Temple University

Description

Grade: V17 $29.75/hour

Summary:

The Sr. Research Associate (Vet Tech II) is a senior veterinary technician/veterinary nurse responsible for high-quality care of research animals at Temple. The individual will work for the University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) department. The individual must have experience and demonstrated competency and proficiency in working with a wide variety of laboratory animals, including rodents and large animals. The individual will be required to provide high-quality veterinary care as directed by department veterinarians. The individual must demonstrate expertise in animal handling, administration of medications by all available routes, identification of clinical signs of illness and disease, induction, and monitoring of anesthesia, assisting staff veterinarians with treatments and procedures, and he/she must be able to follow directions as given by department veterinarians.

For this mid-level position, the individual must perform all the duties performed by a of a Vet Tech I. The individual is also expected to be able to work independently for most basic tasks, while relying on the Veterinary Technician Supervisor and the Clinical Veterinarian(s) for direction on novel tasks. The individual must be able to work independently to ensure the health and well-being of the animals under their care and independently make appropriate decisions regarding treatments with input from and consultation with the Veterinary Technician Supervisor and/or the Clinical Veterinarian(s). The individual must possess a more advanced knowledge of veterinary procedures and techniques and should be building on general knowledge beyond an entry-level position. This individual should be able to provide feedback and commentary to improve department policies and procedures, in consultation with senior veterinary staff. This individual must be able to assess an animal’s condition and be able to translate best veterinary practices to provide optimal comfort and care for the animals. The individual must be able to quickly assess situations and make judgements that maximize animal welfare and minimize negative impacts on research.

Essential Functions:

Surgical Support/Anesthesia

• Provide proper pre-, peri-, and post-operative animal care and associated husbandry.
• Set up operating suite (operating rooms, procedure rooms, recovery rooms, surgeon prep rooms) properly to include disinfection of rooms, equipment, and supplies.
• Work in systems requiring aseptic technique.
• Provide proper induction and maintenance of anesthesia for all species used in Temple research projects and clinical cases.
• Demonstrate competency and proficiency in managing anesthesia with occasional guidance and supervision by senior veterinary staff.
• Be able to identify and report issues related to anesthetic complications regarding the status of the anesthetized patient and anesthetic equipment.
• Assist with surgical procedures to provide best outcomes for the patient.
• Be able to assist investigators with recommendations for basic best veterinary practices regarding anesthesia and surgical techniques.
• Maintain proper records regarding anesthetic procedures, including anesthesia monitoring.
• Perform proper medical waste disposal, including final disposition of animals.
• Submitting proper forms for billing and chargebacks for applicable procedures.
• Must be able to follow all SOPs applicable to surgical and anesthetic procedures.
• Must be able to train entry level veterinary technicians on appropriate surgical support and anesthesia techniques.

Preventive Health

• Lead for the execution of the rodent animal health surveillance program under guidance of ULAR veterinarians and based on established SOPs. This includes scheduling of testing, completing submission forms, collecting and processing samples, maintaining records, and managing outbreaks under the direction of the ULAR Clinical Veterinarian(s).
• Must be able to identify sick or injured animals to identify potential infectious disease issues in animal colonies. Train entry level technicians and animal caretakers on common clinical conditions.
• Must be able to perform physical examinations on rodents and large animals to identify illnesses or injuries.
• Must be able to document findings properly in the animal medical record.
• Provide feedback based on knowledge and experience to improve rodent health surveillance program.
• Must be able to manage time to ensure any preventive health requires are completed on time according to the SOPs.
• Must be able to work in systems to minimize biosecurity risks to research animals.
• Must be able to work with, understand, and troubleshoot environmental and equipment monitoring (anesthesia machines, autoclaves, bacteriological monitoring, etc.)

Training

• Primarily provide or assist with providing training for research and ULAR staff as needed in areas based on personal knowledge and expertise.
• Assist with training of entry level veterinary technicians through demonstration and evaluation of techniques new to them.
• Assist with developing PowerPoint presentations to train research and ULAR staff members in areas relevant to each group’s job requirements.

Employment at Temple University means much more than a competitive salary. Temple strives to maintain a culture of diversity and inclusivity and provide employees with opportunities for growth and advancement. You will enjoy a collaborative working environment that values innovation and creativity. Our health and wellness benefits are among the best in the region, and our retirement savings plans allow you to plan for the future. Temple University offers many opportunities for employees to enhance skills, gain new perspectives and grow professionally. For example, you can earn your bachelor's degree or an advanced degree through our tuition remission benefit or develop your management and leadership skills in one of our HR Learning and Development's academies. Temple University employees also enjoy recreational, entertainment, and cultural activities both on campus and throughout the Philadelphia region.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of working at Temple University.

Required Education & Experience:

Associate degree in a life science or related discipline. (May substitute experience for formal education on a 2 for 1 basis).

1 or more years of veterinary technician experience.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in life science discipline, or graduation from an accredited school in veterinary technology.

3 years as a veterinary technician with increasing responsibilities over that time.

Experience with large animal anesthesia.

Experience with surgical support and recovery.

Preferred Licenses/certificates/registrations:

Certification as a Veterinary Technician (CVT, LVT, RVT, etc) highly desirable.

AALAS certification at LAT level or higher is highly desirable.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to read, write, and understand the English language.
• Willingness to work with and handle rodents, USDA-covered species, and other animal species involved in the Temple University animal program.
• Demonstrated ability to repeatedly lift 50 lbs.
• Must be able to operate standard laboratory equipment (autoclaves, centrifuges, animal clippers, anesthesia monitoring equipment, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills, along with the ability to be detail-oriented and to handle multiple tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated computer skills, along with the ability to operate standard office equipment and software including MS Office.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with diverse populations of students, faculty and staff.
• Ability to work occasional overtime, including early mornings and/or late afternoons, and weekend and holiday rotations.

This position requires a background check.

Temple University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all in every aspect of its operations, including employment, service, and educational programs. The University has pledged not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or veteran status.

Compliance Statement: In the performance of their functions as detailed in the position description employees have an obligation to avoid ethical, legal, financial and other conflicts of interest to ensure that their actions and outside activities do not conflict with their primary employment responsibilities at the institution. Employees are also expected to understand and be in compliance with applicable laws, University and employment policies and regulations, including NCAA regulations for areas and departments which their essential functions cause them to interact.

To obtain additional information about Temple University please visit our website at www.temple.edu.

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You may request a copy of the report by calling Temple University’s Campus Safety Services at 215-204-7900.