Central Services Technician I

Job Summary

We are looking for a Central Services Technician I (Rodent Facility) to join our Insourcing Solutions team located in San Diego, CA.

In the CST I role, you will provide cleaning and maintenance of laboratory animal caging, equipment and cage preparation areas as well as cleaning of animal support areas under supervision. 

Additional responsibilities include:

• Remove soiled bedding, prepare caging for cagewash under supervision and sanitize caging and related equipment using cage washers, pressure washer or hand washing as required. 
• Monitor and record results of cagewash water temperature and cleaning results using provided supplies such as temperature dots/strips, cultures. 
• Ensure that all logbooks, checklists and other records are completed in a timely fashion. 
• Flush all animal racks, prepare clean cages for use, and ensure the correct times are selected and are used for each cagewash load. 
• Ensure proper amounts of chemicals are present and report any chemical needs. 
• Operate the Super Tube washer in accordance with SOP's, maintain equipment used and report any mechanical failures promptly to the supervisor. 
• Perform animal husbandry duties including but not limited to preparation and actual changing of cages and related cage accessories, feeding, and manual watering or monitoring/testing automatic watering devices.   
• Assist with housekeeping duties such as trash collection and cleaning animal facility laboratories, offices and ancillary areas. 
• May also perform microbiological sampling in accordance with SOP's and perform other job related duties as assigned. 

Job Qualifications

The following are minimum requirements related to the Central Services Technician I position: 

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) required and a minimum of zero – six (0-6) months working in a laboratory animal facility performing cage wash duties or working with glassware cleaning or a commecial dishwashing operation or operating large equipment.

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - 22.50 USD per hour.  Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of industrial equipment operation safety
• Working knowledge of federal, state, local (Animal Welfare) laws, departmental SOPs and regulations pertaining to Good Laboratory Animal Practices.
• Initiative for solving minor problems.
• Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Fundamental knowledge of computer applications (Microsoft Word, Excel and Email)
• Must be able to represent Laboratory Animal Services department in a professional manner.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and work/type at a computer. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, climb, reach overhead, crouch, kneel, push/pull, and use hands for repetitive tasks.
• Employees must be able to lift, move, and/or hold up to 50 pounds independently; this includes equipment and animals.

Work Environment

• General office and research laboratory working conditions, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, although hearing protection is required while working directly in the cage wash area.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee will be required to wear protective clothing (safety glasses, face shield, mask, cap, gloves, and scrubs), work near toxic or caustic chemicals, work with biohazards, and/or work with live animals with risk of exposure to allergens and/or zoonotic diseases. The employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, unpleasant odors, and/or wet, humid, and/or extreme temperature conditions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to laboratory animal caging of various species and may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, biohazard materials and risk of electrical shock.