Veterinary Technician I

AAVMP; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Vision plan

Retirement 401(a) plan

Paid time off

Vacation days

Sick days

Holiday pay

Tuition benefit

ECO Pass

Job summary

The University of Colorado is seeking a Veterinary Technician I to support a busy animal research facility. The role involves initial evaluations, anesthesia, surgical assistance, and extensive laboratory work across hematology, microbiology and pathology.

Candidates need an associate degree in veterinary health technology, Colorado DORA licensure or provisional status, and a minimum of one year of related experience; licensure must be achieved within the first year.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in veterinary health technology from an accredited college.
• One year of experience caring for animals in a veterinary lab, breeding, or boarding setting.
• Licensure as a veterinary technician or provisional registration with Colorado DORA.
• If unlicensed, eligible to start as a technician assistant and upgrade after licensure.
• Licensure must be obtained within the first year of employment.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial evaluations on reported sick/injured animals with diagnostics and treatments.
• Assist with surgical procedures and post-operative care.
• Perform physical exams on multiple species and maintain medical records.
• Provide technical services: injections, organ, blood, and tissue collection.
• Perform animal euthanasia and monitor anesthesia for large lab animals.
• Conduct diagnostic lab evaluations across hematology, parasitology, serology, microbiology, cytology.
• Ship samples to diagnostic labs and create diagnostic reports and billing.
• Monitor inventories and audit controlled substances; schedule rooms/equipment.
• Maintain assigned support room; handle duties as assigned.
• Serve as primary vet tech for large lab animal surgeries and anesthesia.
• Willingness to lift up to 50–100 lbs and work around hazardous chemicals.

Skills

Vet tech experience

Multi-tasking

Customer service

Communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Associate degree in veterinary health technology

Tools

Microsoft Excel

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 laboratories
• Create 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.