Veterinary Technician

Job Description

Are you a credentialed (or soon-to-be) Veterinary Technician who wants to expand beyond basic, routine care and work in high-volume surgical and medical services with state-of-the-art equipment? Are you at your professional best in a flexible, fast-paced, highly collaborative, and supportive environment? Is working alongside a positive, professional team that prioritizes pet lifesaving and maintains the highest care standards important to you?

What you will do: You'll be a vital member of our veterinary medical team supporting pet health and wellbeing at Burlington Animal Services' (BAS) Pet Adoption and Resource Center (PARC). You'll utilize advanced veterinary technical skills in administering medical and surgical care for diverse pet health needs. Throughout the day, you'll be responsible for working collaboratively with other staff, veterinarians, fosters, adopters, and leaders to address pet health needs with a focus on achieving positive outcomes, and after-hours, you'll have opportunities to earn supplemental on-call pay in addition to your base salary through rotational on-call responsibility for providing virtual and on-site support for foster pet health emergencies. You will administer DVM-directed veterinary care within the scope of permitted practice for RVTs in North Carolina.

About Us: BAS is a department of the City of Burlington, NC, which serves residents across Alamance County and is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and people through our commitment to pet lifesaving, public service, proactive support, community collaboration, and solutions-oriented, positive outcomes. Empowering our community through compassion and responsibility, BAS envisions a future where every pet and person thrive together. We are committed to providing comprehensive care and support through innovative programs, proactive initiatives, and collaboration with our community. Our vision is to create a community where pets and their families are united and positive outcomes are achieved through our dedication to public service. BAS is committed to a no-kill philosophy and practice, which means we are transparent and work collaboratively with our community to save every pet that can be saved. BAS cares for over 6,000 pets annually at the PARC and maintains a 90% or greater level of pet lifesaving. Learn more about us at burlingtonnc.gov/pets.

Examples of Duties

Veterinary Care and Support:

• Pet Health Assessments: Monitor and evaluate pets' physical and mental well-being through observation, data review, and physical examinations, addressing health abnormalities as needed.
• Coordinate with Veterinarians: Collaborate with DVMs for case reviews, examinations, diagnoses, and treatment plans for pets requiring medical attention.
• Administer Treatments: Provide treatments as directed by DVM recommendations or standing orders from the Chief DVM.

• Surgical Support: Perform anesthesia administration, intubation, surgical preparation, monitoring, assisting, and post-operative recovery for high-volume surgeries.
• Medical Procedures: Conduct various medical tasks, including catheterization, fluid therapy, dental work, and in-house diagnostics (e.g., CBC, viral testing, cytology, digital radiographs, and ultrasound).
• Euthanasia: Administer humane euthanasia for pets experiencing irremediable suffering.

• Maintain Medical Areas: Ensure the cleanliness, organization, and sterility of the medical and surgical suites, equipment, instruments, and pharmacy.
• Inventory Control: Manage medical supply inventory, track metrics, and prepare reports to identify trends and ensure efficiency.

• Digital Records: Create and maintain accurate, detailed digital health records, documenting all treatments, medications, procedures, and DEA-scheduled drug usage.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to guidelines set by NCVMB, NCDA&CS, NCGA, and BAS policies within areas of responsibility.

• Pet Health Counseling: Provide thorough health-related guidance to fosters and adopters, ensuring the well-being of pets' post-adoption or fostering.
• Training and Mentorship: Offer instructions and guidance to staff, volunteers, and student interns regarding pet care and handling.
• Collaborative Communication: Foster positive relationships and maintain professional, cooperative interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

• Fear-Free Techniques: Employ Fear-Free methods to reduce stress and ensure the safety of pets during care.
• Safe Work Practices: Follow established safety protocols in all aspects of work.

• Other Duties as Assigned: Take on additional tasks as needed to support the organization's mission and ensure effective operations.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Regulatory & Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of relevant regulations and industry guidelines, including NC G.S. Chapters related to animal protection, veterinary practice, rabies control, controlled substances, and animal welfare standards.
• Veterinary Competency Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of the competencies expected of veterinary technicians, particularly in shelter medicine, high-volume sterilization, and veterinary practices.
• Advanced Veterinary Skills: Proficient in performing both basic and advanced veterinary procedures, utilizing proper techniques to ensure optimal care for animals.
• Technology Proficiency: Skilled in using Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel) and other relevant software applications (Chameleon, Acuity, Digital Radiology, Canva) to support daily operations and responsibilities.
• Adaptability & Flexibility: Able to stay flexible and responsive to frequent changes in priorities, workload, and assignments, maintaining efficiency in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong Communication Skills: Effective in listening, reading, and comprehending complex information; capable of clear and professional communication in both written and oral formats, with a focus on interpersonal relations.
• Sound Judgment & Decision-Making: Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions, especially in high-pressure situations.
• Independent & Collaborative Work Style: Capable of working both independently and as part of a team, adapting to various work environments and project needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in any field and current enrollment or completion of veterinary medical technology program and one year of directly related work experience.
• Valid Driver's License

Special Requirements:

• Euthanasia Technician Certification (EBI) in the State of North Carolina in good standing (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
• Fear Free Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Candidates licensed by the NCVMB as a registered veterinary technician (RVT).
• Previous work experience with shelter medicine and high-volume surgery.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Handle pets that are sick or injured, frightened, dangerous, and who may display unpredictable behavior.
• Individual must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.
• Stand, sit, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to perform procedures and handle pets.
• Must be able to lift, carry, and restrain pets and operate vehicles and equipment.
• Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous conditions such as aggressive animals, potential exposure to radiation and anesthetic gasses, hazardous chemicals, drugs, and zoonotic diseases.
• Work in this position is primarily performed indoors.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Inclement Weather Classification: Non-Essential

This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are