Specimen Management Technician - UVA Cancer Care Pantops

Help make timely cancer treatment possible through accurate, dependable specimen management at UVA Cancer Care Pantops. In this essential outpatient laboratory role, your work provides the clinical team with the information needed to make time-sensitive decisions, including whether a patient can proceed with chemotherapy.

Join a close-knit oncology team where technical skills can be taught and your reliability, compassion, and willingness to learn are valued. You will receive a structured orientation while developing practical laboratory and Epic skills in a collaborative weekday environment.

The Role

As a Specimen Management Technician, you will support laboratory operations serving UVA Cancer Care Pantops and the Breast Center. Although patient interaction may be limited, your work remains closely connected to each patient's cancer-care journey. By processing specimens accurately and efficiently, you help nurses and providers keep care moving at a critical point in treatment.

A typical day includes receiving specimens collected by the nursing team, processing applicable laboratory work, and entering specimen information and results into Epic. Each area may process approximately 50 labs per day, requiring strong attention to detail, steady workflow management, and open communication with your teammates.

In this role, you will:

• Receive, manage, and process specimens within the outpatient oncology laboratory.

• Run applicable laboratory work and accurately document information in Epic and the electronic medical record.

• Complete time-sensitive tasks that support chemotherapy and other treatment decisions.

• Prepare specimens that cannot be processed locally for send-out testing.

• Coordinate courier pickup for specimens traveling to the main hospital or core laboratory.

• Work collaboratively with another team member to maintain smooth coverage throughout the day.

• Provide lunch and break coverage while helping the team manage daily specimen volume.

• Follow laboratory safety, equipment, and quality-control procedures.

• Progress toward independently managing assigned specimens after completing an approximately six- to eight-week orientation.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who brings a strong work ethic, dependability, compassion, and enthusiasm for learning. Extensive laboratory experience is not necessary to make an impact. The team is prepared to teach the technical workflow and help you develop confidence in the role.

The position offers a weekday day-shift schedule, generally within operating hours of approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. Depending on team coverage, scheduling may include five eight-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts, with some flexibility in start and end times and scheduled days off. No on-call requirement is anticipated.

Why UVA Health

At UVA Health, laboratory professionals are vital partners in delivering coordinated, evidence-based care. This position offers the opportunity to build technical healthcare skills within an academic health system while supporting patients receiving complex oncology care.

You will join a small, collaborative laboratory team that values communication, shared responsibility, and mutual support. Team members coordinate coverage, help one another manage the daily workload, and contribute to a positive working environment.

What makes this opportunity stand out:

• Meaningful oncology impact: Accurate, timely specimen processing helps the clinical team determine whether patients can move forward with treatment.

• Structured training: A six- to eight-week orientation supports your development in specimen-management procedures, Epic workflows, and daily laboratory operations.

• Career-building experience: This role can serve as a strong entry point into healthcare and laboratory services, with opportunities to build transferable clinical-support skills.

• Support for continued learning: The department encourages professional growth, including exploration of UVA Health's Earn While You Learn pathways.

• Work-life balance: Enjoy a Monday-through-Friday outpatient schedule, flexible shift options, no anticipated on-call requirement, and multiple ambulatory holiday closures.

• Supportive team culture: Work alongside colleagues who value dependability, collaboration, compassion, and shared accountability.

• Convenient work location: Employees have access to free parking directly in front of the building at the Pantops location.

• A culture of longevity: The department offers an established oncology environment where team members can develop meaningful careers and lasting professional relationships.

This is a chance to learn a specialized healthcare workflow while contributing to care that matters every day. If you are ready to bring precision, reliability, and compassion to an oncology team, UVA Health offers a supportive place to begin or strengthen your healthcare career.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers a welcoming combination of natural beauty, culture, community, and everyday convenience. Healthcare professionals can enjoy easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, local trails, historic destinations, live music, and a nationally recognized food and beverage scene. The area provides the energy of a university community while maintaining the accessibility and connection of a smaller city, making it an appealing place to build a career, establish roots, and enjoy life outside of work.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent

Experience: No experience required

Licensure: None required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires sitting, standing for prolonged periods, frequently traveling, and reaching (overhead, extensive, repetitive); Repetitive motion: computer data entry. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 20 - 50lbs. May be exposed to fumes, chemicals, heat, cold, noise, blood/body fluids and infectious disease.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Retirement Savings
• Long-term and Short-term Disability
• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Certification and Education Support

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as "High Performing" in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children's is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.