Veterinary Technician

SUMMARY: 

The full-time veterinary technician position is a vital member of the Animal Health team. Primary responsibilities include preparation for and assistance with routine and urgent veterinary procedures, including but not limited to immobilization, examination, and diagnostic sampling. They assist in inputting information into computerized patient records and coordinate the hospital schedule, as well as help maintain the hospital and its equipment. Pathological evaluation, including assisting and performing necropsies, is part of this role. As part of a mission-driven conservation organization, the veterinary technician may also participate in educational programming, media, and conservation projects. As this is a teaching hospital, the veterinary technician regularly plays a teaching role for veterinary technician students, veterinary students, and veterinary residents. The full Animal Health team is comprised of 4 full-time veterinarians, a zoological medicine resident, 5 veterinary technicians, and an operations manager. This position helps add to the efficiency of the Animal Health department by providing the highest quality medical treatments and continually improving the care and management of the animal collection at Shedd Aquarium.  

Essential Duties: 

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values
• Routinely assist with all aspects of preventative and emergency exams, anesthesia monitoring, radiology, ultrasonography, endoscopy, surgery, and dental work
• Perform a full range of veterinary technician skills including, but not limited to, phlebotomy, gavage feeding, fluid therapy, restraint, and other supportive care treatments
• Operate typical veterinary equipment such as x-ray, autoclave, diagnostic machinery, microscopes, blood chemistry machinery, gas anesthesia machinery, and laser therapy equipment
• Perform pharmacy-related skills including medical calculations involving, but not limited to, dilutions and dosages
• Dispense and administer medications as prescribed by a veterinarian
• Maintain medical/surgical packs, perform routine equipment maintenance tasks, and assist in the upkeep of the hospital supplies inventories to ensure proper function of the hospital
• Complete and maintain respirator training to measure laboratory chemicals
• Demonstrate knowledge of Microsoft Office, including spreadsheet and database management
• Maintain medical records in Tracks database in a correct, timely, and orderly fashion
• Assist with and perform necropsies, which include collecting and preparing tissues for histopathologic evaluation
• Obtain diagnostic samples from animal patients and prepare them for diagnostic laboratory testing (ie. skin scrapes/gill clips, fecal analysis, hematology, cytology, parasitology, urinalysis, and microbiology)
• Collaborate with team members in organizing, prioritizing, and delegating various hospital tasks
• Communicate courteously and effectively with all husbandry staff regarding animal medical-related information and treatments
• Serve as aquarium-wide support via educational, media, and conservation programs as requested
• Support Aquarium rescue and rehab program and field research as requested
• Help to maintain and improve hospital procedures and policies as requested
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS   

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Education:  

Associate Degree in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology and graduation from an accredited AVMA Veterinary Technology Program or equivalent combination of experience or training required.  Certified, Licensed, or Registered Veterinary Technician required.  Licensure in the state of Illinois within the first year of hire.   

Experience:  

A minimum of 1 year of veterinary technical experience within a clinical setting is required.  Demonstrated team skills required. Experience in zoo/exotic/aquatic animals preferred.  Emergency clinic experience is a plus. 

Other Requirements: 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and holidays.  This position will also require a rotating on-call schedule.
• Ability to utilize basic anesthesia skills: Basic operation and preventive maintenance of equipment.
• Ability to utilize basic radiology skills: Basic operation and preventive maintenance of equipment.
• Ability to perform basic diagnostics (parasitology exams, diagnostic dips, bacteriology (stains and morphs), cytology, urinalysis, mammal hematology).
• Ability to utilize basic necropsy skills.
• Ability to use and practically apply advanced instrumentation. (Saturameter, DO meter)
• Ability to utilize microbiology skills. (diagnostic cultures and plate counts)
• Ability to work unusual hours or on unscheduled days during emergency-type circumstances.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including spreadsheet and database management.
• Knowledge of Tracks or animal database preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

• Lift up to 50 pounds
• Sit
• Stand
• Stoop
• Walk

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

The work environment characteristics 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 essential functions. 

This person may be exposed to: 

• May be required to work unusual hours or on unscheduled days during emergency-type circumstances.
• Water
• Smoke
• Heat
• Cold
• Air particles
• Falling materials
• Electrical shock
• Hazardous chemicals
• Fire
• Emergency vehicle traffic
• Low noise
• Moderate Noise
• Loud Noise

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.

If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to select which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).