Veterinary Technician- Variable Hour Not Benefit Eligible

City of Aurora; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive total compensation package

Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan

On-site fitness center

Job summary

The City of Aurora is seeking a Veterinary Technician to perform evaluations on animals, administer medications, and educate patrons regarding animal care. The ideal candidate will have an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology and the required certifications.

This role involves working in a fast-paced environment with various responsibilities including anesthesia administration and effective communication with pet owners.

Excellent customer service skills and adherence to veterinary standards are essential.

Qualifications

• Associates degree required from an accredited school.
• Credentialed as Veterinary Technician (RVT, LVT, CVT) and able to register in good standing.
• Valid Colorado Driver’s License with a good driving record.

Responsibilities

• Performs evaluations on animals and documents findings.
• Educates patrons about animals’ medical conditions and treatments.
• Administers medications and monitors animals under anesthesia.

Skills

Animal handling and restraint

Collecting samples and performing diagnostic tests

Strong customer service skills

Data entry of medical records

IV injection and catheter placement

Education

Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology

Tools

Chameleon and Windows-based programs

Job description

Location

15750 E 32nd Ave, Aurora, Colorado 80011-1518

Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well‑Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On‑site fitness center and overall employee well‑being programs
• Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs evaluations on animals, including age, gender, general health, and spay/neuter status.
• Notifies DVM of signs of injury and illness in a concise and timely manner.
• Properly documents medical evaluation and findings in computer.
• Fills prescriptions for shelter and foster animals, including treatment cards and entering medications in computer.
• Administers medications, vaccinations and microchips according to Veterinarian instruction.
• Educates patrons about animals’ medical conditions and treatments.
• Communicates with foster parents via email, phone, and/or in person regarding the health and treatment of foster animals.
• Administers anesthesia via IV, IM or SC, monitors animals under anesthesia with appropriate monitoring equipment, and recovers multiple animals post‑operatively.
• Records all surgical procedure details, including all drugs given, into patient’s medical record.
• Transfers animals to and from the treatment area, cleaning kennels as needed.
• Cleans and sterilizes surgical equipment.
• Uses, repairs, and schedules routine maintenance of medical equipment appropriately.
• Maintains and orders veterinary medical supplies from multiple vendors while staying within budget.
• Performs and monitors cleaning and sanitation of veterinary medical areas, including treatment, isolation rooms, and surgical suite.
• Checks emails daily and communicates with staff regarding issues that require attention.
• Performs euthanasia and provides technical training and euthanasia certification for other staff members.
• Strictly adheres to legal requirements for administering and recording the use of controlled substances.
• Adheres to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and creates appropriate SOPs to support policies.
• Performs radiographs.
• Supports medical issues with shelter, field, and foster animals.
• Knows common zoonotic diseases, their transmission, and prevention of spread.
• Assists with necropsies as needed.
• Supervises and trains volunteers, including Veterinary Technician students.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Working Conditions

Education

• Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Shelter and/or high‑volume spay/neuter experience.
• At least two years experience as a Veterinary Technician in surgery, animal care, and handling.

Knowledge

• Current veterinary standards and practices; dog and cat breed characteristics; and standard contagion practices in a shelter environment.
• Animal behavior and use of positive reinforcement to interact with shelter animals.
• Keeping current with shelter medical protocols, vaccination guidelines.

Skills

• Applied theoretical knowledge through hands‑on experience.
• Safe animal handling and restraint techniques, including feral cats and aggressive dogs.
• Collecting samples and performing diagnostic tests (bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal, cytology, skin scrape, infectious disease testing).
• Knowledge of a variety of surgical procedures (mass removal, spay/neuter, ophthalmic surgeries, dental procedures).
• Competence in IV injection, catheter placement, calculating fluid and drug doses per Veterinarian recommendation.
• Advanced anesthesia practice competency.
• Data entry of medical records and logging of controlled substances and treatments.
• Use of Chameleon and Windows‑based programs.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Checking information for accuracy and correcting errors.

Abilities

• Multitasking.
• Establishing effective working relationships with employees, management, citizens, and elected officials.
• Handling sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Providing humane care for a variety of animals.
• Operating in a high‑pace, high‑stress environment.
• Performing or assisting with euthanasia when required.
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Creatively solving problems, negotiating, and managing stressful situations positively.

Licenses & Certifications Required

• Must have a Veterinary Technician Associates degree from an accredited school.
• Credentialed as Veterinary Technician (RVT, LVT, CVT) and able to register in good standing with CACVT and DORA or obtain it within six months of hire.
• Valid Colorado Driver’s License with a good driving record.
• Euthanasia Certification obtained within three months of hire.

Working Conditions

Employees may be required to work as essential personnel during emergencies or disasters declared by the City.

Physical Demands

Medium work involving moving no more than 50 pounds, with or without assistance, at a time.

Work Environment

Primarily indoors; may work outdoors assisting with programs or outreach events in varying weather conditions.

Equipment Used

Standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel, and menu‑driven databases as part of automated systems. The position may require use of personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools) during employment.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer and is required by state and federal agencies to maintain certain statistical records on applicants. These records will not be used to discriminate against applicants based on sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability, military status, or gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Drug‑Free Workplace

The City of Aurora maintains a drug‑free workplace. A positive marijuana test is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the City for one year or termination once hired.