Animal Health Technician Lead (Veterinary Technician Lead), Austin Animal Services (Veterinary Division)

Animal Health Technician Lead

Under general supervision of veterinarians, this position is responsible for leading staff to provide high quality medical care and treatment to animals at a high-capacity animal shelter. This includes routine, preventative, and emergency care of sheltered animals, as well as providing support functions to veterinarians during surgical procedures.

Provides staff with training, instruction, and assignment of duties, ensuring daily completion of tasks. This includes assigning priorities to projects or tasks to best use resources to achieve success. Makes observations and reports on staff performance.

Performs accurate and timely inventory and ordering of veterinary services supplies to include all pharmaceuticals, biological, and controlled substances in order to ensure surgical areas are supplied with the correct equipment, instruments, and supplies.

Monitors the health and welfare of animals within the shelter and provides medical care under the direction of staff veterinarians, to include performing physical examinations, vaccinations, in-house laboratory tests, collecting specimens, and diagnostics to determine and evaluate the health condition of animals at the time of impound or prior to adoption or surgery.

Assists veterinarians in surgery to include preparing and administering pre-anesthetics and induction agents, monitoring the animal during surgery, and providing post-operative care.

Assists in the euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, and supervisors with understanding and compassion for the animal.

Assists Veterinarians with emergency care and treatment in life-threatening situations.

Implants microchips in sheltered animals. Informs the public tactfully and courteously about medical treatments for shelter animals.

Maintains accurate and relevant written and electronic records of medical treatments.

Provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal animal health laws and regulations.

Knowledge of disease management and safety protocols.

Knowledge of animal services and related programs.

Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge of current principles and practice of veterinary medicine as it relates to shelter medicine.

Knowledge of animal care and husbandry of common breeds of dogs, cats, livestock, and other animals kept as domestic pets.

Knowledge of general surgical procedures, aseptic technique, and operation of common equipment used in providing veterinary care.

Knowledge of euthanasia techniques.

Skill in safely handling animals, including those with unknown temperament.

Skill in providing medical care services to a wide variety of well, sick, and injured animals; including support of high volumes spay/neuter operations.

Skill in identifying normal and abnormal behavior and signs of disease including the symptoms of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.

Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.

Skill in using computers and related software applications.

Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

Ability to train others.

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of experience in a field related to direct contact with companion animals.

Valid Texas Class C Driver License.

Experience working within a team in a fast-paced environment with cats and dogs as a Veterinary Technician under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Experience working as a surgical technician in a veterinary hospital/animal shelter with demonstrated experience in inducing, monitoring, and recovering anesthesia inpatients and using anesthesia/monitoring equipment.

Demonstrated skill in safely handling animals of all sizes including those over 50 lbs. & including those with behavioral issues.

Experience dealing with euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, and supervisors with understanding and compassion for the animal.

Experience with training others in processes and procedures related to veterinary medicine and/or surgery.