Zoo Hospital Vet Tech

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Zoo Hospital Vet Tech

Salary

$43,243.00 - $51,336.00 Annually

Location

Boise, ID

Job Type

Full Time Regular

Job Number

23 -06817

Department

Parks & Recreation

Division

Zoo Operations

Opening Date

08/30/2024

Closing Date

9/20/2024 12:00 PM Mountain

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Summary Statement

Zoo Boise is about conservation, education, and recreation. Join us as a Hospital Vet Tech and be a part of the amazing team bringing animals and people together to benefit wildlife not just in Boise, but worldwide.

Hospital vet technician provides for the dietary, health, and environmental needs of native and exotic animals at Zoo Boise. Oversees certified technical and medical assistance in the care and treatment of all zoo specimens both in the collection and in quarantine. Serves as one of two weekend zoo supervisors and interacts with zoo guests. Work is performed independently under general direction.

City employees enjoy a top-notch zero-premium healthcare option for you and your family. Plus, a retirement plan that provides a lifetime annuity, investment matching, a cash-incentive wellness program, public employee student loan forgiv e ness , paid parental leave, and more. Imagine that.

Essential Functions

Works with veterinarian to manage, track, and schedule all animal procedures and follow up care. Sets up and cleans up after animal procedures by preparing hospital with necessary pharmaceuticals including anesthetics, vaccines and antibiotics, and equipment. Prepares instruments for surgery and assists veterinarian with medical, surgical, and preventive veterinary care including emergency care for ill and injured animals, injections, and animal restraint. Oversees the administration of treatments as directed, assists with routine laboratory diagnostic tests, performs dental exams, and teeth cleaning. Manages the collection and schedules of all lab diagnostics with outside agencies.

Oversees all care for animals assigned to clinic and nursery and observes health status. Manages all neonatal care and hand rearing. Manages the administration of medication to animal collection by keeper staff as directed by the zoo veterinarian. Provides safe and effective restraint and handling of hospital patients. Performs venipuncture, anesthetic induction and monitoring, injections, weighing, placement of intravenous catheters, fluid therapy, and radiography. Monitors animals under anesthesia and in intensive care. Observes animals and provides accurate reports and veterinary technical services. Prepares routine and special reports concerning the animal's physical and behavioral health. Assists in maintenance of medical pharmacy, including ordering medical supplies and non-narcotic drugs. Maintains, cleans, and restocks necropsy suite. Assists with post-mortem exams and tissue collection, preservation, and submission. Develops and maintains proficiency on remote delivery (dart) system. Serves on emergency immobilization team and maintains readiness for animal emergencies. Drives van, truck, or mule to carry out responsibilities.

Oversees and maintains hospital including cleaning, disinfection, restocking of materials, and sterilization of instruments and equipment. Maintains work space tidiness, upkeep of procedure kits, and emergency boxes. Performs collection, processing and preparation for shipment, and evaluation of clinical laboratory samples, including blood, fecal, and urine samples. Works with zoo facilities staff to ensure all hospital facilities are in good repair an operational. Provides accurate and timely reports.

Ensures animal health and safety by making regular observations and inspections of cages, facilities, and animal behavior for all animals in the zoo collection and facilitates. Creates and maintains records with data like animal descriptions, sex, diet, and behavioral characteristics. Investigates cases of unusual animal behavior, documents and reports behavior to veterinarian. Prepares food for animals with regards to species, natural eating behavior and foods, special diets or circumstances, and recommended frequency. Ensures animals receive proper training and enrichment opportunities while in hospital care. Oversees zoo volunteers or interns in the hospital on a daily basis. Serves as animal medical liaison in the absence of the veterinarian

Conducts various presentations, tours, and classes for groups, individuals, and related public events. Creates educational activities for schools and classes. Interacts with the public and answers questions regarding animals, zoo activities, and upcoming events. Will serve as weekend duty manager in absence of General Curator or Veterinarian. Purchases medical supplies and works with finance to bill and code as needed. Assists with other zoo operations as needed.

Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Requirements

Required Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• Must have graduated from a veterinary technology program accredited or approved by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) of the American Veterinary Medical Association or equivalent program and be a

• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in the State of Idaho or eligible to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.

