Shared Resources Specialist I -TRMS

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

A Shared Resources Specialist - I Translational Research Model Services (TRMS), Comparative Medicine, is responsible for supporting scientific needs of researchers at Fred Hutch using animal models. This role involves assisting scientific researchers through performing standard technical procedures and data collection for animal studies. The Specialist I will also support maintenance of stock rodent colonies and colonies for Fred Hutch labs. This is an entry level position within the Shared Resources division with substantial room for growth.

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, all employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to our values of collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity, and respect.

Primary/Essential Duties:

Research Support: This role:

Involves research support that is mainly SOP-directed, ensuring the Specialist develops a strong understanding of the fundamental science and animal care performed in Comparative Medicine.
• Performs in vivo work as assigned including procedures such as injections and other substance administration procedures, blood draw techniques, in vivo imaging, health observations and other biological data collections.
• Will learn and perform new technical skills as new projects are developed.

Research development: This position will:

• Be expected to establish and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with faculty and external users to identify scientific needs.

Colony and Equipment Oversight: This role will:

• Perform basic equipment operation and maintenance.
• Learn to use relevant software.
• Maintain various CM and principal investigator-owned mouse colonies.
• Assist in supply management.

Training and Education: This role will:

• Assist in developing SOPs, training materials, and guidelines for investigator use of imaging and other experimental equipment.
• Learn to train users in performing animal observations, selection and setting up of breeder groups, sexing and weaning offspring, genotyping and identification methods and assist with experimental setup.
• May supervise work-study students, interns and lab aids.

Administrative Tasks: Tasks for this role include:

• Diligently maintain breeding records and production metrics for researcher colonies and CM stock mouse production colonies.
• Reporting or delivering results to users.
• Accurately documenting laboratory activities.
• Performing basic billing requirements.

Regulatory and Compliance: This position must develop:

• A comprehensive understanding of IACUC protocols covering work performed by TRMS, with strict adherence to compliance and confirmation of approved activities.
• Communicate feedback to supervisor on suggestions for amendments needed on protocols.
• Participate in biohazard training and reading of IBC protocols as applicable to study assignments.

Other:

• Other duties as assigned.

This position is classified as essential personnel and, as such, is required to work with minimal number of absences and during all Fred Hutch closures except in the event of a major disaster when access to animal housing and use facilities is prohibited by governmental emergency personnel.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Level of autonomy:
  • A Shared Resources Specialist I- TRMS will communicate day-to-day needs of the facility to their manager(s).
  • This position has no responsibility for supervision of others.
  • There is high oversight and training from the resource director and senior staff and partial interfacing with resource users.
• Financial responsibility:
• • This role does not have direct financial responsibility but will assist in billing and review of charge codes as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in the field of Education Biology or related field
  • OR Associates Degree and 1+ years of experience,
  • OR GED/High School Diploma and 3+ years of experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• AALAS certification at the ALAT or higher level is recommended, and persons hired for this position should continue to pursue this certification as soon as possible once eligible, until achieved
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems and techniques including advanced technical procedures in rodents
• Basic rodent handling and procedural skills
• Basic understanding of laboratory rodent housing, radiation safety, biohazard containment, rodent pathogens, and risk reduction measures
• Excellent communication skills and organizational skills
• Ability to work in a collaborative team-oriented environment
• Experience with MS Office suite of applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Sharepoint, Teams, One Drive, etc;
• Record keeping and database management
• Experience with performing sterile procedures to avoid contamination of test and control articles, test systems, and/or other animal-based aspects of the experimental design
• Experience with rodent colony maintenance

The hourly pay range for this position is from $29.19 to $41.56 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 6 months).