Veterinary Technician

University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pittsburgh DLAR-Veterinary Services unit seeks a Veterinary Technician to assist veterinarians, handle animal care, and support research programs on campus in Pittsburgh. You will perform veterinary technical procedures, support surgeries and anesthesia, and ensure regulatory compliance.

The role requires ALAT/AALAS certification or eligibility, strong attention to detail, good communication, and willingness to work weekends or evenings as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum education: High School Diploma or GED.
• ALAT certification required or eligible.
• AALAS lab animal technician certification preferred; ALAT level acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Provide veterinary technical procedures under supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
• Assist with surgical and anesthesia support and case triage.
• Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with all policies and SOPs.
• Travel between DLAR facilities as needed and support animal care activities.

Skills

Animal care

Communication

Organizational skills

Computer basics

Education

High School Diploma/GED

ALAT certification

AALAS Certification (ALAT level)

Tools

CAMs

DLAR systems

Job description

Job Description - Veterinary Technician (26005356)

Veterinary Technician

DLAR-Veterinary Services - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - ( 26005356 )

The individual will serve as a Veterinary Technician within the Division of Laboratory and Animal Resources (DLAR). The individual will:

• assist DLAR veterinarians with the provision of veterinary medical care and maintenance of animal colony health,
• provide animal study support and perform animal technical procedures under the direction of a veterinarian, and
• periodically provide animal husbandry and care or cage wash support to meet the operational needs of the facility.

The preferred candidate will have a college degree in animal science or a similar biological science, certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), completion of an AVMA CVTEA accredited veterinary technician program and have a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary technician status.

The successful candidate must demonstrate strong attention to detail, interpersonal communication, customer service, and organizational skills.

The position requires ability to: work some weekends, evenings, and holidays, travel to multiple buildings in a timely manner, pass criminal, Drug Enforcement Act (DEA[AC2.1]) and social background checks, and possibly obtain Child Protection Clearances and/or Select Agent Clearances, and successfully enrollment in the University of Pittsburgh Animal Exposure Surveillance Program, and other medical surveillance/immunization programs, as dictated by the current research activities.

Job Summary

Provides support to veterinarians, fellow technicians, and researchers to provide laboratory animal care and research support, daily monitoring of animal well-being, and cleaning and maintenance of clinical areas. Assists with procedures, provides surgical and anesthesia support, triages cases, performs medical imaging, administers medications, and other various related duties. Maintains documentation and ensures compliance with all applicable regulations. Orders and maintains supply inventory.

Essential Functions

The employee must be able to:

• Performveterinary technician skills and procedures,
• Have sufficient visual acuity and manual dexterity to recognize and identify normal and abnormal species-specific clinical appearances and behavior patterns, perform veterinary technical procedures (including euthanasia), safely handle and restrain animals, and operate and maintain facility equipment and supplies,
• Negotiate around equipment within close quarters, and move between rooms, workspaces,and facilities,
• Work with a variety of animal species, biohazards, chemical and radiation hazards, and wear personal protective equipment (PPE),
• Work directly with live or dead animals and clean or soiled bedding andcaging,
• Successfully enroll in the University of Pittsburgh Animal Exposure Surveillance Program (AESP) and other medical surveillance/immunization programs as dictated by current research activities,
• Receive vaccinations and health assessments, including TB testing,requiredto work in some animal holding or procedure areas,in accordance withDLAR and/or EH&S policies andpractices,
• Performcomputer skills including the ability toutilizecommon applications (e.g., email, Word, Excel) and DLAR systems (ex: CAMs),
• Read, understand, and follow DLAR and other institutional guidance documents (SOPs, policies), including IACUC approved animal protocols,
• Follow written and verbal instructions,
• Accuratelyand effectively communicate in English, verbally and in writing,
• Work variable scheduled during on-call coverage, and some weekends and evenings and holidays, as required to support research operations, and
• Travel between DLAR facilities in a timely manner.

Physical Effort

The employee must be able to:

• Stand for extended periods of time throughout most of the workday,
• Lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds including but not limited to caging and equipment, bags or boxes of animal diet and animal bedding, and operate equipment to move heavier objects or weights exceeding 50 pounds,
• Perform repetitive motion tasks that involve pushing, pulling, reaching, and/or bending, and
• Physically handle and restrain a variety of small and large laboratory animals.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.

Assignment Category Full-time regular

Job Classification Staff.Veterinary Technician

Job Family Research

Job Sub-Family Animal Research

Campus Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required High School Diploma/GED

Minimum Years of Experience Required No experience required

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience? Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.

Required Licensure/Certification ALAT

Additional details about Required Licensure/Certification Required Licenses/Certifications (short open text field.) AALAS Certification at the Laboratory Associate Animal Technician (ALAT) level required. External candidates will need to attain within 12 months.

Work Schedule M-F, 7AM-4PM, some evenings, weekends and holidays as determined by business need

Work Arrangement On-Campus: Teams that work on campus, in an office, or in a lab.

Hiring Range Commensurate with experience.

Relocation Offered No

Visa Sponsorship Provided No

Background Check For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances Not Applicable

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.