Description

The Alaka’ina Foundation Family of Companies (FOCs) is looking for a Veterinary Technician III to support government customer located in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

In addition to your salary, you will receive a (1) one-time signing bonus

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assisting veterinarian and research personnel with examinations and procedures to include the safe and correct handling and restraint of animals for observation and/or minor procedures.
• Cleaning and sanitizing animal rooms, facility and animal care equipment and associated animal facility areas
  Administering clinical treatments (topical, oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, and intradermal) to critical and chronic animals
  Maintaining accurate documentation and animal medical records.
• Recognizing changes in animal clinical condition indicative of complications or an emergency situation and alerts veterinarian and/or research personnel.
  Accurately calculating drug dosages.
• Disposing of animal carcasses following established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Performing anesthesia recovery and post-operative care for animals.
• Performing animal health observations and reports any abnormal conditions or behavior of animals to the Veterinarian, Facility Manager, Vivarium Manager, and/or Surgery Manager.
• Performing basic preoperative preparation of animals to include clipping and scrubbing of surgical sites.
• Monitoring basic animal vital signs to include taking temperature, pulse, and respiration rate before surgery, during surgery, and during recovery from surgery.
• Operating advanced anesthesia equipment and associated monitoring devices with supervision. Includes the collection of physiological data.
• Performing basic laboratory procedures such as fecal analysis, urinalysis, and PCV.
• Performing supportive administrative duties including animal medical record review, training record filing and review.
• Performing euthanasia and necropsy of laboratory animals as required.
• Operating advanced diagnostic equipment including Computed Tomography, C-arm radiography, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
• Operating advanced anesthesia equipment and associated monitoring devices which includes the collection of physiological data.
• Works under indirect supervision on all invasive medical and/or surgical procedures during day or night shift.
• Maintaining inventory of veterinary drugs and supplies
• Providing onboarding of new Veterinary Support Branch Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians.
• Performs all levels of patient care in any Operating Room, ICU, Preparation Room and Animal Bio-Safety Level Rooms within the Vivarium
• Demonstrates an understanding of the theory behind all research procedures performed.
• Plans, organizes and accomplishes assignments with limited assistance.  Self-directed and works independently on complex or sensitive projects as well as an integral part of a research team.  Working within tight timeframes is critical.
• Assists and/or performs sterile and non-sterile surgical procedures on large and small animals, to include but not limited to placement of carotid and femoral catheters, implant telemetry devices, and perform microsurgery on rodents.
• Provides instrumentation, surgical procedures, intensive care, and observation during recovery and survival stages
• Administers experimental treatments, collects samples, and observation associated with the collection of research data.
• Performs necropsy, tissue collection, processing, and preservation, and carcass disposal.
• Cleans, sterilizes, and maintains all instruments and equipment in the surgery area, and prepares catheters and other devices for use in sterile procedures.
• Conducts daily calibration of instrumentation, monitoring equipment, and data collection systems.
• Recognizes changes in animal clinical condition indicative of complications or an emergency situation and alerts veterinarian and/or research investigator.
• Accurately calculates drug dosages and administers clinical treatments (topical, oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intradermal, etc.) to critical and chronic animals.
• Monitors basic animal vital signs to include taking temperature, pulse, and respiration rate before surgery, during surgery, during recovery from surgery.
• Performs anesthesia recovery and post-operative care for animals.
• Ensures all pertinent supplies related to protocols are available.
• Schedules and coordinates all surgical/ICU/after-hours/ABSL2 calendar events, procedures, and protocols for contracted staff (per internal ISR report).
• Place percutaneous vascular lines and perform an intravenous cut down for vascular access.
• Credentials all Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians in all aspects of their areas of expertise within 45 days of new hire (per internal USAISR credentialing program report).
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Requirements

REQUIRED DEGREE/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Maintain either current state veterinary licensure, certification, or registration to practice veterinary medicine as a skilled Technician or completed the Laboratory Animal Technician certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Acceptable titles include - Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), or Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT).
• 3-5 years of experience utilizing human clinical anesthesia equipment (similar to Drager) and infusion pumps (similar to Plum A+ and BD Alaris (TM) pumps), associated advanced monitoring devices, and administering Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA).
   

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least two to four (2-4) years’ laboratory experience is desired.
• Experience with anesthesia
• Experience providing animal veterinary technical support in a DoD environment is preferred.
   

REQUIRED CITIZENSHIP AND CLEARANCE:

• Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Must be able to pass a NACI background check