Materials Handler I

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

2d•$42,000 - $43,000•Onsite

About The Position

The field of Laboratory Animal Management requires a specialized knowledge of the operations of a highly technical research environment. There are numerous laws, regulations and policies that must be adhered to, such as the Animal Welfare Regulations, PHS Policy, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and IACUC policies. In addition, the cage wash and dock areas have specialized equipment serving the facility. This position will report to the Operations Supervisor for the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources (OLAR). The individual is expected to complete daily work in the areas of the cage wash, docks, and auxiliary areas of OLAR run facilities as assigned by the Operations Supervisor or adjusted by the Operations Lead. This full-time University Staff (unclassified) Operations Technician I position provides routine and specialized support of operations for a wide variety of species of large and small laboratory animals, which are part of studies performed by scientists for biomedical research and education in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver | Anschutz). The Operations Technician I position will assist with the completion of duties in the auxiliary support areas, procedure rooms, and cage wash of all vivarium’s that are run by OLAR on the Anschutz Medical Campus. This position will work to perform stocking and inventory control of all personal protective equipment, general use supplies, laundry, caging, equipment, and cleaning supplies. This position will ensure appropriate trash removal from the facility. This position may be responsible for the removal, sorting, weighing, and preparation of carcasses for pick-up by the appropriate disposal vendor as directed by a lead or the supervisor. This position will work with co-workers on large facility projects throughout the facilities. This position may procure animal feed, bedding, and supplies from appropriate support areas and transport to required sites and may operate a university vehicle. This position will clean, sanitize, and autoclave animal cages and equipment/supplies and prepare such for distribution/reuse. This position may work with large washing units and may drain tanks, check and clean filters on index and rack washers and other equipment, clean/maintain conveyor systems or other mechanical equipment, as well as use chemical cleaning agents in their dilute and concentrated form as directed by a Lead or their Supervisor.

Requirements

One (1) year of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
Appropriate education or related experience will substitute for the required experience on a year for year basis.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Experience with e-mail, word processing, and entering data into a database.
Experience operating and maintaining complex machinery
This position requires the individual to perform physical work involving general tasks including hauling, lifting, and moving.
Must be willing and able to sit, stoop, kneel and balance on an occasional basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 100 lbs. on an occasional basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. on a frequent basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. on a constant basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to stand, walk, climb stairs, crouch and squat on a frequent basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to type/enter data on an occasional basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to bend and reach above shoulders on a constant basis, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to use peripheral vision, near and far vision and depth perception on a frequent basis.
Must be able to use hearing and verbal communication on a constant basis.
Must be willing and able to work around chemicals/solvents, infectious agents, radioactive agents, and work in hazardous conditions.
Must be willing and able to work around noise and vibrations.
Must be willing and able to walk on uneven surfaces and work in small, confined spaces.
Must be willing and able to operate moving equipment/vehicles and work around machinery.
Must be willing and able to wear appropriate respiratory and hearing protection.
Must be willing and able to euthanize rodents and work with dead animal carcasses.
Must possess and maintain a current, valid State of Colorado Driver’s License by the time of hire.
Must be willing and able to work straight or rotating shifts, weekends and holidays.
Must have ability to maintain activity logs
Subject to call 24 hours per day, seven days per week and required to answer calls 24/7 from university device or personal device.
Position may also be required to “Stay over late” or “Come in early” to “Cover” shifts, as needed and may be required to respond to any emergencies as needed.
If hired, you will be required to provide effective off-hours phone contact info for emergency call-in purposes.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to exchange and collect information and handle situations in a calm and professional manner.
Ability to communicate in written form.
Knowledge of different waste streams.
Ability to work in a team environment, prioritize, plan, organize, and multi-task assignments.

Responsibilities

Appropriately decontaminate all types of equipment belonging to OLAR or research staff per outlined procedure to include, but not limited to, Animal Transfer Stations (ATSs), animal housing rooms, procedure rooms, veterinary equipment (e.g. anesthesia machines, tattoo machines, etc.) and an assortment of equipment, some highly technical, used by research staff.
Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required for the work being conducted.
Receive and inspect goods including, but not limited to, animal diets, live animal deliveries, high dollar value equipment and supplies, disposable items and ensure that those goods are not expired and then are sanitized or decontaminated according to the appropriate methods prior to distribution or storage.
Perform data entry into the inventory system for all goods received. Assist with rotating stock items and monitoring expiration dates to ensure items are used prior to expiration or removed once expired with the goal of minimizing waste.
Use computers to enter data into spreadsheets, communicate by email, and participate in training. May use other electronic databases and tracking systems to log and communicate information.
Operate mechanical equipment use to clean and sanitize surfaces and equipment to include pallet jacks, 55-gallon lift-jacks, flatbeds, cage and rack washers, conveyors, foamers, floor scrubbers, floor buffers, autoclaves, small washers, robots, bedding disposal and supply, etc. to include responding to all alarms.
Prepares, dispenses, and utilizes hazardous chemicals and disinfectants according to manufacturers’ instructions in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting animal rooms, procedure rooms, racks, cages, pens, and animal support areas.
Safely work with hazards and understand departmental standard operating procedures to ensure a safe working environment.
Maintain equipment validation and monitoring logs to include biological indicators, temperature tapes, and sterigage logs.
Ensure appropriate sanitation of all work areas using the appropriate frequency, cleaning methods and materials.
Assist with logging and keeping accurate records for the facility’s pest control program.
Remove carcasses from refrigerators/freezers and ensure they are disposed of through the appropriate waste stream.
Ensure freezers/refrigerators are maintained and disinfected as scheduled.
May need to operate a university vehicle to transport supplies.
Operate cage washing and sterilizing equipment to include rack washers, index washers, robotic equipment, vacuum disposal, bedding dispensers, large bulk sterilizers, bedding dispenser.
Unload/load caging and equipment onto conveyors and into/out of rack washers and autoclaves following appropriate procedures to include disassembling and assembling equipment to ensure appropriate cage production and flow.
Monitor dust collectors for cage wash in the interstitial space.
Perform basic equipment repairs and preventive maintenance. Report equipment to the appropriate person that is broken, needs maintenance, or needs replacement.
Assemble large equipment to include carts, racks, cabinets, chairs, shelving, hoods, etc.
Handle hazards, animal waste, soiled bedding, chemicals, animal blood, and bodily materials.
Participate in all required trainings and meetings.
Perform all other duties as assigned.