Runner

Job Title: Runner

Job Description

The Runner plays a key support role within the hospital, transporting laboratory samples and related materials between clinical departments and ensuring that lab areas remain clean and well organized. This position offers valuable exposure to a hospital environment and close collaboration with laboratory and patient equipment teams, making it ideal for individuals interested in building a career in healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Transport laboratory samples and related materials to and from clinical departments throughout the hospital.
• Hand-carry samples or send them through the pneumatic tube system, following established procedures for approved distribution to nursing units and clinical departments.
• Collect lab samples that are placed in other departments and ensure they reach the appropriate lab or processing area promptly.
• Help maintain lab departments in a clean, orderly, and well-organized condition.
• Work closely with central processing staff and PEMs technicians to support efficient patient equipment and sample handling workflows.
• Interact professionally with multiple hospital departments and staff while performing transport duties.
• Follow hospital and laboratory protocols to ensure safe and accurate handling of samples and materials.
• Demonstrate flexibility in scheduling, including availability to work weekends and holidays as needed.
• Provide courteous, customer service-oriented support to clinical and laboratory teams.

Essential Skills

• Experience or comfort working in a healthcare or hospital environment.
• Ability to work in a laboratory setting and follow lab procedures and safety guidelines.
• Reliability in transporting samples throughout the hospital in a timely and accurate manner.
• Strong customer service orientation when interacting with clinical and laboratory staff.
• Willingness and flexibility to work weekends and holidays.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage time effectively while moving throughout the hospital.
• High School Diploma.
• Demonstrated interest in working in the healthcare field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in retail or other customer-facing roles that support strong interpersonal and service skills.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with frequent movement between departments.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with a variety of hospital teams.
• Motivation to gain experience and grow within a hospital and healthcare setting.

Work Environment

This role is based in the basement of the hospital, within a department that houses central processing and patient equipment. Runners work very closely with PEMs technicians and are frequently on the move throughout the hospital, visiting and interacting with several departments each day. The position is highly autonomous, requiring independent work, consistent walking, and regular communication with clinical and laboratory staff in a busy healthcare environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Palo Alto, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $24.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Palo Alto,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 27, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.