Senior Veterinary Technician - Specialty Services Supervisor

Senior Veterinary Technician

The Foster Hospital for Small Animals is a premier academic veterinary hospital delivering round the clock, high quality care for companion animals and exotics. Our team provides cutting edge specialty and emergency services while training the next generation of veterinary professionals. We combine exceptional patient care with a collaborative teaching environment that supports growth, innovation, and excellence.

What You'll Do

The Senior Veterinary Technician is responsible for directing the daily function and smooth operation of the Small and Large Animal Anesthesia Service. This position ensures that high-quality anesthesia support will be provided to all patients presented to the service as well as providing excellent internal customer service to clinicians, residents, interns, and students. This role is a combination of administrative time as well as on the floor time functioning as a high-level anesthesia technician. As a technician on the anesthesia team, you will perform anesthesia of all kinds, manage a busy and diverse caseload as well as support the academic mission of the hospital and teach veterinary students. Administrative duties include the coordination and scheduling of technical staff, human resources responsibilities, training, performance management and creation of proposals for improvements which will enhance the production and operation of the Anesthesia Service. This position will promote, facilitate, and develop a cohesive team spirit focusing on the highest standards of patient care. The Senior Veterinary Technician utilizes exceptional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to provide coaching and mentorship to all team members and engenders a spirit of collegiality, collaboration, and teamwork both within the section and throughout the hospital.

Leadership and Management:

• Collaborate with team members, Veterinary Technician Supervisors, Section Heads and Hospital Administration to ensure the successful operation of all anesthesia services.
• Oversee the allocation of veterinary technician resources.
• Foster an environment of open communication, trust and respect.
• Conduct and attend team, section and supervisor meetings and hold regular meetings with individual team members to enhance communication.
• Oversee the recruiting and interview process.
• Oversee the training and on-boarding for new staff.
• Provide feedback and coaching to individual veterinary technicians to enhance professional growth and improve performance. Offer feedback to the entire team to help develop healthy interpersonal dynamics within the group.
• Organize regular continuing education events for team members.
• Address questions and troubleshoot issues raised by the veterinary technician team. Elevate issues to the administration as appropriate.
• Lead the annual performance planning and evaluation process for the veterinary technician team by performing mid-year check point reviews and annual reviews for staff performance. Recommend merit increases and promotions for veterinary technicians.
• Assist Hospital Administration in the preparation of section budgets. Responsibilities include verification of section operating expenses, service contracts, creation of annual standing purchase orders and making recommendations on the need for replacing equipment if needed.
• Oversee section finances including overtime budget, supply purchasing and reconcile purchases, review and submit weekly payroll
• Manage safety policies and prepare the service for inspections.
• Oversee management of the controlled substance inventory.
• Facilitate the maintenance of clinical equipment by identifying malfunctioning equipment and scheduling service.
• Participate in Departmental and Hospital-wide initiatives as required

Clinical:

• Monitor, manage and implement treatment plans as ordered by clinicians to ensure prompt delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Assist clinicians with procedures and independently perform specialized and complicated procedures.
• Make independent nursing care decisions for advanced clinical situations without direct supervision by faculty and carry out these decisions
• Collaborate with administrative and clinical care team members throughout the hospital to coordinate and prioritize patient care.
• Complete diagnostic testing as ordered by clinicians.
• Participate in the technician on-call rotation.

Teaching and Research:

• Clinical instruction of advanced and critical care anesthesia protocols and procedures for veterinary students, interns, residents and student technicians throughout anesthesia rotation.
• Instruct veterinary students and student technicians in technical and nursing aspects of patient care.
• Engage students to ensure they are receiving a successful and fulfilling education in the department
• Participate in formal CE training.
• Assist in studies and projects as needed including treating research/laboratory animals

The schedule for this position requires flexibility to ensure that adequate patient care is provided without interruption or exception.

This position is considered essential and may be required to report to work as scheduled during emergency closings

What We're Looking For

• Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
• Associates Degree or equivalent plus 5 years related work experience
• CVT in good standing
• Demonstrated leadership skills, conflict resolution and resourcefulness
• Ability to effectively manage personal responsibilities as well as competing external requests
• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers
• Able to work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter with a professional attitude.
• Ability to work in a busy, stressful environment with diverse personalities while maintaining a calm, professional demeanor.
• Fundamental understanding of Human Resource principles, practices and regulations
• Comprehensive understanding of medical terminology and veterinary pharmacology
• Required technical skills include: IV catheterization, phlebotomy, dosage calculations, fluid therapy
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Hospital Based programs
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation

• 5 or more years experienced in a busy, fast-paced veterinary hospital
• Previous veterinary technician supervisory experience
• Experience in a large Specialty Hospital or Academic Hospital
• VTS level or VTS tracking technician
• Demonstrated ability teaching other technicians, veterinary students, veterinary technician students
• Fear Free Certification
• RECOVER Certification
• Large Animal anesthesia experience

Minimum $33.65, Midpoint $40.10, Maximum $46.60 Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.