Temporary Aide - Animal Care - Division of Racing Events

Temporary Part Time Racing Position

This position is located in the Division of Racing, located at the Division's Arapahoe Park and off-track facility located at 26000 E. Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO, 80016. The individual is responsible for assuring the safety of racing animals, to implement the Division's laboratory testing program and to assist in developing rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to medication usage and animal welfare.

Job duties will include:

• Collection and packaging of urine samples from horses for submission to racing laboratory, paying particular attention to chain of custody procedures.
• Observe each horse's behavior to judge and decide how best to get the sample needed from that horse in the most efficient and safe way.
• Determine how to get horses through the test barn as efficiently as possible.
• Judging when to take a horse in for collection or wait on another one due to horse behavior, the handlers' behavior or the horse's need to urinate.
• Observe, educate and guide human test barn attendees on how to follow test barn procedures and rules appropriately.
• Perform as witness for the administration of Furosemide on race day by the licensed Practicing Veterinarians and collect the syringes when used.
• Updating identification from multiple databases, hard copy materials, online racing info sites, and/or interviewing persons (trainers, vets, stable gate, stewards, etc.) to gather critical information on each horse (for each and every race day) to determine whether or not they are eligible to race and entered to race.
• Obtain and study such information from multiple databases.
• Use Judgment to determine if information is valid and adequate.
• Take appropriate action through various resources to investigate and solve problems efficiently.
• Update the authorized medications for each horse, and the status of their respective health papers (Coggins tests and health certificates).
• Prepare records used during testing: Daily sample cards, daily sample record, and chain of custody forms.
• Maintenance of the test barn office and barn area including cleaning and sweeping the offices and restroom, cleaning and bedding the stalls, and leveling the shed row around the barn.
• Setting up equipment and supplies needed prior to testing horses: filling alcohol bottles (used for cooling horses), washing and disinfecting water buckets between horses; setting out water buckets, sponges, and scrapers for bathing horses.
• Attend daily racing staff meeting and provide input when requested; assist horsemen and practicing veterinarians by providing information when possible; attend hearings when requested.

Residency Requirement:

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience Only: Two years of customer service experience or office support role demonstrating decision making/multitasking as described in job duties.

OR

Education and Experience: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in

NOTE: If submitting a transcript, certification or other relevant materials, candidates may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

• In state travel required as needed
• Applicants must be willing to work nights, weekends, holidays, and maintain on-call status while off-duty for emergency response.
• Applicants must be willing and able to perform lifting, carrying, or otherwise moving objects, occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Random drug tests may be required of all positions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Determine the necessary course of action based on the appropriate situation with State of Colorado rules and regulations or policy
• Ensuring compliance with veterinary ethics and relevant statutes, policies, and procedures.
• Research and provide expert opinions on suitability of staff, supplies, and equipment
• Determine what content and information is required for reports.
• Requires flexibility for analysis, goal setting, and completion of non-routine tasks.
• Outstanding Communication Skills
• Strong affinity for animals (specifically comfort working in close proximity with high-strung performance horses).
• Ability to make prudent decisions regarding the welfare and well-being of animals
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Proficiency in Google Suite
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills