I to join the Biological Resource Center (BRC). This role plays an important part in supporting research operations by maintaining clean, sanitized and compliant animal housing environments. The ideal candidate enjoys hands-on work, takes pride in maintaining high standards and works well as part of a team.

Key Responsibilities

• Performs cleaning, sanitation and preparation of animal caging and accessories
• Operates cage wash equipment, autoclaves, mechanical washers and related machinery
• Completes daily facility and department sanitation activities
• Maintains quality control records and supports regulatory compliance requirements
• Prepares clean, sterilized caging and supplies for daily facility operations

National Jewish Health is the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, recognized for excellence in patient care, research and education. As part of the Biological Resource Center team, the Animal Care Technician I helps support the research environment by ensuring equipment, caging and facility areas are maintained according to established standards and procedures. This role offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative setting that supports scientific research and discovery.

Position Summary

Performs daily cage sanitation and sterilization tasks including facility sanitations required to keep animals housed in the Biological Resource Center (BRC) within regulatory compliance and department SOPs. Working as a team to deliver product for facility use on a daily basis.

Essential Duties

• Performs cleaning, sanitation and preparation of clean and soiled caging and accessories in a timely manner in both the clean and dirty cage wash areas.
• Performs safe operation of cage wash machinery including autoclaves, mechanical washers and bedding dispenser, and various equipment within the facility.
• Performs daily maintenance requirements of cage wash equipment and notify supervisor of any equipment malfunctions.
• Performs area and department sanitations.
• Maintains quality control records for cage wash and assigned areas.
• Prepares clean, sterilized caging for facility use each day for the following day.

Other Duties

• Follows and understands traffic flow patterns for department and area to eliminate cross contamination. Receive and store incoming cage wash supplies; maintain clean and orderly storage room(s).

Competencies

• Attention to Detail: Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over a period of time. Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.
• Initiative: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive. Responds quickly; takes independent action, goes above and beyond.
• Managing Work and Time/Project Management: Effectively managing one’s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently. Effectively manages projects by appropriately focusing attention on the critical few priorities; effectively creates and executes against project timeline based on priorities, resource availability, and other project requirements; effectively evaluates planned approaches, determines feasibility, and makes adjustments when needed. Prioritizes; Makes preparation, schedules, leverages resources, stays focused, communicates time frames, and gathers appropriated information.
• Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health.
• Collaboration/Teamwork: Cooperates with others to accomplish common goals, works with employees within and across his/her department to achieve shared goals; treats others with dignity and respect and maintains a friendly demeanor; values the contributions of others

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

None

Travel

None

Core Values

• Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
• Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
• Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
• Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
• Promotes a workplace culture based on mutual respect and merit, where all individuals are treated fairly and provided with equal opportunity to contribute to the mission and goals of the institution.
• Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures.
• Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school graduate or equivalent required.
• Work Experience: Prior work experience and AALAS certification at the ALAT level is preferred. Experience working with animals in an animal research setting preferred.
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Salary Range: $19.26 - $23.79

Benefits

At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset. With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Multiple Cigna health plans for Colorado, regional office and remote employees. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) available to pair with some plans.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO accruals to use for vacation and sick days, and six paid holidays, all compliant with Colorado state sick leave regulations.
• Dental & Vision Plans: Coverage effective the first of the month after hire.
• Retirement Savings: 403(b) plan with employer contributions after two years.
• Wellness Incentives: Earn up to $200 annually for preventive health activities.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 annually for full-time and part-time employees.
• Child Care Assistance: Childcare Flex Spending Account (FSA) with annual employer contribution.
• Loan Forgiveness: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Disability & Life Insurance: Employer-paid plans and optional buy-up choices.
• Voluntary Benefits: Full suite of coverage options such as Accident, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Plan
• Exclusive Discounts: Savings on local services, insurance, and RTD bus passes.