The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. It was named the nation's No. 1 hospital for cancer care in U.S. News World Report's 2019 rankings. It is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.

The MD Anderson Cord Blood Bank Program creates a lifesaving product from something that was once considered medical waste. Umbilical cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. This blood contains stem cells, which can be used to treat patients with many life-threatening diseases, including cancer. As a public cord blood bank, collectors collect voluntary donations from mothers at several Houston-area hospitals. Collecting cord blood poses no danger to either the mother or the baby. Our inventory is available to transplant facilities worldwide for patients who require stem cell transplantation.

The primary purpose of the Cord Blood Bank Collector position is to educate and recruit potential donor mothers to the public cord blood donation program, perform informed consent, collect relevant behavioral and medical history information, facilitate collection of the cord blood and peripheral blood samples and ensure blood products are prepared and packaged for transport to the processing laboratory. This role also has responsibility for quality control of supplies and reagents necessary for performing the cord blood collection activities.

This will be a full-time position working an overnight shift (with possible weekends). Training will occur during daytime hours for the first two months and then move to permanent overnight shift placement.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Communication, Education, Recruitment and Donor Suitability

Promote, educate and recruit potential donor mothers: through explanation of the cord blood donation program to expectant mothers and participation in hospital programs directed towards pregnant mothers:

Perform initial screen to identify suitable potential cord blood donor mothers

Explain the donation program.

Obtain informed consent from all potential cord blood donor mothers for the collection, testing and use of the cord blood.

Evaluate donors for suitability to donate infant's cord blood

Interview donor mothers to obtain answers to a standard questionnaire designed to elicit behavioral risk factors, medical and travel history information of the donor mother and infant's immediate family.

Communication and with potential donor mothers/families, hospital staff and team members

Participate in the education of hospital staff

Train obstetricians in the in-utero collection technique, including retraining as required, and monitoring of competency on an annual basis.

Must have excellent verbal communication skills

Product, Samples and Records Management

Responsible for the collection of cord blood and maternal blood samples using aseptic techniques

Collect cord blood ex-utero in the dedicated collection room

Assist and/or prepare the supplies for the obstetricians performing in-utero collections

Collect and/or facilitate drawing of maternal blood samples

Prepare the cord blood donations, maternal samples and paperwork for transportation to the Cord Blood Bank on pre-arranged schedule

Utilize various computer systems and databases to enter data and complete donor mother and donor infant records.

Review hospital charts.

Must have good organizational skills

Must pay attention to detail.

Must have good writing skills.

Quality Control

Perform procedures and maintain accurate documentation in compliance with current Good Laboratory Practice, current Good Manufacturing Practice and current Good Tissue Practice regulations and applicable accreditation agency standards, including but not limited to FACT-NetCord, CAP and CLIA

Participate in the daily functions of the CBB collection room, including data and records management, inventory management, ordering and logging of supplies an reagents, cleaning, temperature monitoring, ancillary office and administrative functions.

Responsible for the quality control and documentation of all equipment, reagents and supplies that are used for cord blood collection.

Document deviations and events; notify technical and quality management personnel in timely manner and assist in the investigation of the cause and any required corrective action.

EDUCATION

Required: Bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE

Required: None. May substitute required education degree with additional years of equivalent experience on a one to one basis.

Preferred: Experience in a patient care environment. The ideal candidate will be available to attend training during day time hours for the first two months and then move to a permanent placement on the overnight shift. Bi-lingual in English and Spanish.

OTHER

Required: A national background search and an expanded drug screening (including additional testing for barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and methadone) are required for an applicant to be eligible for this position.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information

Requisition ID: 169729

Employment Status: Full-Time

Employee Status: Regular

Work Week: Evenings, Nights, Weekends

Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 48,000

Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 60,000

Maximum Salary : US Dollar (USD) 72,000

FLSA: exempt and eligible for overtime, paid at a time and a half rate

Fund Type: Soft

Work Location: Onsite

Pivotal Position: Yes

Referral Bonus Available?: No

Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes

Science Jobs: No

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