Come join the Animal Care team at Woodland Park Zoo as a Veterinary Technician! There is one temporary, part-time, variable hour, non-benefited position available at this time.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist Veterinarians during medical examinations and treatments, surgical procedures and emergency care of zoo animals.
- Provide daily care for animals while in the hospital, nursery and/or quarantine when Zookeepers are unavailable, including feeding, cleaning, and observing health status.
- Prepare, dispense and/or administer vaccines, antibiotics and dewormings as directed by the Veterinarian; administer anesthesia under the direction of the Veterinarian.
- Monitor and care for animals in intensive care as directed by the Veterinarian, to include: feeding and cleaning, bandage changes, administering oxygen therapy and medications, providing emergency care, and assisting in animal handling and restraint for medical exams.
- Assist Veterinarians in post-mortem procedures, including the maintenance of necropsy room and equipment; work with vendors for disposal of necropsy specimens.
- Assist in the preparation of Birth Management Plans; work with designated team members on developing drafts, prepare edits and comments for BMP drafts, and take the lead on creating hand-rearing protocols for BMPs in development.
- Prepare standard medication and pharmaceutical forms for distribution to various zoo units and enter medical records into ZIMS medical program.
- Perform all duties related to purchasing of pharmaceuticals, hospital and laboratory supplies, maintaining pharmaceutical inventory, and properly disposing of expired drugs and supplies.
- Coordinate scheduling of appointments with Veterinarians, Curators and Zookeepers for animal medical care and health care programs, including preventive medicine, quarantine, treatment and pathology.
- Collect laboratory samples, process lab test requests, package and ship lab specimens, and enter lab test results into ZIMS medical program.
- Perform automated and manual laboratory tests, including hematology, chemistry, parasitology, cytology, iSTAT and urinalysis.
- Communicate as directed by Veterinarian with zoo staff to maintain schedule of laboratory sample submissions for pre-shipment, quarantine, preventive medicine and clinical cases.
- Review proposed research requests to determine Animal Health staff involvement, and comply with research requests involving lab samples by communicating with researchers and shipping samples.
- Perform hospital maintenance and cleaning, including sterilization and organization of medical and laboratory equipment, maintenance of darting and other equipment, and maintenance of oxygen supply for hospital.
- Act as part of the emergency response team for animal escapes.
- Assist Animal Management staff with training plans that include health-care elements.
- Write reports and graph information as requested by Veterinarians.
- Participate with other zoo employees in public education programs and respond to public inquiries.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Veterinary Technician degree from an accredited organization; and a minimum of two years of experience as a licensed technician in the care and treatment of animals; or equivalent experience.
- Previous experience with non-domestic, zoo and wildlife species highly preferred.
- Current State of Washington Veterinary Technician license.
- Valid WA driver’s license with a safe driving history.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, nights and/or holidays as needed; must also be able to share a 24/7 on-call schedule in case of emergency situations.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team, in consultation with the Veterinarian, and independently with little supervision.
- Must be able to provide first-response and emergency first-aid patient care in the absence of the Veterinarian.
- Must have a basic understanding of radiology equipment and positioning various species for radiographs for quality diagnostic images, and the ability to troubleshooting problems with the equipment; must have the ability to translate these skills to portable radiograph equipment in the field.
- Knowledge and experience with or ability to learn Microsoft Office programs and Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) required
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to drive an ambulance and/or electric cart.
- Ability to shoot darts accurately.
- Commitment to the mission of the zoo and the institution’s Core Values.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and use hands to finger, handle or feel.
- The employee is frequently required to stand, walk and sit, reach, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl extensively.
- Lifting animals is one of the most physically tasking job aspects.
- Substantial physical exertion is also required to move and restrain heavy animals.
- This position relays heavily on all senses every day to evaluate patients.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus while evaluating, examining and darting patients, performing surgery and post-mortem examinations, and/or using a microscope.
- Touch is important for physical examinations, taking blood samples, performing surgical procedures and giving medication.
- Hearing is important for communicating with co-workers, visitors and patients, and listening for heartbeats and breathing.
- Smell is important for identifying some diseases, infections, body fluids, medications, etc.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to x-rays, hazardous chemicals, drugs, dangerous and venomous animals, and contagious disease.
- The noise level in the work environment varies with occasional load noise from animals or equipment.
- The employee is sometimes exposed to various environmental conditions, including wet/humid conditions (non-weather) and outdoor weather, when working with animals.
- The position also spends a moderate amount of time at a computer.
Pay: $25.67 per hour.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a valid WA driver's license with a safe driving history. A criminal background check, driving record review, pre-employment physical, and pre-employment tuberculosis test will be required of the selected applicant.
Application Directions: Applications are accepted online through our Jobs Page at zoo.org/jobs; no other forms of application will be accepted. Cover letter and resume are required.
Woodland Park Zoo is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in application and employment for any reason, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, age, disability or medical status including genetic information, and/or veteran’s status.
Woodland Park Zoo is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all of its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our recruiting team at careers@zoo.org.
|
Click here for technical assistance.