Veterinary Technician I

University of Colorado; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado is seeking a Veterinary Technician I to perform initial health evaluations, assist with diagnostics and surgeries, and maintain comprehensive animal medical records. This role requires the ability to monitor anesthesia for large lab animals and provide essential technical veterinary services.

The position demands an associate degree in veterinary technology and licensure with Colorado DORA, with licensure expected within the first year.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in veterinary/animal health technology required.
• One year of experience caring for animals in a veterinary laboratory, breeding, or boarding facility preferred.
• Veterinary technician license or provisional registration with Colorado DORA.
• Licensure must be obtained within the first year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial evaluations on reported sick and injured animals and assist with diagnostics and treatments.
• Assist with surgical procedures and post-operative care.
• Perform physical exams on a variety of species.
• Create, maintain and monitor animal medical records.
• Provide technical services, injections, organ, blood and tissue collection.
• Perform euthanasia of animals as required.
• Perform diagnostic laboratory evaluations across hematology, parasitology, serology, microbiology, cytology, and clinical pathology.
• Collect postmortem tissues for evaluation and ship samples to diagnostic labs.
• Create diagnostic reports, records and billing for services.
• Monitor inventories and audits of supplies and controlled substances.
• Schedule rooms and reserve medical procedure equipment.
• Monitor and maintain assigned support room and supervise large lab animal surgeries and anesthesia.

Skills

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Oral and written communication

Planning and organization

Education

Associate degree in veterinary/animal health technology

DORA license or provisional registration

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

Perform initial evaluations on reported sick and injured animals and work with the investigator and veterinarian on diagnostics and treatments.
Assist with surgical procedures and post-operative care
Perform physical exams on a variety of species
Create, maintain and monitor animal medical records
Provide technical services, injections, organ, blood and tissue collection
Perform animal euthanasia
Perform diagnostic laboratory evaluations and tests in the areas of hematology, parasitology, serology, microbiology, cytology, and clinical pathology collect postmortem tissues for evaluation
Perform sample collection and ship to various diagnostic laboratoriesCreate diagnostic reports, records and billing for diagnostic services
Monitor inventories of clinical, surgical and diagnostic supplies and equipment, along with performing audits of controlled and non-controlled substances
Schedule rooms and reserve medical procedure equipment
Monitor and maintain assigned support room
Perform other duties as assigned
Serve as primary veterinary technician for supporting large lab animal surgeries and anesthesia
Independently monitor and maintain anesthesia for large lab animals

Veterinary Technician I:

An associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in veterinary/animal health technology.
One year of experience caring for, feeding, or providing health care for animals in a veterinary laboratory, breeding, or boarding facility.
Veterinary technician license or provisional registration with Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA).

Veterinary technician students, new graduates, or others who intend to acquire licensure in the 1st year of employment are eligible as well. If unlicensed, the applicant will be brought in as a veterinary technician assistant and moved to a veterinary technician I when licensure is acquired.
Licensure must be obtained within the first year of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in ineligibility for continued employment following the one-year probationary period.

Preferred Qualifications:

Current certification with the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).
Experience performing initial evaluations and physicals on large animals.
Experience working in an animal research facility.
Experience creating electronic spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel and managing electronic veterinary records
Experience ordering, tracking and maintaining biomedical research equipment

Conditions of Employment:

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.
Must be willing and able to frequently lift and carry 50 lbs
Must be willing and able to occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull up to 100 lbs, with or without accommodation.
Must be willing and able to operate moving equipment or work around machinery or moving equipment.
Must be willing and able to euthanize large and small animals
Must be willing and able to sit, stand, walk, and reach above shoulders on a constant basis
Must be willing and able to work around noise and vibrations
Must be willing and able to work straight or rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays.
Must be willing to work earlier or later hours than a typical business day based on scheduling and unanticipated procedure length or animal health needs
Must be willing and able to work around hazardous chemicals
Must possess and maintain a current State of Colorado Driver’s License
Must be willing and able to wear appropriate respiratory protection

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently with minimal supervision
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport with persons of diverse backgrounds.
Strong customer service skills.
Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.
Ability to communicate effectively in written form, which includes the ability to check for typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors.
Planning and organization skills.
Physical ability

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

Medical: Multiple plan options
Dental: Multiple plan options
Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
Holiday Days: 15/year
Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.