Maintenance & Repair Worker

The Division of Comparative Medicine serves as an advocate for all animals housed at University facilities and at University-affiliated hospitals or research institutes. Comparative Medicine implements and administers the AAALAC-accredited Animal Care and Use Program and provides veterinary oversight of animal health and well-being, guidance and assistance with veterinary medical and surgical techniques, services of disease surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, animal husbandry and nutrition, zoonosis control, hazard containment, and sanitation.  agnostic, behavioral testing, and transgenic laboratories.

This position contributes to Comparative Medicine, the university's program of thirteen integrated laboratories for research and teaching involving animals, and provides equipment and room sanitation and sterilization services. This position provides essential equipment and room decontamination, sanitation, and sterilization services involving hot water, detergents, acids, steam autoclaves, and vaporized hydrogen peroxide and documents the efficacy of such using polymerase chain reaction and other tests, thereby ensuring research data integrity, in accordance with federal regulations, and standard operating procedures, in support of research protocols funded by federal grant awards, and maintains records and logs of environmental conditions.

Duties and Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to: 

Performs tasks and activities associated with cage wash, autoclave, and vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator and accelerator operations in accordance with established standard operating procedures, and documents the efficacy of such. Maintains cage wash and associated areas in a clean, organized condition; cleans, sanitizes, and sterilizes caging and other equipment; maintains adequate inventories of clean caging and equipment; maintains inventories of chemicals, indicators, and supplies used in washing and sterilizing operations.

Assists with facility housekeeping tasks. Assists with minor repairs and facility upkeep. Receives deliveries and supplies. Maintains loading dock areas and entry areas in a clean and orderly condition. Removes trash.

Assists with following preventative maintenance schedule in performing routine servicing and minor repair of cage wash equipment. Troubleshoots equipment breakdowns and communicates with the Facility Manager and Maintenance Supervisor and vendors regarding findings. Maintains logs and records relating to equipment problems or failures, the corrective action taken, and the resolution. Assists with monitoring quality assurance of equipment and cage washing, and sterilizing processes.

Performs routine maintenance and minor repairs to caging and other animal-related equipment. Maintains and/or replaces casters, unpacks and assembles equipment, including racks, air handling units, changing stations, biosafety cabinets, anesthesia machines, and shelf units as required. Operates machinery including trucks, vans, equipment washers, sterilizers, generators, accelerators, and floor machines. Maintains equipment and caging in good working order.

Assists with the care and husbandry needs of numerous laboratory animal species following federal laws and principles, professional standards, and standard operating procedures. Assists technical staff with the movement of equipment, caging, and animals within and between multiple facility sites.

Operates trucks, vans, floor machines, washers, autoclaves, generators, accelerators, and assists technical staff with the preparation of caging for processing. Assists with monitoring quality assurance of equipment. Follows preventative maintenance schedules in performing routine services.

Performs other duties as required. Attends meetings, seminars, workshops, training sessions as related to their certification, continuing education, and professional development.

Minimum Qualifications

This position requires a ninth grade education and six months of appropriate work experience.  A valid Florida Driver's License may be required if motorized vehicles of any kind are operated.

Preferred Qualifications

HS diploma or GED. Six months experience working with large, mechanized equipment and/or working in a lab or hospital environment utilizing principles of sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization.

Additional Information for Applicants

This position requires a Level I background check. 

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers