Education Support Lab Technician

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.

 

The Lab Technician I position plays a key role within the Science Education Partnership’s (SEP) Kit Loan Program. SEP has a 30+ year history of providing professional development and educational materials/equipment to Washington State secondary science teachers and currently offers nearly 100 educational kits of 31 different types serving over 15,000 students across the state. The Lab Technician I will be responsible for the packing and restocking of these kits and supplies, lab reagent preparation, and administrative tasks in support of additional SEP programming.

 

This is a full-time on-site position that reports to the Lab Manager, SEP.

Kit and Materials Preparation:

• Pack, unpack, and inventory kit items
• Prepare reagents and maintain backup stocks
• Perform quality control tests 
• Troubleshoot existing lab protocols when needed
• Maintain lab cleanliness and organization

Data Entry:

• Perform data entry and kit tracking in Airtable databases
• Provide technical support for the SEP inventory system

Administrative Tasks:

• Contribute to the design and delivery of SEP’s external communications, including newsletter and social media
• Assist the SEP team with other administrative tasks (ex: data entry/collection, mailing etc.)

Curriculum and Education Support:

• In conjunction with the SEP team, develop new curriculum ideas and methods
• Draft student and teacher written resources
• Create new protocols and troubleshoot their effectiveness for classroom use
• Participate in delivering SEP’s educational programming for high school students
• Provide guidance and mentorship to high school students through SEP programs

Training and Supporting Kit Interns:

• Under the supervision of SEP staff, train new undergraduate or high school student interns

 

Additional Duties as required. Please note that this position requires lifting our kit crates on a regular basis. These crates weigh up to 50 lbs. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from High School or equivalent with interest in the sciences.
• Minimum of one year experience as a Laboratory Aide or equivalent experience or successful completion of the Shoreline/Fred Hutch Lab Tech Certificate Program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Highly organized with keen attention to detail
• Ability to follow directions and ask for clarification
• Punctual and reliable, with strong time management skills
• Comfort with performing routine mathematical calculations in preparation of lab reagents (e.g. concentrations) and understanding of orders of magnitude/ unit conversion
• Understanding of scientific practices and experimental design (including the role of controls)
• Troubleshooting skills
• Ability to communicate effectively, including strong writing skills
• Client/Customer service experience(strong customer service skills)
• Molecular biology lab experience (handling reagents, micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, PCR, bacterial transformation, etc.)
• College coursework in biology and chemistry with quantitative analytical skills
• Experience with inventory tracking
• Passion for science education

Applicants without a cover letter will not be considered for the position.

---

The hourly pay range for this position is from $21.78 to $31.01 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).

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.