Animal Equipment Preparer

Fred Hutch; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical / vision

Dental

Flexible spending accounts

Life

Disability

Retirement

Family life support

Employee assistance program

Onsite health clinic

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation (12-22 days per year)

Paid sick leave (12-25 days per year)

Paid holidays (13 days per year)

Paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks)

Job summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle seeks an Animal Equipment Preparer to support animal housing equipment handling, sterilization, and daily operations. You will gain hands-on skills under supervision while ensuring cleanliness and regulatory compliance.

The role emphasizes dependable teamwork, attention to detail, and adherence to safety procedures. A high school diploma or GED is required, with preference for related experience. Competitive hourly pay and strong benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment including scrubs, gloves, shoe covers, gowns, ear plugs / muffs, face mask, and eye protection.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Learn to and become proficient in preparing items for the equipment washers, including removal of soiled bedding, sorting of items into similar batches, soaking designated items and scrubbing items that are especially soiled.
• Be proficient at preparing orders of freshly prepared animal caging and rodent drinking water for the animal technicians.
• Sterilize all equipment, materials, and liquids necessary for animal husbandry and veterinary care.
• Learn and operate all facility equipment per manufacturer specs and ensure no residual contamination.
• Notify Supervisor of any malfunctioning machinery or damaged equipment.
• Prepare acidification solution for water filing stations under supervision.
• Support autoclave operations and daily cleaning.
• Maintain departmental logbooks and documentation.
• Perform housekeeping duties in animal housing areas and surrounding premises.
• Prepare and provide special equipment orders and assist in SOP validation.
• Biosecure disposal of research specimens and support mammal husbandry.

Skills

Attention to detail

Independent and team work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

Animal Equipment Preparer processes the facilities’ soiled animal housing equipment and prepare for use. Focus will be on gaining skills. The incumbent works following established procedures in performing daily responsibilities. This position is under close supervision with no responsibility for supervision others. Incumbent is expected to acquire skills and knowledge to perform more advanced work through training. Uses limited discretion and judgement in carrying out tasks.

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, all employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to our values of collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity, and respect.

Responsibilities

Housing Equipment Preparation

• Learn to and become proficient in preparing items for the equipment washers, including removal of soiled bedding, sorting of items into similar batches, soaking designated items and scrubbing items that are especially soiled.
• Be proficient at preparing orders of freshly prepared animal caging and rodent drinking water for the animal technicians.
• Sterilize all equipment, materials, and liquids necessary for animal husbandry and veterinary care.

Equipment Operations

• Learn and operate all facility equipment (e.g., tunnel and rackwashers, bottle decapper, dry heat sterilizers, autoclaves, garb-el, water bottle filling stations) per manufacturer specs.
• Learn to and become proficient at ensuring that clean equipment has been processed correctly and shows no sign of residual waste material or other types of contamination.
• Be proficient at notifying the Supervisor of any malfunctioning machinery or damaged equipment.
• Be proficient in preparing the acidification solution for the water filing stations under supervision.
• Supporting autoclave operations, including sterility assurance testing and daily cleaning.
• Maintaining departmental logbooks (e.g., breakage, maintenance).

Sanitation Operations

• Learn to and become proficient in performing housekeeping duties such as sweeping, mopping, garbage removal, and equipment washing in animal housing areas and surrounding premises.
• Learn and become proficient in appropriate sanitation procedures and collection of materials for quality testing.

Research Support

• Learn to and become proficient at preparing and providing special equipment orders.
• Know appropriate regulatory and safety regulations surrounding biomedical research.
• Assisting in validation of SOPs and procedure documentation.
• Biosecure disposal of research specimens in accordance with regulations.
• Support husbandry of research mammals and aquatics.

Training And Education

• Understand CM process documents and policies and training materials.

Administrative Tasks

• Accurate and timely documentation in logbooks according to process documents and policies.
• Use of basic tools such as Microsoft Office and mobile devices for tracking and communication.

Regulatory and Compliance

• Performs duties in accordance with departmental safety procedures and institutional regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position is classified as essential personnel and, as such, is required to work with minimal number of absences and during all Center closures except in the event of a major disaster when access to animal housing and use facilities is prohibited by governmental emergency personnel.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment including scrubs, gloves, shoe covers, gowns, ear plugs / muffs, face mask, and eye protection.

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• One year of experience, preferred in janitorial, production line, or animal husbandry.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and techniques. Attention to detail.
• Ability to obtain an Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Certification with the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) within first year of employment.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $21.30 to $30.13 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Benefits

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security.

• Medical / vision
• Dental
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life
• Disability
• Retirement
• Family life support
• Employee assistance program
• Onsite health clinic
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid vacation (12-22 days per year)
• Paid sick leave (12-25 days per year)
• Paid holidays (13 days per year)
• Paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks)

Additional Information

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class.

We desire priority referrals of protected veterans.

If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at [e-mail] or by calling 206-667-4700.