Cage Wash Tech-Laboratory Animal Care Unit

UT Health Sciences; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

UT Health Sciences in Memphis, TN is seeking a Cage Wash Technician to operate and maintain cage washing systems and support a centralized animal care facility. The role supports biomedical research through proper sanitation and equipment maintenance.

The position involves loading and unloading cages, performing washing cycles, and ensuring sanitation standards are met. It may require weekend or evening work and physical endurance in a lab setting.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 6 months of work‑related experience with animals, sanitization, or operating machinery desirable.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform physical duties.

Responsibilities

• Receives soiled caging, performs pre-cleaning, and disassembles cages for loading into automated cage washing machines as directed by supervisor and SOPs.
• Loads cages into automated washing machines per SOPs.
• Operates cage washing machines and assesses sanitation effectiveness.
• Performs preventive maintenance, startup, and shutdown of equipment per SOPs.
• Prepares and fills orders for processed cages and equipment with input from animal care technicians and supervisors.
• Maintains records of cage washing sanitation effectiveness as per SOPs.
• Assesses cage washing and cage processing equipment for proper operation daily.
• Performs manual cage washing and sanitation as directed by supervisor.
• Removes clean cages, adds bedding, and re-assembles cages as directed by supervisor per SOPs.
• Works weekends/evenings as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Physical stamina

Manual dexterity

Disinfectant handling

Protective gear usage

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary/Essential Job Functions

Cage Wash Technician will operate and maintain the program’s cage washing and cage/rack systems. This position exists to provide key important and required job functions as a member of a specific work team that supports a large complex, integrated, and centralized laboratory animal resource program in an academic health science center campus. The program that this position supports requires a diverse team of technicians, supervisors, managers, and professionals who collectively operate a complex research facility that houses, maintains, cares for, and supports live animals for use in biomedical research.

Job Description

Market Range: 04

Hiring Salary: $18.00/Hourly

Job Summary/Essential Job Functions

Cage Wash Technician will operate and maintain the program’s cage washing and cage/rack systems. This position exists to provide key important and required job functions as a member of a specific work team that supports a large complex, integrated, and centralized laboratory animal resource program in an academic health science center campus. The program that this position supports requires a diverse team of technicians, supervisors, managers, and professionals who collectively operate a complex research facility that houses, maintains, cares for, and supports live animals for use in biomedical research.

Responsibilities

• Receives soiled caging into cage wash area, performs pre-cleaning of caging, and disassembles cages as necessary to prepare for loading into automated cage washing machines as directed by supervisor and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Empties soiled bedding and waste from soiled cages and disposes of soiled bedding in accordance with instructions from supervisor and standard operating procedures.
• Loads caging into automated cage washing machines in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs cage washing through operation of automated cage washing machines in accordance with standard operating procedures and as directed by supervisor.
• Assesses sanitation and effectiveness of cage washing and sanitizing processes in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs preventive maintenance, start up, and shut down of equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Prepares and fills orders for processed cages and equipment for specific work areas with input from animal care technicians and supervisors,
• Loads bulk bedding into automated bedding dispenser.
• Maintains records of cage washing machines sanitation effectiveness in accordance with standard operating procedure.
• Assesses cage washing and cage processing equipment for proper operation daily.
• Performs manual cage washing and sanitation as directed by supervisor.
• Removes clean cages from automated cage washing equipment, adds bedding, and re-assembles cages as directed by supervisor and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education

High School Diploma or GED. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

Experience

Six (6) months of work-related experience with animals, sanitization, or operating machinery is desirable.

Working Conditions

Ability to lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to follow written and verbal directions with attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and supervisor.
• Ability to perform physical duties, which may include standing, pushing, pulling and lifting, pushing or pulling loaded bulk trucks and racks.
• Ability to withstand extensive exposure to disagreeable elements such as elevated temperatures, high humidity, dust, and excessive noise; possess manual dexterity skills to assemble and disassemble cages, load caging into automated washing machines, and re-assemble cleaned cages.
• Ability and willingness to use disinfecting and sterilizing chemical agents.
• Ability and willingness to wear the protective gear provided by the department.

Work Schedule

This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.