Veterinary Technician - The Raptor Center UMN
This position provides veterinary technician services at The Raptor Center (TRC)’s veterinary hospital. The primary responsibilities include supporting diagnostic procedures and providing anesthesia assistance during medical and surgical procedures, along with performing a variety of veterinary medical support services and patient care duties. Incumbents are expected to develop proficiency in TRC clinic protocols and required tasks and, following training, to independently and completely carry out assigned responsibilities without close supervision. This position requires flexible scheduling, including working weekends, holidays, and outside normal business hours.
The essential functions of the job include tasks that support the overall daily functions of TRC’s clinic by providing a continuum of veterinary and animal care support, including when a senior certified veterinary technician (CVT) is not on duty. This role requires exceptional communication and organizational skills to successfully work with multiple staff members, students, and volunteers.
Primary Responsibilities:
Veterinary technician duties - 45%
Laboratory tests and procedures: perform manual avian complete blood cell counts, in-house blood lead testing, in-house fecal evaluations, in-house culture and sensitivity testing; coordinate sample submission to external labs; and enter diagnostic results into a digital medical record system.
Anesthesia and Surgery: set-up for surgical and anesthetic procedures, pre-medicate and induce general anesthesia in raptor patients, monitor general anesthesia, address anesthetic-related complications, place intravenous and intraosseous catheters, assist with sterile surgical procedures, recover patients from general anesthesia, enter anesthetic records into a digital medical record system, and assist with cleaning, restocking, and sterile instrument preparation.
Clinic support tasks and general patient care - 40%
Assist with care of wild raptor patients undergoing medical treatment, which may include but is not limited to: basic patient restraint, bloodwork, radiographs, medication administration and treatments, feeding, cleaning, and completing all related medical records and paperwork.
Assist with clinic maintenance tasks, such as but not limited to: cleaning instruments, wrapping packs, autoclaving, restocking the treatment room space, compounding medications, inventory, and receiving.
Interface with the public, returning phone calls and answering questions about injured birds, and assist in arranging transport for injured patients as needed.
Volunteer training and engagement - 5%
Assist with training and supervision of volunteers in the various aspects of their clinical work
Daily volunteer interaction and stewardship
Assist the clinic manager in providing volunteer training and volunteer engagement opportunities, such as patient updates and continuing education opportunities including but not limited to training, workshops, and patient update stories
Teaching and outreach - 5%
Assist with hands-on training of visiting students and professionals
May have the opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of TRC’s clinical training offerings, and externally facing conference presentations
Represent TRC in a professional manner consistent with TRC clinic’s identified mission and goals
Other duties as assigned - 5%
Location and Work environment: In-person at The Raptor Center Clinic
Work Schedule:
This is a full-time position averaging 40 hours per week. Shifts vary throughout the year based on daylight hours. Standard scheduling consists of five 8-hour shifts per week, with start and end times scheduled within the window of 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM. In some circumstances, schedules may be adjusted to four 10-hour shifts to meet operational needs. Overtime must be approved in advance by a supervisor.
Regular work days will include weekdays and weekends, with days off generally falling midweek (most commonly Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday). Staff schedules may be adjusted, with advance notice, to provide coverage during vacations.
Due to the high volume of patient care during the summer months, vacation time in July and August is limited for this position.
Pay Range: $23.32 (step 1) - $25.74 (step 6) depending on education/qualifications/experience
Apply online via the UMN jobs page listed as the web page on this ad - job code 373050