Veterinary Technician

City of Jacksonville; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team providing essential care for animals in a vibrant city! As a Veterinary Technician, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of sheltered animals. This position offers a unique blend of technical work and direct animal care, requiring specialized skills and knowledge acquired through training and experience. You will be responsible for administering medical treatments, assisting with examinations, and ensuring a clean and safe environment for animals. Enjoy a fulfilling career with excellent work/life balance, generous leave, and comprehensive health benefits while making a positive impact in your community. This is an opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment dedicated to animal welfare.

Benefits

Four weeks off during the first year

Low and no cost health insurance options

12 paid holidays

Personal leave day

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Qualifications

• Two years of education/technical experience in animal care or veterinary technician.
• Euthanasia Technician Certification required within probation period.

Responsibilities

• Administers medical treatments and takes vital signs of animals.
• Cleans and disinfects shelter areas to ensure animal health.
• Operates laboratory and standard office equipment.

Skills

Animal Care

Veterinary Technician Skills

Communication Skills

Persuasiveness

Assertiveness

Education

Education in Biology or Animal Husbandry

Veterinary Technician Certification

Tools

Personal Computer

Euthanasia Equipment

Animal Restraint Equipment

Laboratory Equipment

Two-way Radios

Job description

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!

The Animal Care and Protective Services Division is actively seeking one (1) Veterinary Technician.

As a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have 12 paid holidays and a personal leave day. In addition, health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending plans are available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of public service and on-time payments.

This is technical work in the maintenance of kennel facilities, including the care and feeding of sheltered animals, performing related clerical and customer support work, and providing support to veterinarians and veterinary technician supervisors in routine medical, surgical, and/or necropsy procedures. Work requires knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures used in the care of animals and maintenance of kennel facilities, which involves specialized skills acquired through training and considerable on-the-job experience.

Contacts with others require skills in understanding and influencing people, which are important as it relates to animal care issues. Skills of persuasiveness, assertiveness, and sensitivity to others' points of view are often required to influence behavior, change an opinion, or turn a situation around. Work schedule involves some weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts. Work is semi-routine, covered by procedures or precedents, but some latitude is permitted to consider the most appropriate method, technique, or procedure to follow. Work is performed in field, kennel, and office environments, with some risks and hazards due to handling ill and infectious animals, and exposure to offensive odors, chemicals, and airborne nuisances, but the hazards are known, somewhat predictable, and mostly controllable.

Operates laboratory and standard office equipment such as personal computers, two-way radios, euthanasia equipment, animal restraint equipment, and cash registers. Operates a motor vehicle. The physical demands consist mainly of standing, walking, transporting animals, and lifting animals and/or objects weighing more than 50 pounds. Work is performed under general supervision where the work assignments are varied, and although subject to standard practices and procedures, the worker is permitted some latitude to set own priorities subject to supervisor’s approval.

Responsibilities:

• Administers basic medical treatments under the direction of a veterinarian.
• Takes vital signs of animals.
• Cleans and disinfects different areas of the shelter to ensure the health and well-being of the animal population.
• Feeds and cares for critical animals in the medical areas.
• Retrieves, restrains, and assists with medical examinations of animals.
• Utilizes and maintains laboratory equipment.
• Performs radiographs.
• Prepares, maintains, and retrieves records and detailed medical histories of animals using a personal computer.
• Maintains inventory of medications, medical equipment, medical supplies, food, cleaning, and care supplies.
• Performs euthanasia as taught by the FACA (Florida Animal Control Association) approved class and in compliance with the ACPS euthanasia protocol.
• Provides customer assistance and information concerning animals and adoption policies.
• Collects redemption and adoption fees and maintains records of monies collected.
• Draws blood, prepares, and handles lab specimens and performs routine lab tests.
• Reports to work location during emergency circumstances such as natural and man-made disasters.
• Operates laboratory and standard office equipment such as personal computers using word, spreadsheet, database and other related software, two-way radios, euthanasia equipment, animal restraint equipment, and cash registers.
• Operates a motor vehicle.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville’s competencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of education and/or technical experience in biology, animal husbandry, herd management, animal handling/care, veterinary technician, pre-med or pre-veterinary, medical, phlebotomy or laboratory technician experience.
• Successfully passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) to become certified as a Veterinary Technician may be substituted for six months of experience.

Licensing/Certification/Registration:

• Euthanasia Technician Certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation.
• A valid driver's license is required prior to appointment and must be maintained during employment in this class.
• Must qualify for prior to appointment, obtain, and maintain during employment in this class a City of Jacksonville certification as a public driver.

Other Requirements:

• The probation period for this class is six months.
• This classification performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment, random, and other drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville’s Drug Free Workplace Policy (0401).
• ACPS is part of the City of Jacksonville’s emergency response operations. When pet-friendly emergency shelters are open, all full-time employees are required to report and carry out duties as assigned for the duration of the emergency.

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at www.jacksonville.gov. Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based. When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social security number blacked out, is required with your application. Transcripts do not need to be official but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred.

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Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such servicemembers and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge. You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here: http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference

If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint within 60 calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Attention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K
Largo, FL 33778-1630
Email: [e-mail]