Cagewasher and Cleaning Technician

LUNDQUIST INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION AT HARBOR-UCLA•Torrance, CA

19d•$18 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Cagewasher and Cleaning Technician maintains clean and sanitary animal care areas and processes animal cages and related equipment. The role operates cage washers and sterilizers, cleans and sanitizes animal rooms and equipment, disposes of facility waste, and processes clean caging and supplies according to approved procedures. It also includes recordkeeping, routine preventive maintenance and minor repairs, reporting abnormal conditions, and assisting with receiving, storing, and transporting supplies. The position requires adherence to standard operating procedures, safety requirements, quality assurance guidelines, and applicable regulations. The employee must be comfortable working around laboratory animals, use required personal protective equipment, and interact professionally with colleagues and visitors. The position is based at the Torrance Campus in Torrance, California, is listed as 40 hours per week, and may require overtime, early mornings, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

GED or high school diploma.
Experience operating cleaning and sanitizing equipment, such as rack washers, autoclaves, tunnel washers, and floor scrubbers.
Ability to operate mechanical equipment, including cage washers, autoclaves, and janitorial equipment.
Ability to read and write to maintain records and read instructions and labels.
Ability to understand and follow detailed oral and written instructions.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, make sound judgments, and work under pressure.
Professional and respectful interpersonal conduct; attention to detail is critical.
Ability to wear required personal protective clothing and equipment and work safely with chemical disinfectants and other laboratory animal facility conditions.
Ability to lift, push, or pull at least 50 pounds and maneuver large, cumbersome equipment.
Ability to sustain physical activity, including standing, bending, walking, stooping, and reaching; ability to stand, walk, or otherwise move about campus continuously.
Ability to ascend and descend stairs regularly.
Ability to tolerate a noisy, hot, humid cage wash environment, normal odors, airborne particulate matter, and unpleasant elements encountered in a laboratory animal facility.
Comfort working around laboratory animals.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
Position requires a background check and health clearance.
Application must be complete and signed; incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Responsibilities

Maintain animal care areas by cleaning ceilings, walls, and floors at prescribed intervals.
Clean HVAC louvers, grills, and ducts according to departmental procedures.
Operate cage washers and sterilizers to clean and sanitize cages, racks, trays, pans, and other animal equipment.
Wash and sterilize water bottles, sipper tubes, and stoppers.
Dispose of facility waste according to applicable standard operating procedures.
Process clean caging and accessory equipment appropriately.
Assist with sanitation and decontamination throughout the facility, including floors, walls, sinks, doors, and door frames.
Follow approved SOPs, safety procedures, and Quality Assurance guidelines.
Maintain detailed records of maintenance schedules, detergent and disinfectant use, and cage washer and autoclave performance tests.
Perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs on autoclaves and cage washers.
Report abnormal conditions in the animal facility or its immediate vicinity to supervisory staff.
Assist in receiving and storing materials, food, and supplies; transport caging supplies between animal rooms and cage wash rooms.
Use required precautions and personal protective equipment when working with chemicals, materials, animals, and power equipment.
Attend and participate productively in staff meetings and trainings as needed.
Maintain client confidentiality and interact courteously and professionally with contacts, faculty, students, staff, and visitors.
Organize and complete daily tasks with minimal supervision, use judgment to solve minor problems, and meet productivity and task-management standards.
Perform other duties and related responsibilities as assigned.
Work overtime when required by the needs of the Institute.