Sanitation Technician

Overview

The Sanitation Technician is responsible for the sanitation and sterilization of animal caging systems that are required to maintain a high-level rodent colony health program.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Responsibilities

• In accordance with manufacturer and department standard operating procedures, operates mechanical cage wash equipment, including automation, tunnel, rack, high pressure autoclaves, dry heat sterilizers, and automatic bedding dispensing units including the SureFlo (bedding removal system) and SureVac (vacuum system).
• Removes, receives, and dumps/scrapes soiled rodent cages and water bottles in preparation for washing.
• Handles, stores, and prepares clean materials that have been processed through cage wash equipment.
• Fills sanitized water bottles with reverse osmosis (RO) water from RO water filling stations when needed.
• Prepares clean cage set ups for animal care staff. Use of, cleaning, and maintenance of SureVac system as needed.
• Maintains chemical mixing stations including filling and preparation of chemicals. Provides animal care staff with clean forceps and containers to fill with properly mixed chemicals daily.
• Handles, dumps, removes and packages chemical or biohazard treated bedding and debris at the ABSL1, 2 levels and chemical hazard 1, 2 levels. Removal of carcasses and packaging weekly required.
• Maintains clean and orderly cage wash areas (clean and dirty sides). Performs routine sanitation of walls, ceilings, floors, cage wash equipment (stainless steel polish) and storage racks in both cage wash areas and sterile holding areas. Responsible for routine removal of recycling, soiled material, and trash to designated holding area and dumpster daily.
• Monitors environmental changes in cage wash areas and reporting deviations to ST II, Supervisor, or Manager. Responsible for immediately reporting mechanical problems to senior or lead sanitation technicians, Sanitation supervisor, and/or management whenever equipment is not working properly.
• Completes daily floor decontamination including use of electronic floor machine scrubber.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED preferred.

Minimum Experience:

None required, 1-year working in an accredited/ non-accredited laboratory animal facility and/or veterinarian technician program preferred. English reading, writing and computer skills are required.

License/Certification/Registration:

AALAS technician certification at the ALAT level is preferred but not required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Ability to perform all duties while strictly adhering to established SOPs.
• English verbal and written, cleaning, phone/PDA usage.
• Skilled at cleaning and following directions.
• Ability to work in an independent and organized manner, attention to detail, communicate effectively to management, taking direction, and learning new tasks.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) has strict guidelines regarding the presence of rodents in employees' homes due to the potential impact on research integrity and patient safety. Employees who work in certain roles, particularly those involving laboratory settings or animal research, must ensure their living environment does not pose a risk of contamination or interference with DFCI’s work. As a result, employees in designated positions are required to confirm that they do not have pet rodents at home or, if they do, agree to rehome them before starting employment. Failure to comply with this requirement may affect eligibility for employment in specific roles at DFCI.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.