SUMMARY
The Veterinary Technician position at Naples Zoo will be responsible for coordinating medical procedures with the Zoo’s veterinarian, managing the hospital, and working with other technician staff to achieve smooth daily operations while providing the highest standard of animal care. This is a leadership role that requires the knowledge and ability to perform all duties of the Veterinary Technician listed below. This position will join a team of 1 Staff Veterinarian and 1 other Certified Veterinary Technician.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Daily duties are primarily related to animal medical care and include preventative health and emergency procedure set-up and clean-up, diagnostic imaging and sample collection, patient monitoring, laboratory sample processing and analysis, quarantined and hospitalized patient care, and assistance with necropsies. Secondary duties include supply inventory management, equipment maintenance and service, and facility maintenance. A comprehensive list of duties is detailed below.
Animal Care
- Prepare treatment and surgical spaces for preventative health and emergency procedures
- Monitor patients under anesthesia
- Collect diagnostic samples from awake and anesthetized patients
- Perform daily veterinary care and husbandry for hospitalized and quarantined patients
- Prepare hospital and quarantine spaces for incoming patients
- Enter medical and husbandry records into Animal Care Software and ZIMS
- Create and update SOPs for hospitalized and quarantined patient care
Laboratory Tasks
- Process and store diagnostic samples including blood, urine, feces, semen, aspirates, and other bodily fluids and tissues on all taxa
- Perform in-house automated and manual analyses on blood, urine, feces, semen, aspirates, and other bodily fluids and tissues on all taxa
- Coordinate with outside laboratories for diagnostic testing (including histopathology and hay analysis)
- Create and update SOPs for internal and external laboratory sample processing, analysis, shipment, and storage
Inventory Maintenance
- Maintain appropriate pharmaceutical, laboratory, and general supply inventory
- Maintain working relationships with vendors to coordinate supply ordering and resolve issues
- Catalogue incoming supplies and remove expired products from circulation
- Coordinate expired medication reverse distribution
- Maintain controlled drug logs as a hard copy and in ZIMS
- Ensure sterile instruments are available for scheduled and emergency procedures
Equipment Maintenance
- Maintain working relationships with vendors to service veterinary equipment
- Schedule and/or perform required maintenance on all veterinary equipment
- Report equipment issues or concerns to appropriate supervisors
- Create and update SOPs for equipment use and maintenance/servicing
Facilities Maintenance
- Ensure all hospital and quarantine spaces are clean, tidy, and available for incoming patients at all times
- Ensure tools, cage furniture, and other necessary items are in good repair and available for incoming patients at all times
- Submit maintenance and safety concerns and work orders to appropriate supervisors
- Create and update SOPs for facilities use and maintenance
Animal Training
- Coordinate with Animal Care Professionals to train medical behaviors with collection animals
- Create and implement behavioral training plans with guidance from Manager of Behavioral Husbandry for quarantined patients
Additional Duties
- Train and mentor Animal Care Professionals, interns, and veterinary externs
- Participate as a member of the Emergency Response Team as a darter
- Respond to and assist in guiding the resolution of Zoo emergencies
- Participate in animal transfers as needed
- Other duties as assigned
PREFERRED SKILLSET
- Knowledge of animal handling, capture, and restraint protocols and equipment
- Knowledge of medical and husbandry requirements of a wide range of taxa
- Knowledge of zoonotic diseases and minimizing occupational risk of transmission
- Knowledge of operant conditioning for animal behavioral training
- Knowledge of general safety and reporting protocols
- Knowledge of AZA, USDA, DEA, and FWC standards
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively via verbal and written means
- Ability to work well with a team in a variety of settings
QUALIFICATIONS
- Graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program
- Minimum 3 years of experience as a veterinary technician working in a zoological facility or equivalent is preferred
- Florida Certificate of Veterinary Technician (CVT) obtained within 90 days of hire
- Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license
- Must be available to work weekends, holidays, and occasional after-hours and on-call shifts
BENEFITS
- Compensation commensurate with experience
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 403b retirement account, Aflac, Employee Assistance Program, and Zoo and other vendor discounts
- Funding for continuing education, AZVT membership, and Florida technician certification
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
Naples Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The ADA requires Naples Zoo to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with the Human Resources Office.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Naples Zoo is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive company culture, and our team does not discriminate against candidates and employees because of their disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law.
