SUMMARY:

The Veterinary Technician I supports the Animal Resources department by providing laboratory animal care and training. Provides technical study support and routine diagnostic testing. Provides technical expertise to meet department/institutional goals and hands on training to uses of ARD databases and systems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors & observes animal health care daily; administers medications/treatments as needed and/or as directed.
• Performs regular health checks of animals, as well as routine health surveillance in sentinel animals which can include in-house diagnostic tests and collection/preparation of samples for outside diagnostic testing.
• Maintains clinical records on animals under veterinary care.
• Assists with semi-annual physicals/tb test on NHP; as well as assists the Veterinarians with non-research surgeries and follow-up veterinary care.
• Performs humane euthanasia as needed and/or as directed.
• Performs routine clinical procedures and in-house diagnostic tests which can include animal restraint, handling, examinations, blood and tissue collection, as well as collecting and preparing samples on a variety of laboratory animal species.
• Prepares, formulates, calculates, administers and documents therapeutic regimens prescribed by the attending Veterinarian.
• Provides research study support and assists investigators with surgical procedures, special study care, behavioral testing in rodents, blood and tissue sampling and animal dosing.
• Maintains veterinary supplies, equipment, organization, and cleanliness of procedure rooms.
• Assists veterinarians with procedures as directed which can include necropsies and assisting with rodent rederivation and testing.
• Provides training in laboratory animal science and Salk IACUC mandatory training requirements and maintains records of activities and attendance. Acts as trainer for veterinary technical procedures and ARD web-based applications and assesses proficiency of trainees.
• Performs general administrative duties which can include communicating with investigators on health status and animal colony updates, assisting with ARD inventory and drug usage records, as well as filing, maintaining lab reports, and assisting with preparing SOP’s and guidelines as well as documentation for maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Required: Minimum 2 years of experience in a laboratory animal facility or research facility with lab animal species or equivalent (i.e., 2 years of clinical experience and/or RVT training through schooling)
• Required: Graduation from AVMA or State of California approved animal health technician program and eligible to sit for VTNE.
• Preferred: 3 or more years of experience in a laboratory/clinical veterinary animal facility or research facility with specific pathogen free (SPF) rodents, rabbits, non-human primates and other lab animal species.
• Preferred: Proficient with anesthesia (pre-per-post operative).
• Preferred: Extensive hands-on experience with animal husbandry, handling and restraint, blood sampling, injections, administering medications.
• Preferred Certificates, licenses, and registrations: AALAS certification of ALAT or higher, RVT (or CVT/LVT).
• Required: Post offer physical which may include respirator fit test.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule based on workloads and deadlines.

COMPETENCIES:

• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

The expected pay range for this position is $21.15 to $26.00 per hour.
Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• As a safeguard for employees and animals, all ARD employees may be subject to vaccines/tests/physical exams prior to working with specific animals or animal populations as required by research needs including but not limited to:
  • TB Testing/Clearance (every 12 months / once a year)
  • Hepatitis B (proof of immunization and/or vaccination)
  • Tetanus (vaccination < 10 years)
  • Diphtheria (proof of immunization and/or vaccination)
  • Measles (proof of immunization and/or vaccination)
  • Periodic physical exams (may include respirator fit test)
  • Other vaccines/tests as required by Occupational Health & Safety standards

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to stand
• Frequently required to walk
• Frequently required to sit
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Frequently required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Continually required to talk or hear
• Occasional exposure to wet and/or humid conditions (non-weather)

• Occasional work near moving mechanical parts
• Occasional work around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals
• Frequent exposure to extreme heat or cold (non-weather)
• Frequent exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectious materials
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 30 pounds / frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds / continually lift and/or move up to 5 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception and ability to adjust focus

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements.  Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All individuals who accept a position with the Salk Institute must be willing to work in an animal-related research environment, must successfully complete the Institute’s background investigation and must be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement.