Blood Center Technician I

Stanford Health Care•Palo Alto, CA

10d

About The Position

As a Blood Center Technician at Stanford Blood Center, you will work directly with blood donors as part of a Collections team of nurses and fellow technicians. The role combines hands-on donor care with donor-facing service. Collections operate across four donation sites—Campbell, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Dublin—and mobile blood drives throughout the Bay Area. Technicians rotate among the sites and mobile drives according to a schedule published well in advance. Mobile-drive teams travel from a donation center to the drive location in a team van, and all team members rotate driving; willingness to be trained to drive a 10-passenger van is required. Shifts are eight-hour daytime shifts, with start times ranging from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., depending on the assigned schedule. Weekends rotate, and consecutive days off are not guaranteed. The position requires flexibility for rotating daily and weekly schedules, including evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. Approximately three months of training is provided and fully paid. Employees are expected to attend consistently, engage fully, and develop into contributing team members. Working under minimal supervision and following standard operating procedures, the technician supports donor relations and care; assesses donor suitability for whole blood, apheresis, community, and research donations and samples; performs whole blood venipunctures and research bi-product collection; treats donor reactions; and supports fixed-site and mobile operations. The role also includes driving Stanford Blood Center vehicles to transport employees, volunteers, equipment, supplies, and blood products. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, fluent oral and written English, and upon-hire Basic Life Support certification and a valid in-state California driver's license. The listed starting pay scale is generally $31.72–$40.44 per hour. The employer also describes strong promotion opportunities and excellent benefits.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Fluent in oral and written English, with the ability to communicate and articulate information clearly.
Demonstrated punctuality and good attendance.
Flexibility to work rotating daily and weekly schedules, including evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Ability to adjust easily to unplanned situations.
Organizational skills, critical-thinking skills, and attention to detail.
Ability to comprehend and remain current on medical terminology, policies, procedures, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Ability to understand and remain current on written and oral communications and work schedule parameters.
Ability to work effectively with diverse groups, maintain professional relationships and boundaries, and interact with civility.
Strong customer-service and interpersonal skills, including an empathetic approach to coworkers and customers.
Ability to work independently or as part of a team, use initiative, and work with minimal supervision.
Ability to attend required Stanford Blood Center and department meetings, in-services, and continuing education opportunities.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification upon hire.
Valid, in-state California driver's license upon hire.
Willingness to be trained to drive a 10-passenger van.
Ability to meet the physical demands described, including constant walking, standing, hand use, repetitive hand motion, pushing and pulling, and lifting.

Responsibilities

Greet donors and assist them with paperwork.
Identify requirements for particular donation types and determine donor suitability, including physical assessment, medical history, and mobile registration.
Provide information to donors within defined limits.
Prepare equipment and donors for blood draws; perform venipunctures; collect, label, and store donations.
Perform research bi-product collection and treat donor reactions.
Maintain complete and accurate donor files and other documentation.
Clean equipment and perform quality assurance checks.
Order, restock, and maintain supplies; keep work areas tidy and clean; ensure samples are documented correctly and ready for delivery to the lab.
Consult the charge nurse as appropriate.
Perform opening, closing, setup, and breakdown for fixed-site and mobile operations.
Serve as a float and drive Stanford Blood Center vehicles to transport employees, volunteers, equipment, supplies, and blood products.
Maintain knowledge of applicable Stanford Blood Center procedures and protocols, and participate in staff meetings, in-services, and continuing education.
Work with donors and colleagues in a professional, empathetic, civil, and customer-focused manner.