JOB TITLE:        NHP Veterinary Technician I/II

Summary

Under the direction of the Sr. Veterinary Technician or Facility Veterinarian, the Veterinary Technician shall primarily be responsible for daily rounds, preliminary health exams of sick animals, reporting to the veterinarians, examination of all incoming animals for overt signs of illness, and assistance with the animal surveillance program for NHP species.  This person must be knowledgeable of veterinary medical terminology, animal treatment, nursing, and observations and communicating abnormal or poor health.  This person will be responsible for assisting investigators with technical procedures including sedation, anesthetic monitoring, bleeding, drug administration, identification of animals, restraint, and keeping appropriate records. 

Requirements

Level I: Employee must have a high school diploma, hold an Associate Arts Degree in Veterinary Technology or experience working with animals in biomedical research preferable) or companion animal practice and be eligible to take the LAT certification.

Level II: Employee must have a high school diploma, hold an Associate Arts Degree in Veterinary Technology or B.S. degree in biology, animal science or similar discipline, experience working with animals in biomedical research preferable) or companion animal practice and be eligible to take the LATG certification

Duties

• Provide care to research animals, performing health observations, reporting problems or abnormalities to the veterinarians.
• Assess and document clinical observations, body weight data, food consumption data, environmental data, and other data on the appropriate forms.
• Ensure that records, logbook, and other clinical and project records are appropriately and contemporaneously maintained.
• Administer drugs or treatments including dose calculation and controlled drug record keeping.
• Communicate with all staff to care for animals and provide high quality services to the customers.
• Coordinate work schedules with researchers and the supervisors.
• Restraint and positioning of animals for examination or treatment.
• Monitoring and executing the sentinel animal program.
• Assure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALAC accreditation of the NIH animal facility.
• Assist, when requested, in experimental planning and logistics/scheduling requirements.
• Maintain facility cleanliness along with sanitation and sterilization of supplies and equipment.
• Ensure all safety requirements are met.
• Identify and report potential problem areas related to animal use, care, or health, or problems with facilities or equipment which might be hazard to animals or personnel.
• Compliance with the QA/QC program.
• Pursue specialized training or cross training to maximize delivery of services.
• Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of animals at the NIH.
• Maintain a broad general knowledge and competence in lab animal science husbandry, technical procedures, and facility management.
• Perform other duties as assigned to include routine animal husbandry and cage wash functions as needed during emergencies.

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