• 2 years of experience as a certified veterinary technician and experience with appropriate capture and restraint techniques.

Knowledge of:

• anatomy and physiology, proper handling/capture techniques, and husbandry of a wide range of exotic animal species;

• habits and hazards of working with wild animals;

• proper safety precautions.

Ability to:

• build and maintain large cages that can safely and efficiently house small to large animals;

• make exhibit repairs while ensuring safety of coworkers and general public;

• operate hand and power tools;

• properly feed, care for, and handle a wide variety of animals;

• make presentations to a variety of groups;

• communicate effectively verbally and in writing;

• adapt to frequently changing conditions; handle potentially dangerous animals;

• utilize guns and related emergency equipment in the event of an escaped animal;

• display an attitude of cooperation and work harmoniously with all levels of City employees, the general public, and other organizations;

• communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance;

• complete assignments in a timely fashion;

• understand and comply with all rules, policies and regulations;

• maintain prompt and regular attendance;

• perform all essential and marginal functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor, and/or manager with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Individuals must be capable of operating vehicles safely and have an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• 4 years of experience working with small to large non-domestic animals in a zoo facility or farm setting,

• 1 year of advanced training with exotic animals or wildlife species.

• Extensive experience working in a veterinarian hospital.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Knowledge of

• Animal Record Keeping System (ARKS), Medical ARKS (MedARKS), and Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) database programs.

• Proficiency with Microsoft office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Licensing And Other Requirements

• Valid Idaho driver’s license

• Veterinary Technician certification/license

Special Requirements

Applicants must be able to pass:

• City of Boise background check processes which includes a criminal history check and reference checks in accordance with the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation

• Driving Record Check

• Education Verification

Drug Free Workplace: In accordance with the City of Boise Drug-Free Workplace Regulation, this position is designated as safety-sensitive and is subject to testing requirements including Post Offer Applicant Testing, Random Testing, Reasonable Suspicion, Post-Accident, etc. Applicants will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to hire. Appointment to this position is contingent upon a negative pre-employment drug test.

This position is required to exercise custodial responsibility for illegal drugs or precursors.

Working Conditions

The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Efforts

While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally lifting/carrying up to 75 pounds. Also, the employee is occasionally pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds. The noise level is occasionally very loud. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, smell and touch. Work in this position also includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Employees will sit, stand, walk, runn, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb and balance. Position requires hand/finger dexterity.Additional physical efforts include: pushing, pulling, lifting and and otherwise maneuver animals of all sizes..

Working Environment

The work environment will include inside conditions, outdoor weather conditions, extreme temperatures, in wet and humid conditions, areas of dust, odors, mist and gases or other airborne matter. Employees are exposed to mechanical hazards, work in/at heights and confined spaces. Employees will also drive a vehicle as part of this position. Work includes protected exposure to infectious bacteria, bodily fluids and chemicals. Employees commonly work with exotic animals to include snakes; lions; tigers; zebras, and other Zoo animals.

This position works:

Top talent deserves top-notch benefits. The City is among the best in the Treasure Valley when it comes to the benefits and perks we offer our employees.

Most positions are eligible for the general benefits listed here; firefighters, police officers, senior managers, command staff, and directors may be offered other benefit plans.

Healthcare:

• ZERO premium medical coverage option for you and your family

• Low-cost dental and vision options.

• Post-employment health savings account.

Retirement and Investment Plans:

• PERSI retirement benefits

• 401(k) or 457b pre-tax investment options with employer match.

• 457b Roth after-tax investment options with no match

WellBeing Program:

• Up to $500 cash per year for participants.

• Alternative transportation incentives.

Paid Leave – City employees receive generous paid leave:

• 10 hours of vacation per month, and this increases the longer you stay with the City

• 12 paid holidays every year

• 8 hours of sick leave per month

• 10 weeks Parental Leave

Life & Long Term Disability:

• Basic Life insurance at no cost to you

• Long Term Disability insurance at no cost to you

Other optional benefits:

• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

• Supplemental Life Insurance

• Supplemental Disability Insurance

• Tuition reimbursement

• Free local bus pass

• Corporate discount programs

• AFLAC

• Employee Assistance Program for short-term counseling on work, family, finances, and personal issues.

Please visit our website for further details mybenefits.cityofboise.org