Job location: Charlottesville, VA

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2019-11-07
Req: R0011181
The Center for Comparative Medicine seeks applicants for a Veterinary Technician position.

Veterinary Technician is a professional title in the Animal Care Family. Veterinary Technicians perform medical examinations and treatments in a laboratory environment, and perform medical tests for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. They work with animal care and research staff to provide veterinary care to vivarium animals under the supervision of a Veterinarian. Since research animals require care every day of the year, some veterinary technicians are assigned a staggered schedule that includes one weekend day as part of their 40 hour week, are assigned on-call status to back up other veterinary technicians that work weekends and holidays, and are assigned holiday work on a rotational basis with other veterinary technicians. Work is assigned at the task level, and Veterinary Technicians operate with a degree of latitude in specific situations, but do not supervise staff.

Veterinary technicians assist in training of research staff in biomethodology including species-specific anesthesia and surgery. Assignments include assisting research staff in anesthesia and peri-operative care of laboratory animals. Veterinary technicians perform laboratory work, to varying degrees, on specimens they collect from a variety of animal species. Veterinary technicians may be asked to assist veterinarians during physical examination of animals, treatment of animals and surgery.

Veterinary technicians work with animal care and research staff to provide veterinary medical and nursing care to vivarium animals under the supervision of the Veterinarian. Veterinary Technicians have graduated from an accredited veterinary technician program, be licensed in at least one state within the US (preferably Virginia) and have at least one year of experience in a veterinary clinical practice experience.

Technicians can be required to perform other duties as assigned, can be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

Responsibilities:

• Triage animal illness that are reported by animal care staff during the workday from the various vivaria.
• Perform physical examination to evaluate health problems of ill animals reported by animal care or research staff and follow-up at reasonable intervals on those animals receiving ongoing treatment, administer treatments prescribed by a veterinarian, relate findings of physical examination and responses to treatment to a veterinarian for feedback on cases that are not routine or associated with breed or strain characteristics.
• Work with the veterinarians to administer health programs for all species such as programs of routine vaccination, de-worming, specimen collection and health surveillance.
• Create and maintain applicable records of animal examination, provisional diagnosis, laboratory testing, treatment and response to treatment for ill animals.
• Participate in weekend and holiday veterinary technician rotational coverage as well as on call rotational coverage.
• Assist the Veterinarians, principal investigator and/or research technical staff with techniques of animal restraint and handling, preparation of surgical candidates by performing anesthesia, aseptic preparation of surgical site, intubation, venous and/or urinary catheterization and anesthesia monitoring.
• Perform technical functions such as venipuncture, euthanasia, specimen collection, physical examination,tattooing.
• Administer anesthesia and maintain anesthetic records, monitor and record post-operative patient recovery administering analgesics, antibiotics or other medications.
• Make appropriate entries into patient care records, maintains entries in individual animal records for USDA regulated species retained for greater than 14 days in the research facility.
• Maintain surgical support facilities in a sanitary state validated monthly by charm swab testing. Maintain surgery area and pharmacy well- stocked, all medications within expiration date and all this in an orderly manner. Schedule and ensure that equipment preventative maintenance is performed.
• Provide training to research staff when requested in bio- methodology such as species-specific anesthesia, blood collection, administration of medications and physical examination.
• Maintain all controlled substance records. Dispense controlled substances and other drugs to the research staff.
• Perform anesthesia equipment certification for inhalation anesthetic vaporizers within and outside the Center.
• Obtain annual licensure for radio-graphic equipment, adhere to the use of dosimetry badges as required by Radiation Safety and Commonwealth regulations.
• Assist in workshops, seminars and outreach programs.
• Train other veterinary technicians, research technical staff and animal care staff in various biomethodologies.
• Work independently to maintain stocking of consumable supplies and pharmaceuticals and report items in short supply that need to be ordered to the Clinical Veterinarian.

Qualifications:

Education: Associate's degree

Experience: At least one year of experience obtained in veterinary clinical practices, performing duties such as anesthesia, surgical assistance, and some lab work on a variety of animal species including small animals (dog and cat) and farm animals (cattle, swine, sheep and fowl).

Licensure: Certification through American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Virginia Licensed Veterinary Technician. Eligible to successfully obtain Veterinary Technician licensure exam within 6 months of hire.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must be comfortable with handling animals and working in an animal research facility with a variety of species.
• Must have the ability to perform animal physical examinations, clinical specimen collection, administer medications and perform laboratory diagnostic procedures.
• Must have ability to create and maintain accurate records.
• Must have ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Must have clear communication skills.
• Must have ability to lift and move a 50lb anesthetized animals.
• Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time.
• Extensive animal handling or veterinary technician experience with physical examination, administration of medication, technical procedures like intravenous catheter and endotracheal tube placement in a variety of species is preferred.

Anticipated hiring range is commensurate with qualifications.

For questions about the position or the application process, please contact Bethany Case, Academic Recruiter, at bcase@virginia.edu. This position will remain open until filled.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please apply through Workday, and search for ‘'Veterinary Technician". Complete an application online and attach a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references (name, title, relationship, email address, and telephone number) all into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System and the University Physician’s Group are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.