Temporary Operations Technician

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Department: OLAR

Job Title:  Temporary Operations Technician

Position #: 00734714  – Requisition #: 32808

Job Summary: This full-time University Staff (unclassified) Operations Technician I position provides routine and specialized care and 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 vivariums 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.

Examples of Work Performed:

• 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 (eg. 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 emails, 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 manufacturer’s 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. 

This description is a summary only and is describing the general level of work being performed, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change from time to time and/or based on business need. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.

Diversity and Equity: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Anticipated Pay Range: The hiring rate (or budgeted rate) for this position has been established at $19.72/hour.  The above salary rate represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate at the time of posting.

Temporary employees are only eligible for sick leave benefits.  For additional information on University benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at Employee Services .

ADA Statement: The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected] ​.

Background Check Statement: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement: CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases . If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program .

          Minimum Qualifications:

The tasks performed do not require any specific previous education or experience. However, mechanical aptitude and a willingness to learn are required. This class requires the individual to perform physical work involving general tasks including hauling, lifting, and moving.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

            Conditions of Employment:

• 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

  NOTE: This position has been designated as essential personnel, “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.

         P referred Qualifications:

• 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 the written form.
• Computer skills that includes experience with e-mail, word processing, and entering data into a database.
• Experience operating and maintaining complex machinery
• Knowledge of different waste streams.
• Ability to work in a team environment, prioritize, plan, organize, and multi-task assignments