Veterinary Technician

Mountain Humane (in Hailey, Idaho) is on a mission to enrich the quality of life in our community by connecting animals and people. We do this through innovative programs that inspire and have impact beyond southern Idaho. The first “no-kill” shelter in the state of Idaho (in 1999), annually we help more than 2,500 animals and touch the lives of more than 5,000 people through our programs. We are proud to be a model for other animal welfare organizations and to be at the forefront of best-practices in non-profit management.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Veterinary Technician (VT) assists the Senior Director – Shelter Operations and Outreach, Shelter Veterinarian(s), and all Medical staff in the duties necessary in maintaining the health and welfare of the Shelter population.  The VT assists the Medical staff in the examination and treatment of our Shelter population including administering medication and vaccinations, coordinating and transporting animals for outside veterinary care when necessary, assisting with euthanasia, recording medical treatments and procedures and assisting other members of the medical team.  The Veterinary Technician must maintain strong communication channels to ensure coordination of care with the Medical staff and other staff on the animal operations team. The VT will play a vital role in preparing, monitoring, and recovering animals from surgery for in house surgeries as well as public spay and neuter clinics.

Classification: Full time, Non-exempt

Reports to: Clinic Manager

Collaborates with: Foster Manager, Animal Care and Adoption Leads, and Behavior Manager

Location: Hailey, Idaho

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will be a licensed Veterinary Technician, have the minimum of a high school diploma, have at least 1-year experience working as a Veterinary Technician in a shelter environment and be at least 18 years of age

Applicants that have at least 1-year experience working as a Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician, a minimum of a high school diploma and are at least 18 years of age may be considered

• Mountain Humane is willing to train the right candidate and assist with further education and certifications

Must have knowledge of proper administration and dosage of medication to animals

Ability to draw blood and collect urine and fecal samples; ability to perform other lab tests as directed

Ability to administer IV medications and intubate animals

Ability to monitor animals under anesthesia and troubleshoot medical emergencies

A genuine compassion for all animals, regardless of their condition

Excellent skills in companion animal handling and restraint

Ability to accurately complete and maintain files, records and forms both physical and digital versions through shelter software

A proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy, physically-demanding workplace environment

Must work well with the public, including children, persons of varied racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual preference, and with individuals who are differently-abled

Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to work well in a team and independently

Must be highly organized, motivated and remain flexible under pressure

Attention to detail and ability to organize and set priorities is a must

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the public

A desire to learn and ability to stay open-minded

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medical and Surgical Clinic Support

• Assist in maintaining all surgical and medical equipment including tools and supplies
• Assist in scheduling routine maintenance and ensuring all medical equipment is in good working condition
• Oversee that adequate stock of surgical supplies including surgery packs and oxygen are available for surgery each day
• Assist Shelter Veterinarian with surgeries by preparing, monitoring, and recovering animals including documentation of anesthetic monitoring
• Assist with the maintenance and cleanliness of medical/surgical center, including cleaning medical instruments and clinic and isolation kennels
• Assist in medical data entry for in-house and public animals in shelter software
• Assist with Blaine County Spay and Neuter Clinic, including scheduling, prepping for, and check-in and check-out of animals
• Ensure all medical records and medication logs are updated and accurately entered into shelter software
• Collaborate with Adoption, Foster, and Intake Departments

Shelter Population Health

• Assist Shelter Veterinarian in processing and care of all animals, including impounds
• Ensure all in-house treatments are done as directed by Shelter Veterinarian and maintain an accurate log of medications and treatments
• Take and document vitals of any animals as directed by Shelter Veterinarian
• Maintain and ensure vaccination status is current for all Shelter population and all incoming impounds
• Maintain a working knowledge of vaccination protocols for the shelter
• Monitor in-house animals on a regular basis and make Shelter Veterinarian aware of any animal with a suspected medical problem, in cooperation with the kennel staff and management
• Maintain and update medical records and animal files in ShelterLuv as necessary
• When outside veterinary work is required, as determined by Shelter Veterinarian, be willing to transport or coordinate transportation for the animal to and from the clinic
• At no time, give veterinary medical advice or services to animals of staff, volunteers, or the public without consulting with Shelter Veterinarian

Shelter Programs, Events, and Community Education

• Be familiar with general shelter policies, procedures, programs, events, and history
• Answer customer and adopter questions regarding current medications or ailments as appropriate or relaying questions to Shelter Veterinarian

Foster

• Develop and coordinate Mountain Humane’s foster kitten program, in collaboration with the Foster Manager, and the rest of the foster team
• Help oversee training of volunteers and staff to become kitten foster families for Mountain Humane
• Act as the emergency contact for volunteers fostering
• Maintain communication with the Foster team via email and calendars
• Facilitate medication and food requests for foster animals
• Assist in all administrative duties pertaining to incoming and outgoing foster animals
• Assist in coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs for fosters, as needed for medical procedures

Shelter Population Health

• Assist in the processing and care of all in-house animals, including impounds
• Have a working knowledge of medical, surgical, and vaccination protocols for the Shelter
• In cooperation with the Medical, Kennel, and Management staff, ensure that in-house animals are monitored on a regular basis and the Shelter Veterinarian(s) is aware of any animal with a suspected medical problem

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Maintain a neat and well-groomed personal appearance
• Wear supplied uniforms and closed toed shoes during all working hours
• Comply with all facility safety protocols
• Assist in maintaining overall facility cleaning standards
• Carry out other duties as assigned by supervisor

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Indoors and outdoors, including in shelter environment with dogs, cats, pocket pets
• Frequent interactions with children who may or may not be well-behaved, occasional contact with the public in an emotionally charged environment
• Animal handling required; while all adoptable animals have health and behavior screening, by nature of the industry, there may be occasional exposure to dead, injured, sick, unruly, vicious, and/or dangerous animals in addition to possible exposure to parasites and infectious diseases
• May require driving of company vehicles. Must maintain a valid driver’s license and good driving record. Drivers information will be submitted to the carrier
  • Regular use driving of company vehicles; employee’s must be at least the age of 18
  • Occasional use driving of company vehicles; employees under the age of 18 must be preapproved by the carrier
• Work day includes walking, standing, sitting, bending, squatting, lifting (occasionally up to 50 lbs), answering telephones, and using a computer, work with a variety of cleaning agents, and work in an environment with daily changes in climate

HOURS, SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Hours: Full time 40 hours/week, ability to work around Veterinarian and Clinic Schedule; ability to work one weekend day and some holidays. Final schedule to be determined with Supervisor based on organizational needs.

Salary: $20.00 - $25.00/hour (non-credentialed), $22.00-$27.00/hour (credentialed) depending on experience, proficiency/efficiency in job tasks and ability to work cooperatively while fostering the mission of the organization.

Benefits: Mountain Humane offers a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time employees, including: generous paid time off allotment for vacation and personal reasons, 100% employer paid medical insurance for staff (with the option of upgrading the plan for a small contribution), access to a 403(b) retirement account with a 3% matching employer contribution, access to reduced cost veterinary care and pet supplies (including dog/cat food) for all employee-owned pets, a 40% discount at The Barkin’ thrift store in Hailey, and 20% off of a membership to the YMCA. Mountain Humane also provides funding for professional development opportunities and temporary financial assistance for commuting employees.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work performed by this position, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Either employer or employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without notice and with or without cause.

Mountain Humane is an equal opportunity employer