Apheresis Specialist (Leukopaks)

Job Description:

Joining The American Red Cross is like nothing else - it's as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world's largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better.

When you choose to be a force for good, you'll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life's work with an ongoing mission that's bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you're cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work.

Where Your Career is a Force for Good!

Job Summary:

Provide clinical apheresis procedures in American Red Cross facilities. These procedures include Leukopaks and whole blood collections and may include after-hours, weekends, and holidays.

Demonstrate excellence in customer service and public relations to promote a positive professional image of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services. Works independently with attention to detail and possesses the necessary knowledge of all aspects of daily operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform all phases of apheresis procedures and whole blood collections ensuring safe and appropriate care of the donor.
• Report donor status relative to apheresis, before and during procedures, including blood test results.
• Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with all ARC departmental and organizational standard operating procedures, policies, practices, and regulations.
• Explain, procedures to donors and obtain consent to perform the procedure.
• Represent the American Red Cross to the community and internal customers by establishing and promoting a positive organizational and professional image.
• Complete necessary training and demonstrate competency to perform each job function.
• Assemble, restock, perform quality control, and maintain supplies and equipment in a state of readiness to keep a clean, safe, and efficient work environment.
• If appropriate, American Red Cross vehicles should be operated in compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Standard Schedule: Variable 1st shift. Looking for staff interested in working weekends and we can negotiate the 2 days off during the weekdays and some evenings. However, training will be Monday- Friday until sign-off.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of one year of Phlebotomy experience is required.
• Current CPR certification.
• Good vein selection and venipuncture skills are essential.
• A current valid driver's license and a good driving record are required.
• Good verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively discuss procedures and medical issues with patients, families, and physicians.
• Previous apheresis or dialysis experience is preferred.
• Experience in medical nursing is a plus.
• Customer service experience, effective verbal communication, and public relations skills are preferred.

What is Leukopaks:

Leukapheresis is the collection of leukocytes - also known as white blood cells or immune cells. A donor reclines in a chair and blood is drawn through a vein in one arm. An apheresis machine removes white blood cells from the superfluous biofluids, separates them based on density, and collects them in a collection bag known as a leukopak. The remaining red blood cells and platelets are then returned to the same donor through a vein in their other arm. (The white blood cells that have been removed will be replaced quickly.) The white blood cells collected are frequently referred to as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and contain B cells, T cells, stem/progenitor cells, and dendritic cells. Leukapheresis allows for a concentrated, pure method to obtain PBMCs from a single individual donor.

Leukopaks are used when many PBMCs are needed from an individual donor, such as drug screening (immuno-oncology and non-oncology), cell therapy (research and development), and gene therapy. Sourcing healthy donor PBMCs allows for the use of single donor cell populations with greater viability and less inter- and intra-assay variability, as well as to development of well-characterized methods of production for autologous therapies (cell therapies where a patient's cells are modified for treatment). For these cell therapy developments, large numbers of PBMCs sourced from a single donor are important for creating relevant biological assays, as well as for quality control testing. In these cases, healthy donors are matched to patients in terms of demographic criteria, such as age and gender, and physiological criteria like HLA type, which can provide valuable insights into the progress of the patient's autologous cell therapy.

Physical Requirements

The duties are representative of the essential functions of the position. Operational flexibility is required to meet sudden and unpredictable needs. Required to wear protective clothing such as lab coats, gloves, face shields, etc. when there is exposure to blood and blood products and/or where work location requires. Ability to use a wide variety of lab or medical equipment. Ability to use a personal computer and applicable software for sustained periods.

Apply now! Joining our team will provide you with the opportunity to make a difference every day by delivering lifesaving treatments and be on the forefront of cancer research!

BENEFITS FOR YOU:

As a mission-based organization, we believe our team needs great support to do great work. Our comprehensive package includes:

• Medical, Dental Vision plans
• Health Spending Accounts & Flexible Spending Accounts
• PTO: Starting at 15 days a year; based on type of job and tenure
• Holidays: 11 paid holidays comprised of six core holidays and five floating holidays
• 401K with up to 6% match
• Paid Family Leave
• Employee Assistance
• Disability and Insurance: Short + Long Term
• Service Awards and recognition

Commitment to Your Health & Safety-COVID-19:
The American Red Cross requires all new hires be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This means that all individuals working for the organization must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of their employment OR have begun the vaccination process prior to their start date. Upon being offered a position, individuals will be required to submit proof of vaccination. If you are unable to be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons, you may qualify for an exemption. If seeking an exemption, you will be required to submit documentation and your request must be approved prior to hire.

The American Red Cross is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, San Diego Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and any other applicable state and local laws.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency that brings people together through service, and its partners - the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps Alums, National Peace Corps Association, and the Service Year Alliance - launched Employers of National Service to connect national service alumni with opportunities in the workforce.American Red Cross is proud to be an EONS partner and share our employment opportunities with the network of organizations.

Interested in Volunteering? Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including our most-needed volunteer positions.

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