Animal Care Technician (ACE)

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech seeks a dedicated Animal Care Technician for the ACE program. You will provide husbandry, medical care, and enrichment for non-client animals used in teaching, supporting instruction and student learning in the veterinary college.

You will assist with health monitoring, basic procedures, and transport of animals; a on-call component, some after-hours work, weekends, and holidays are included. Criminal background check required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, biology, or related field, or equivalent training and experience.
• Experience handling, restraining and providing basic veterinary care to animals (horses, cows, pigs, dogs, cats, sheep).
• Previous experience in animal husbandry.
• Knowledge of health care procedures for animals.
• Excellent organizational, time management and communication skills.
• Ability to independently prioritize and order assigned daily tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly with team members to meet goals.
• Ability to recognize abnormal behavior and clinical signs; know when to consult a vet.
• Rabies prophylaxis will be required (provided by employer).

Responsibilities

• Cleaning, grooming, feeding, watering and general husbandry for all animals in ACE program.
• Assist with veterinary instruction by providing technical support to students in care areas.
• Track supply and equipment needs; transport animals; report issues for repair or ordering.
• Observe animal health, report concerns, and participate in preventive health programs and interventions.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Prioritization

Team flexibility

Animal behavior recognition

Education

Bachelor’s degree in animal science/biology/related field

Job description

Job Description

This position involves caring for animals in the Animal Care forEducation (ACE) program at Virginia-Maryland College of VeterinaryMedicine. The Animal Care for Education (ACE) team providesexceptional husbandry, medical care, and enrichment to thenon-client owned animals used in the veterinary college'sveterinary teaching program.

Husbandry & Enrichment

The care and wellbeing of the animals is the primary focus of thisjob. The position also assists with implementing veterinaryinstruction including providing technical support and instructionfor students while in animal care areas. Duties include cleaning,grooming, feeding, watering and general husbandry for all animalsin the program (primarily farm animals with potential for somedogs, and cats). The position also involves utilization andtracking of supply and equipment needs in support of the animalcare. This may include transportation of animals by trailer,driving a tractor, mower or skid steer (prior experience with theseskills is not required, training can be provided). Tracking supplyneeds, identifying equipment and facility dysfunctions andreporting to a supervisor for ordering and repair will berequired.

Medical Care

Animal observation and reporting on the health of animals,exercising judgment in monitoring animals or seeking veterinaryconsultation when needed for animals maintained within the ACE is akey feature of the required work. This position can includeinvolvement with medical interventions such as administration ofmedications or sterile fluids to animals, collecting blood andtissue samples, processing biological samples for diagnosticpurposes, preventive health programs, anesthesia and euthanasia.This position does include an on-call component, as well as someafterhours, weekends, and holidays.

Standards of Care

All work is performed in alignment with accreditation standards ofthe Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of LaboratoryAnimal Care International (AAALAC) and the USDA. This is adetail-oriented work intended to provide the best care possible tothe animals. These standards require maintaining and documentingquality control for sterilization equipment, processes and records.The work requires strict adherence to protocols that prevent theaccidental introduction of disease. Mistakes in judgment andimprecise conduct of duties may have far-reaching impacts includingimpacts on animal wellbeing, as well as financial and professionalimpacts on teaching.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, biology, or related field, orequivalent training and experience
• previous experience handling,restraining and providing basic veterinary care to animals,especially horses, cows, pigs, dogs, cats, and sheep
• previousexperience in animal husbandry
• knowledge of health care proceduresfor animals
• excellent organizational, time management andcommunication skills
• ability to independently prioritize and orderassigned daily tasks
• demonstrated ability to work flexibly withteam members to accomplish department goals
• demonstrated abilityto recognize abnormal behavior and clinical signs in animals,generate a basic rule out list for common disorders, and determinewhen a veterinarian should be consulted
• Rabies prophylaxis will be required (provided by employer)

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to drive a truck and trailer

Pay Band

3 Salary

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Pay band 3; Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

September 10, 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminalconviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking ahands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to beleaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institutionthat enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout theworld, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, andcreativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverseenrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, andprofessional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presenceacross Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sitesin Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes . A leading global research institution,Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in researchannually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professionaldevelopment opportunities and university shared governance . These valuablecontributions to university shared governance provide importantrepresentation and perspective, along with opportunities for uniqueand impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, orapplicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (includingpregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, geneticinformation, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation,race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, orotherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquireabout, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensationof other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protectedby law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire anaccommodation, please contact Andrea Collins at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least10 business days prior to the event.