Specimen Processing Services Specialist I - Pathology

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & vision insurance

Dental insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, WA, is seeking a Specimen Processing Services Specialist I within Pathology. The role involves processing specimens, preparing bone marrow smears, and maintaining equipment for on-site work.

The schedule runs Monday–Friday, 12:00 PM–8:30 PM at the Downtown South Lake Union Campus. The position emphasizes accurate data handling, lab procedures, and collaboration with technologists and supervisors to ensure quality and efficiency.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or the equivalent.
• Computer/keyboard proficiency
• Attention to detail
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone and in writing in a clear, concise, and professional manner

Responsibilities

• Receive, accession, and process various specimens according to protocol and in a timely manner
• Correctly identify testing location for specimens
• Perform tasks related to bone marrow aspirate smears, touch preps, and peripheral blood smears, including preparation, staining, and quality check
• Perform slide scanning tasks, including cleaning slides, loading slides on the scanner, importing data into a database, accurately labeling image files
• Monitor and maintain equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, centrifuges, and water baths
• Triage phone calls
• Load tissue processors and complete daily laboratory shut down activities
• Consult with technologists, supervisor and/or manager regarding problematic samples

Skills

Computer/keyboard proficiency

Attention to detail

Verbal and written communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Some college coursework in laboratory science

Washington state MA/Phlebotomist certification

Phlebotomy training completion

Tools

Laboratory information systems

Job description

Job Details

Job ID: 32133

Type: Regular Full-Time

Location: US-WA-Seattle

Category: Allied Health

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.

The Specimen Processing Services Specialist I - Pathology accessions specimens, prepares bone marrow aspirate smears, and prepares samples for delivery to offsite laboratories. Additional laboratory procedures and related tasks such as preparing specimens, performing calculations and routine tests; maintaining specimen inventory and databases; mixing chemicals; and operating and performing maintenance on laboratory equipment may be assigned.

The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday - 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Fully onsite at our Downtown South Lake Union Campus. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential functions of this job in order to carry out the primary responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Receive, accession, and process various specimens according to protocol and in a timely manner
• Correctly identify testing location for specimens
• Perform tasks related to bone marrow aspirate smears, touch preps, and peripheral blood smears, including preparation, staining, and quality check
• Perform slide scanning tasks, including cleaning slides, loading slides on the scanner, importing data into a database, accurately labeling image files.
• Perform laboratory procedures and related tasks such as preparing specimens, mixing chemicals, and operating and performing maintenance on laboratory equipment
• Monitor and maintain equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, centrifuges, and water baths
• Record variances of standard policies and procedures in Safety Net accurately and where required
• Triage phone calls
• Load tissue processors and complete daily laboratory shut down activities
• Consult with technologists, supervisor and/or manager regarding problematic samples
• May assist with laboratory projects

Qualifications

Required

• High school graduation or the equivalent.
• Computer/keyboard proficiency
• Attention to detail
• Ability to communicate verbally in person, on the phone and in writing in a clear, concise, and professional manner

Preferred

• Some College course work emphasizing laboratory science
• Preferred specimen handling and processing experience including accessioning
• Proficiency in laboratory information systems, answering phones/handling phone inquiries from patients and staff
• Washington state MA/Phlebotomist certification (or sponsored by Fred Hutch if competency assessment and training are completed)
• Completion of phlebotomy training course

The hourly pay range for this position is from $25.11 to $35.75 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday - 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Fully onsite at our Downtown South Lake Union Campus. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential functions of this job in order to carry out the primary responsibilities.

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.

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