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Zoo Careers

Position:  Veterinary Technician
Location:  Tulsa, OK
Job Id:  439
# of Openings:  1
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Position Title: Veterinary Technician
Reports To: Associate Veterinarian
FLSA Status: Hourly/Non Exempt
Safety-Sensitive: Yes
 
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of “Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places.” A dynamic group of passionate individuals brings the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, greeting guests, educating the public and managing the facilities.  Each member of the team is integral to the success of the zoo as a key asset in the City of Tulsa and the Northeast Oklahoma region, delivering recreational opportunities, providing unplugged family time and conserving animal species for future generations.
 
Position Summary:
The Veterinary Technician provides technical veterinary services as an assistant to the Director of Animal Health and Associate Veterinarian in caring for the health and well being of zoo animals. This role also performs zookeeper duties for collection animals in the vet hospital as needed.
 
 Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Other duties may be assigned in keeping with the mission of Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI)
  • Assists in providing regular and preventive health care and nursing for the animal collection.
  • Conducts specialized analytical laboratory tests and examinations.
  • Performs minor medical procedures such as bandage placement, IV catheter placement, triage exams, administers SQ, IM, and IV medications, and wound debridement, and assists in all levels of surgical and postmortem studies and analyses.
  • Maintains animal hospital facility with regards to cleanliness and minor maintenance, and identifies and communicates situations for repair and maintenance for the safety of animals, visitors, and staff.
  • Develops and maintains veterinary and laboratory records.
  • Under supervision of the veterinarian, induces and monitors anesthesia and restrains animals as required.  This includes the making of anesthetic darts for immobilization and safe use of ultrapotent opiates.
  • Operates and maintains a variety of medical laboratory and x-ray equipment.
  • Monitors, observes, and communicates vital signs.
  • Assists with immediate medical attention to diseased or traumatized animals including euthanasia, as necessary.
  • Recognizes signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combats pests/nuisance wildlife as directed.
  • Maintains necessary certifications as required (SCUBA, AZA Elephant Management, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) etc.).
  • Trains, assists, and oversees work of volunteers, interns, students, and zookeepers, and ensures their safety while performing these duties.
  • Maintains area compliance with all local, state, federal, and international regulations, and standards are met (USDA, AZA, etc)
  • Attends and participates in staff meetings to discuss the needs of the animal collection and animal staff, resolve problems, and learn of new procedures and policies.
  • Participates in visitor education programs, formal and informal animal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled keeper talks, and provides accurate information to the public.
  • Maintains necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).
  • Responds to emergency calls after normal operating hours.
  • Cleans service areas and holding units daily utilizing various tools, instruments, disinfectants; with the ability to do so safely.
  • Prepares diets and feeds animals in the hospital: restock, inventory, order feed supplies as needed and as prescribed.  Maintains food preparation areas and equipment.
  • Provides general maintenance of service areas and holding units such as: fence repair, decoration, mister systems, automatic drinkers, shade cloth, filling holes, etc.
  • Maintains holding units to ensure animal, staff, and visitor safety, and in good appearance for public viewing at all times.
  • Designs and constructs holding units by cutting and moving branches to plant or secure them to walls with dirt, cement, wire, nails; installs nest boxes and barrels, attaches burlap to cage walls to provide privacy; maintains plants in enclosures.
  • Captures and restrains animals for shipping/loading or routine/non-routine medical procedures; captures animals by hand, net, catch pole, or by corralling them under direction of supervisor.
  • Works with potentially dangerous animals (i.e. large ungulates, carnivores, venomous animals).
  • Observes animal collection daily for injury, illness, aggression, stress, breeding activity, diet intake, and fecal consistency.
  • Maintains accurate records of daily observations of animal collection containing information regarding behavior, intake, fecal output, breeding behavior, aggression, behavioral enrichment, capture/restraint, prescribed medical treatments in-house, moves, and acquisitions/de-acquisitions.
  • Monitors life support systems including but not limited to water filtration, ozone generators, HVAC, and backup generators as needed.
  • In conjunction with the Curator of Behavioral Husbandry and animal care leaders/veterinarians, works with animal staff for medical behavior training.
  • Applies appropriate techniques and opportunities for enrichment of the animal collections.
 
Supervisory Responsibilities:                                     
This position currently has no supervisory responsibilities.
 
Values:                                                 
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies as they relate to TZMI core values:
  • We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
  • We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
  • We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
  • We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
  • We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.
 
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
Education and/or Experience
Graduation from an accredited school of Veterinary or Medical Technology; and one (1) year experience working within a related Zoo veterinary environment; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
 
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of TZMI employees, managers, clients, customers and the general public.
 
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate drug dosages and volumes safely and accurately.  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions and percentages. Ability to apply basic concepts of algebra and geometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and decimals to practical situations.
 
Computer Skills
Microsoft Word; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft PowerPoint or Prezi; Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
 
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Must have at time of hire or will be required to obtain a Veterinary Technologist or equivalent certification within twelve (12) months of appointment to position, or must be eligible and obtain a licensed RVT in the state of Oklahoma within 12 months of hire.  RVT State License must be maintained throughout employment. 
 
Other Skills, Abilities or Qualifications
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier. Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays. Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of Veterinary or Medical Technology; good knowledge of laboratory procedures and analysis methods; and some knowledge of exotic and domestic animals.  Ability to conduct laboratory testing and examination; ability to perform and assist in surgical procedures; ability to prepare and maintain records and reports on zoo animals and related research efforts.
 
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position as they relate to physical demands and their work environment.
 
This position requires substantial standing; substantial walking, moderate sitting; substantial reaching with hands and arms; substantial climbing or balancing; substantial stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; substantial talking or hearing; moderate lifting up to 60 pounds.
 
This work environment involves minimal working near moving mechanical parts; substantial work in outdoor weather conditions; substantial work with moderate noise level. May involve work in a wet or humid environment.
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