JOB TITLE:         Veterinary Technician III

Summary

Under the direction of the Sr. Veterinary Technician or Facility Veterinarian, the Veterinary Technician III shall primarily be responsible for daily rounds, preliminary health exams of sick animals prior to reporting to the Facility Veterinarian, examination of incoming animals, assistance with the animal surveillance program, training and execution of technical procedures, and coordinating facility service requests between subordinate staff and researchers.  This person must be knowledgeable of Veterinary Medical terminology and trained in animal treatment and care of small laboratory animals.

Requirements

Employee must have a high school diploma and meet one of the following:  AA degree in Veterinary Technology, AALAS certification LAT, or experience working with animals in biomedical research (preferred) or companion animal practice and be eligible to take the LATG certification.

Duties:

• Perform as a lead VT in assigned areas.
• Communicate with the veterinarians, researchers, and colleagues on the proper care and support of animals.
• Provide care to research animals, performing health observations, and providing veterinary care as directed, reporting problems or abnormalities to the Attending Veterinarian and lead technician(s).
• Administer drugs or treatments to animals, as directed, including the calculation of dosage, and recording of drug use in Controlled Drug logs or animal clinical records.
• Knowledge of intensive care and monitoring equipment including, but not limited to intravenous fluid therapy delivery system; intensive care cages used for physiological homeostasis by maintaining environmental parameters; Datascope ECG monitoring by telemetry; pulse oximetry and blood gas monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of intubation, vital monitoring, and triage of NHPs. 
• Assist positioning animals for examination or treatment.
• Ensure that records, logbooks, and other clinical and records are appropriately and contemporaneously maintained.
• Coordinate work schedules between researchers and management.
• Assist in experimental planning and logistics/scheduling requirements.
• Assist the Sr. Veterinary Technician in anticipating and planning for changing workloads and schedules.
• Seek and provide specialized training or cross training to maximize delivery of services.
• Identify and report potential problem areas related to animal use, care, health, or problems with facilities or equipment which might be hazardous to animals or personnel.
• Assure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALAC accreditation of the animal facility.
• Ensure all safety requirements are met.
• Monitoring and executing the sentinel animal program.
• Help perform Quality Compliance checks within facilities.
• Maintain a broad general knowledge and competence in lab animal husbandry and technical procedures Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of animals at the NIH.
• Perform routine animal husbandry and cage wash functions as needed during emergencies.
• Open to other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

1. Handling and manipulating animals.
2. Literate in written and spoken English.
3. Experience in an animal facility or previous skills working in a Veterinary Clinic.
4. Knowledgeable in PC applications including Word documents and spreadsheets.