Patient Transport Technician - Patient Ambassadors

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California San Diego is seeking a Patient Transport Technician to support patient care operations at La Jolla and float to East Campus and Hillcrest as needed. You will safely transport conscious to unconscious patients by wheelchair, gurney, or bed, assist with transfers, and help move equipment and records to keep patient throughput high.

The role requires teamwork, good communication, and adherence to safety protocols.

Qualifications

• BART or BLS/CPR certification at hire, with plan to obtain BART within 6 months.
• Standing, walking for long periods; ability to lift 50+ lbs and move beds/equipment.
• Willingness to work overtime and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients using wheelchairs, gurneys, and beds to various hospital areas.
• Assist with lifting, turning, repositioning and transfers with moderate to total assistance.
• Move equipment, records, and related items to support patient throughput and operations.
• Coordinate with Transport Call Center and departments to prioritize transports and maintain safety.

Skills

BART/CPR cert

Mobility required

Clear communication

Teamwork oriented

Job description

Payroll Title: PAT TRANSPORT TCHN 2

Department: Patient Ambassadors

Hiring Pay Scale: $26.66 - $33.15 / Hour

Worksite: La Jolla

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 80%

Union: EX Contract

Total Openings: 1

Work Schedule: 8-Hour Rotating Shifts, Sunday-Saturday

#141361 Patient Transport Technician - Patient Ambassadors

Filing Deadline: Mon 9/28/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 09/16/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

The Patient Transport Technician plays a critical role in supporting patient care operations and hospital throughput by providing safe, timely, and efficient transportation of patients throughout the facility. This position is responsible for transporting conscious, semi-conscious, and unconscious patients to and from nursing units, treatment areas, diagnostic imaging departments, procedural areas, and other care locations using wheelchairs, gurneys, and hospital beds.

Key responsibilities include assisting with patient lifting, turning, repositioning, and transfers for patients requiring moderate to total assistance while adhering to Safe Patient Handling standards and utilizing approved patient lift equipment. The technician is responsible for ensuring patients are transported safely, comfortably, and in accordance with established patient care and safety protocols.In addition to patient transportation, this role supports hospital operations by transporting medical equipment, oxygen cylinders, medical records, Video Swallow Chairs, imaging-related materials, and other items requested by nursing and ancillary departments. The position also manages the movement of empty beds, mattresses, and related equipment between nursing units and designated storage locations to support patient placement and bed availability needs.

This position requires close collaboration with the Transport Call Center, Nursing units, Imaging departments, and other hospital teams to prioritize transport assignments, improve workflow efficiency, and support patient throughput goals. The Patient Transport Technician is also responsible for identifying equipment issues and submitting service requests to Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering, and Facilities departments as needed to maintain operational readiness.

The primary location for these positions will be La Jolla but there will be a requirement to float to our East Campus and Hillcrest as needed.

Depending on experience of the selected candidate, this position will be hired at the Tech I or Tech II level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BART or BLS/CPR certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date.
• Six (6) months experience in a healthcare facility. (Must have worked 12 months as a UCSD Patient Escort or Patient Transport Tech I or have two (2) years’ experience of inpatient transport at an outside institution to be eligible for the Tech II level.)
• Must be able to stand and walk for long periods of time.
• Must be able to lift over 50 pounds and able to push/ pull a gurney or bed with patients weighing up to 300 pounds.
• Must be able to independently move an empty bed.
• Must be willing to work overtime weekends as needed to meet the business needs of the department.
• Continuously strives to meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Improves the quality of services provided.
• Follows performance standards.
• Uses time, supplies and other resources effectively.
• Helps maintain a clean, safe and quiet environment.
• Communicates with patients, family members, staff and visitors clearly, appropriately; keeps others informed of work.
• Attends to needs of patients, family members, other staff and visitors.
• Respects the dignity, privacy and cultural values of all individuals.
• Impresses patients, family members, staff and visitors with appearance and quality service.
• Nurtures patients, family members; recognizes excellence in other staff; speaks positively about organization.
• Gives of time, commitment, knowledge and skills to exceed expectations.
• Communicates truthfully.
• Accepts responsibility for one's own behavior and actions.
• Fulfills commitments in a timely and responsive manner.
• Seeks input on own behavior and acts on it.
• Actively seeks new knowledge, skills, ideas and practices.
• Continuously strives for improvement.
• Provides service so that problems are invisible to the customer.
• Encourages, coaches, teaches and mentors.
• Supports team, department and organization-wide decisions.
• Works effectively and equitably with others.
• Provides supportive and timely feedback to assist others in improving performance.
• Recognizes and celebrates accomplishments.
• Completes mandatory annual EOC (Environment of Care) training.
• Clearly demonstrates knowledge of code systems (Code Triage, Code Orange, etc) and what their role is during an activation.
• Completes annual safe patient handling course.
• Completes all required annual trainings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Six (6) months experience transporting patients in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or as an EMT.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Must be able to work various locations and hours (including overtime and weekends) based on business needs.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $55,666 - $69,217 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $26.66 - $33.15

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands‑on practice and in‑person skills assessment; online‑only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading‑edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace