Veterinary Technician Assistant: Special Species

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Outstanding employee benefits

Ample paid time off

Continuing education support

Referral bonuses

Annual shoe allowance

Hospital-branded clothing

Job summary

The Veterinary Technician Assistant at University of Wisconsin‑Madison UW Veterinary Care provides hands‑on support to clinicians, students, and staff for exotic and special species patients, including rabbits, birds, reptiles, and small mammals, with emphasis on safe handling and teamwork in a teaching hospital.

Responsibilities include assisting with patient handling, exam preparation, and procedures, maintaining clean spaces, stocking supplies, and supporting day‑to‑day operations.

Qualifications

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods.
• Technical dexterity for routine clinical support tasks.
• Strong communication and teamwork for accurate medical records.

Responsibilities

• Assist clinicians with patient prep, exams, procedures, and surgeries.
• Prepare equipment and supplies for examinations and surgeries.
• Restrain and handle exotic species safely.
• Maintain treatment areas, equipment, and stock.
• Guide patient admissions and discharges with clear communication.
• Support routine lab tests and specimen collection.

Skills

Physical capability

Technical skills

Communication

Education

High School Diploma

AVA certification interest

Job description

Current Employees

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Job Category

University Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Veterinary Technician Assistant

Job Summary

The Veterinary Technician Assistant plays a vital role in supporting clinicians, veterinary technicians, students, and other hospital staff in providing high-quality routine and specialized care for exotic and special species patients. Patients may include, but are not limited to, rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, and other exotic or non-traditional companion animals.

This position provides hands‑on technical and patient care support to the Special Species service at UW Veterinary Care (UWVC). Responsibilities may include assisting with patient handling and restraint, preparing patients and treatment areas for examinations and procedures, maintaining clean and organized clinical spaces, stocking supplies and equipment, assisting with diagnostic and treatment procedures within the scope of the position, and supporting the day‑to‑day workflow of the service.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills while working with a diverse and unique patient population in an innovative veterinary teaching hospital. Because UWVC is a teaching hospital, this position works alongside veterinary specialists, residents, interns, veterinary technicians, veterinary students, and other members of the hospital team. The role requires a willingness to learn, strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively both within the Special Species service and with other services throughout the hospital.

If you enjoy learning, teaching, and working in a collaborative environment, this could be the perfect role for you! Join the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and UW Veterinary Care and be part of a team working at the forefront of veterinary medicine.

Make a real difference in the lives of patients and their owners while developing your skills in a dynamic and rewarding clinical environment.

The anticipated schedule for this vacancy is Monday through Friday, within the 7:30 AM–6:00 PM window. Shifts will generally be 8‑10 hours in length, based on the hired FTE (80%–100%). Specific shift schedules will be determined by operational coverage needs while taking individual preferences into consideration whenever possible. On‑call as needed to support hospital operations.

Tasks Include

• Assist clinicians and veterinary nurses with patient preparation, physical exams, procedures, and surgical cases.
• Prepare equipment, instructions, and other needs for examination, procedures, and surgical cases.
• Restrain and demonstrate proper handling of exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small animal patients.
• Maintain, clean, sanitize, and stock all service‑specific treatment areas, surgical suites, and specialized equipment.
• Facilitate smooth patient admissions and discharges, ensuring clear communication and accurate prep.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Documents and disseminates results to the appropriate entities (5%)
• Inventories and organizes supplies (15%)
• Cleans and maintains organization of animal holding spaces, work areas and equipment (15%)
• Maintains organization of and updates records related to medical procedures and billing (10%)
• Assists with and executes the preparation, completion, and documentation of basic technical animal care procedures, assessments, and medication administration according to established care plans and medical necessity (25%)
• Serves as a point of contact for animal owners and stakeholders providing information and answering questions (10%)
• Other duties as assigned (10%)
• Assists with routine laboratory tests and specimen collection according to established medical orders and care plans (10%)

Department

School of Veterinary Medicine

UW Veterinary Care (UWVC)

Special Species

Compensation

The starting hourly rate for the position is $19.00 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications).

• outstanding employee benefits https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/new-employee-benefits-enrollment/benefits-for-employees-covered-by-the-wrs/
• ample paid time off https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/leave/paid-leave/
• financial support for continuing education and pursuing specialty certification
• referral bonuses
• an annual shoe allowance
• a yearly provision of hospital‑branded clothing.

Required Qualifications

• Physical Capability: Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. independently and stand for extended periods.
• Technical Skills: Physical and manual dexterity required to perform specialized technical tasks and routine clinical support.
• Communication & Workplace Conduct: Strong interpersonal skills for clear client communication, collaborative teamwork, and accurate medical record‑keeping and documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Veterinary Hospital Experience: 1+ years of hands‑on experience in a veterinary clinic or hospital environment.
• Exotic & Wildlife Experience: Prior experience handling or caring for exotic pets (birds, reptiles, small mammals) or wildlife species in a clinical, sanctuary, or rehabilitation setting.
• Specialised Focus: A demonstrated interest in exotic animal medicine, wildlife conservation, or specialized patient care.

Education

• Required: High School Diploma
• Preferred: Current or interest in Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) certification.

Contact Information

Tammi Walsh

Veterinary Technician Supervisor

[e-mail]

Anne Kaldunski

HR Coordinator

[e-mail]

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy‑related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on‑campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW‑Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.