Veterinary Technician

Summary

The Veterinary Technician (VT) assists the Veterinary Services team in the daily care and management of USDA-covered research animals. This role is critical in maintaining high standards of animal welfare, procedural support, and facility operations. This position reports directly to the Veterinary Services Supervisor (VSS) and provides essential assistance to the Senior Veterinary Technicians (SVTs), the VSS, the Veterinary Services Manager (VSM), the veterinarians, and the principal investigators (PIs). Areas of assistance include clinical and research procedures, pre- and post-operative care, surgery, imaging, maintenance of support areas (e.g., pharmacy, surgery, radiology, MRI, ethylene oxide and necropsy), and participation in health monitoring and well-being programs. Additionally, The VT assists with recordkeeping to ensure compliance with federal regulations (USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, PHS policy, and DEA regulations) and University policies and to maintain AAALAC accreditation.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Required: Associate's degree in a related field with 2 years directly related experience with animals, preferably in a research setting.
• And/or equivalent combination of education, skills, and experience.
• Veterinary Technician certification (CVT) and/or AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) or Surgical Research Anesthetist (SRA) certification preferred.
• Must obtain LAT certification within 2 years of employment.

Job Competencies:

• Must be engaged, enthusiastic, and committed to humane and compassionate care in a dynamic working environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relations skills to deal with all levels of University personnel and outside sponsors.
• Ability to recognize normal and abnormal behavior in a variety of animal species.
• Good attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team and thrive in a busy environment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of and comfort with technology in the workplace including tablet technology, animal census and IACUC software, Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with faculty and researchers who inquire about their research animals. Must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Work with a wide variety of animals and must learn about different housing and care needs of each.
• Must be responsive to changes that occur with short notice.
• Background check and drug screen required.