Shelter Vet Tech Supervisor

Animal Welfare Association; Voorhees Township (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Animal Welfare Association is seeking a Veterinary Technician Supervisor to lead the shelter medical team in delivering daily medical care to shelter, foster, and ICU animals. The role includes overseeing the medical suite, equipment, inventory, and medications, and supervising technicians and assistants as needed by the attending veterinarian.

Responsibilities also cover staff scheduling, training, and ensuring compliance with SOPs, OSHA, and customer service standards, along with maintaining

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in veterinary technology is desirable.
• 2-5 years’ experience as veterinary technician.
• 2-5 years’ experience in shelter medicine desirable.
• Minimum 2 years managing personnel, volunteers and/or teams.
• Familiarity with veterinary software.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead the shelter medical staff and supervise technicians and assistants.
• Oversee the shelter medical suite operations, equipment, inventory and meds.
• Supervise exams, restraint, injections, medicating, feeding and general animal care as directed by the vet.
• Model effective communication with foster parents, adopters and educational partners.
• Prepare medical records, reports and inventory logs; manage budget for the clinic.
• Maintain cleanliness and readiness of the shelter medical suite and associated equipment.

Skills

Leadership

Veterinary terminology

Staff supervision

Communication

Scheduling

Education

Associate’s degree in veterinary technology

Tools

ShelterLuv

Veterinary software

Job description

The Veterinary Technician Supervisor is responsible for:

• Leading the shelter technician team in the provision of daily medical care of all Shelter, Foster and ICU animals, ensuring quality of care.
• Overseeing the operation and upkeep of the shelter medical suite, including its equipment, inventory, supplies, and medications.
• Supervising team in performing and performing technician duties as needed for shelter medical department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

SUPERVISION OF STAFF

• In conjunction with management, interview, hire, train, review performance of shelter medical staff members (veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants).
• As needed, address performance concerns, develop and implement corrective action plans for shelter medical staff members (veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants)
• Report employee, volunteer or client concerns to management.
• Management of scheduling of shelter medical staff.
• Ensure training of personnel according to professional standards, AWA Clinic/Shelter SOPS, OSHA regulations, and customer service standards.
• Develop and maintain training manuals and SOPs; set up ongoing training sessions in conjunction with management.
• Oversee and evaluate staff performing exams, restraint, inoculations, medicating, feeding, and general caring of animals as indicated by attending veterinarian or per standard operating procedures.
• Ensure staff are able to perform emergency interventions (drugs used, catheter placement, CPR, etc.).

ANIMAL GENERAL VETERINARY CARE

• Maintain proper animal identification, ensuring that appropriate paperwork accompanies animals throughout their stay at the shelter or in foster care.
• Supervise and/or perform checks and intake exams on animals to identify illness, infectious diseases, infestations, injuries or abnormalities.
• Supervise and/or perform diagnostic tests, procedures and treatments as directed by the attending veterinarian or per standard operating procedures.
• Dispense prescribed medications and/or supervise the medication of all shelter animals.

ANIMAL SURGICAL CARE

• Provide the veterinarian with equipment and special surgical instruments, surgical packs and lab and clinic material.
• Supervise, perform, and maintain responsibility for proper premedication and induction of surgical patients, ensuring staff follow operating protocols.
• Oversee and perform proper monitoring of anesthetized animals before, during and recovering from anesthesia after surgery.
• Oversee and perform post-surgical duties/checks to ensure proper recovery of the animals.
• Recognize, document and communicate any post-surgical complications to the shelter veterinarian and management.

COMMUNICATION

• Model positive and active team communications through the day to ensure smooth operations.
• Ensure veterinarian is supported during intake, medical, illness, and surgery exams.
• Meet and talk with foster parents during recheck exams as well as potential or recent adopters, providing accurate and understandable instructions regarding the animal’s diagnosis and treatments.
• Manage relationships and events with educational partners (veterinary, vet tech schools and occasionally partnership practices) in collaboration with the shelter veterinarian.
• Collaborate with shelter management and staff to ensure animals are housed and cared for appropriately for their individual circumstances (i.e. fostering, isolation, adoption floor, etc).

DATA AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Prepare and maintain accurate medical records for shelter animal files, including but not limited to: animal history, treatment and vaccinations records, as well as DEA and pharmaceutical logs.
• Provide statistical reports as required by management.
• Perform inventory management, following SOPs for ordering supplies, etc. for the shelter medical department.
• Understand and adhere to the budget for the shelter medical clinic.

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING OPERATIONS

• Ensure all shelter medical suite animal cages are cleaned and sanitized through the day.
• Ensure the shelter medical suite is cleaned through the day and prepared for the next day.
• Ensure medical supplies are stocked for the next day; laundry cleaned and stored; fluids filled and set up; packs prepared, etc.
• Oversee and/or perform the proper pre- and post-surgical related duties including: cleaning instruments and wrapping packs.
• Perform routine maintenance tasks on all shelter medical suite equipment and refer any problems appropriately.
• Management of medical donations for the shelter medical department.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Belief in the mission and values of AWA.
• Adherence to all organizational policies, procedures, and safety standards.
• Professional, tactful demeanor with ability to cultivate relationships.
• Must have familiarity with medical terminology and medical knowledge.
• Able to accept and explain the concepts of prepubescent sterilization, prerelease sterilization of adopted animals and humane euthanasia.
• Must recognize or be willing to gain working knowledge of normal and abnormal health and behavioral conditions of the patients, pre- and post-surgery and shelter animals.
• Knowledge of the diseases and disorders of animals including common infectious diseases found in animal sheltering, spay and neuter and related procedures, and animal handling and restraint.
• Able to do mathematics for drug conversions and dosing.
• Knowledge of isolation protocols, disinfecting procedures, and asepsis.
• Self-directed, meets deadlines with minimal support while handling multiple tasks simultaneously, proving an ability to prioritize and maintain complex and overlapping deadlines.
• Successful experience collaborating and leading teams (staff and/or volunteer).

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree as veterinary technician desirable but not required.
• 2-5 years’ experience as veterinary technician, including surgical technician experience.
• 2-5 years’ experience in shelter medicine desirable, but not required.
• A minimum of 2 years managing personnel, volunteers and/or teams.
• Working knowledge of computer systems and veterinary software. Knowledge of ShelterLuv helpful.
• Trained (or willing to be trained) to perform euthanasia on a variety of companion and small animals.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record required.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Work performed in shelter medical clinic, high exposure to animals.
• Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, dangerous and fractious animals, high noise levels, wet surfaces, hazardous chemicals, and sharp objects.
• Able to supervise, and to properly handle and restrain, scared, aggressive and feral animals properly and safely.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted, and over 50 lbs. with assistance.
• Long periods of standing, bending, stooping, reaching, holding, restraining are required as are leading groups in discussion and entering data in computer.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Movement to and from various facility and off-site locations is required which will result in exposure to temperature changes (rare).
• A varying schedule, sometimes exceeding 40 hours per week, may be required to ensure adequate staff coverage.
• On-call hours required, both after hours and as emergency phone contact
• May be required to drive AWA mobile clinic van for participation in offsite community events