Certified Veterinary Technician

Multnomah County; Troutdale (OR); On-site; USD 86,450,000 - 106,336,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Student loan forgiveness

Employee assistance programs

Paid leave Oregon

Health plans

Job summary

Multnomah County Animal Services is seeking a Certified Veterinary Technician to join our team. You will provide medical care, create treatment plans, and support shelter operations while upholding evidence-based best practices in animal care.

We value diversity, offer generous benefits, and provide opportunities to grow and contribute to community-focused animal services in Troutdale, Oregon.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to an associates degree.
• 6 months of animal health experience and CVT certificate (Oregon Veterinary Medical Board) and Euthanasia Technician certificate (or ability to obtain within 6 months).

Responsibilities

• Care for a variety of animals including exams and treatment plans.
• Help lost pets and provide comfort to stray animals.
• Collaborate with veterinarians on suspected abuse or unique cases.
• Learn humane euthanasia and low-stress handling of wildlife.
• Provide spay/neuter training and neonatal care experience.

Skills

CVT

Animal handling

Low-stress handling

Communication

Detail oriented

Teamwork

Education

Certified Veterinary Technician certificate (CVT)

Euthanasia Technician certificate

Job description

Pay Range: $30.17 - $37.11 Hourly

Department: Department of Community Services (DCS)

Job Type: Regular

Represented Exemption Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date: open until filled if no date specified.

Job Profile: 6066 - Veterinary Technician

The Opportunity

Make a real difference. Join our amazing team as a Certified Veterinary Technician at Multnomah County Animal Services. If you’re a passionate Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) who believes in high quality animal care, evidenced based best practices in shelter care, helping pets find loving families, and ensuring everyone in our community can access our services, then we want YOU!

Why You Want to Join Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS)

• Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate our differences and create a welcoming space for everyone.
• Growth and Opportunity: We want you to thrive! We offer chances to learn, lead, and build a fulfilling career.
• Work/Life Balance: We know veterinary work can be tough, so we support our team and foster a positive environment.

The Work You’ll Be Doing

• Care for All Kinds of Animals: From health exams to treatment plans, you’ll work with a variety of pets.
• Help Lost Pets: Provide care and comfort to stray, abandoned, and lost animals.
• Partner with colleagues: Work with our teams on suspected abuse or neglect cases. You may even encounter unique animal hoarding cases that require high-volume intake protocols and innovative problem-solving.
• Handle Wildlife: Learn about humane euthanasia and low-stress handling of local wildlife.
• See Unique Cases: Work with our veterinarians to diagnose and treat unusual medical conditions.
• Fight Pet Overpopulation: Get training in high-quality spay and neuter practices.
• Care for Newborns: Gain hands‑on experience with neonatal care across a variety of species.

What We Can Offer You

• Great Benefits: Think retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs (if eligible) and employee assistance programs.
• Time Off: Generous vacation, holidays, and parental leave, plus benefits from Paid Leave Oregon.
• Health and Wellness: Robust health plans, mental health services, gym discounts, and more!
• Career Growth: Opportunities to advance and continue your education.
• Check out all of our awesome benefits!

Who We’re Looking For

• Someone Who Values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: You promote a culture of inclusivity and appreciation for diverse perspectives.
• Culturally Sensitive: You understand and practice racial and socioeconomic equity.
• Animal Handling Skills: You know how to handle animals safely and with low stress.
• Cool Under Pressure: You stay calm and efficient, even when things get busy.
• Great Communicator: You provide excellent customer service and communication.
• Detail‑Oriented: You complete tasks with care and thoroughness.

About the Area

If you’re looking at us from across the country, know that Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Made up of seven diverse regions, Oregon has the ocean, mountains, valleys, high desert, cities, small towns, and almost everything in between. Multnomah County has a population exceeding 790,000 and a diverse metro area of over 2 million. Although the county’s beautiful and progressive city of Portland has the cultural and recreational opportunities of a large city, it has the heart of a small town. In addition to Portland, Multnomah County encompasses cities such as Corbett, Fairview, Gresham, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village. Portland is just thirty minutes from the Cascade Mountains, with hiking, ski resorts, camping and fishing. Travel one hour west to find some of the most dramatic and pristine beaches on the West Coast. Portland lies in the Marine West Coast climate region, marked by warm, dry summers and rainy but mild winters. Portland is a foodie’s dream, with regional cuisine featuring microbreweries and micro-distilleries, local wine, seafood, and produce; along with one of the country’s largest food cart scenes. Classical music, ballet, and our art museum live comfortably alongside vibrant contemporary art and jazz music scenes. Multnomah County is a reader’s paradise – our libraries boast the largest circulation in the country and world-class book stores abound. Sauvie Island, an agricultural and scenic wildlife preserve, has some of the region’s best produce, including Oregon’s famous berries. Portland has been referred to as one of the most environmentally friendly or "green" cities in the world. The city and region are noted for strong land‑use planning and investment in light rail, supported by Metro, a distinctive regional government. More information about the Portland metro area is available at www.travelportland.com and www.portlandmetrochamber.com.

To Qualify

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.

Minimum Qualifications / Transferable Skills

• Equivalent to an associates degree (equivalent experience may substitute for a degree)
• 6 months of animal health experience AND Certified Veterinary Technician certificate from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Board AND Euthanasia Technician certificate (or ability to get it within 6 months).

Bonus Points

• 2 years of CVT experience in a practice OR 1 year in a shelter.
• Experience handling high‑stress situations.
• Experience with spay/neuter surgeries.
• Experience with shelter population health.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Screening and Evaluation

Application Packet:

• Online application: Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Resume: Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications and attach the PDF document to the online application.
• Cover Letter (optional): This should expand on your resume, address why you are interested in this position and demonstrate how your experience and skill set align with the minimum and preferred qualifications listed.

Internal candidates: After you have applied, you will receive the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you fill out and submit the questionnaire.

The Selection Process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows: Initial review of minimum qualifications, Evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates, Consideration of top candidates (which may include phone interviews, panel interviews, and/or additional testing), Professional reference checks.

Additional Information

• Type of Position: This hourly, union‑represented position is eligible for overtime.
• Schedule: The shelter operates seven (7) days per week. Staff members work between the hours of 7:00AM and 7:30PM.
• Work Location: Multnomah County Animal Shelter, 1700W Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060.

Equal Pay Law: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate’s relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters: Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.

The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference.

Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans' Preference

Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act

We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

We’re glad you are considering a career that gives back and supports the community. Working for Multnomah County means having the opportunity to make a real difference in the community, no matter what position you hold. We provide a wide array of essential services including health, community justice, roads, elections, libraries, jails, bridges, tax and assessment, marriage licenses, animal services, mental health and addiction services and more. Our organization’s top priority is to meet the many needs of our residents. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and why it matters.