Veterinary Technician - Office of Lab Animal Resources

The Office of Lab Animal Resources at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Veterinary Technician.

About the Opportunity

This position is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) position which provides support to WVU laboratory animal veterinarians and the animal care program in the form of providing daily health assessment, treatment and disease prevention efforts for all species within the WVU biomedical research program. Additionally, the person in this position provides technical training and support as well as regulatory oversight, leadership, and guidance for animal research conducted within the biomedical program. The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skill, strong organizational and time management skills, the ability to multi-task, the ability to work independently or with a group, strong clinical knowledge and skills, and the desire/ability to work with a variety animal species. This position includes work during weekends, holidays, and after hours as needed at 4 different OLAR vivaria.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Clinical and diagnostic procedures: The person in this position is responsible for assisting the veterinarian (DVM) with clinical cases and with maintaining the health and wellbeing of biomedical research animals, including developing and administering vaccination programs as needed, treating individual or groups of sick animals. This requirement demands a strong understanding of clinical, physiological, and biological medical information, attainable only from an accredited professional-level veterinary technology program. The duties of this position require frequent reliance on professional training and judgment. Specifically, this person provides or assists with physical examinations, diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, and management of ongoing clinical cases as they arise among the various animal species.
• Technical surgical support, including autoclaving instruments, preparing surgical packs, assisting with surgical techniques as needed, performing anesthesia, intra-operative monitoring, and pre- and post-operative patient care, training research and husbandry staff, and other research support duties as requested.
• Additional duties, such necropsy support, etc. may also be required at the DVM's request. This person must have strong clinical/technical skills and the ability to quickly assess and triage a variety of clinical conditions in multiple species, including assessment of body condition, hydration status, basic vital signs, pain/distress behavior patterns, and normal/abnormal behavior patterns.
• This person must be able to appropriately handle a variety of species without fear or apprehension and must be able to assess the safety, cleanliness, and appropriateness of animal macro and micro-environments according to species needs and regulatory requirements. Under the guidance of the clinical DVM and within the guidelines of the WV RVT licensing board, this person may diagnose conditions based on physical exam SOP's and use SOP's to prescribe/administer treatments for a variety of medical conditions in all species housed at the WVU farms.
• This person must be able to prepare and administer prescribed medications at the appropriate dosages, be familiar with all drug products available for use, understand basic pharmacology and metabolism of these drugs, and keep appropriate records of drug use in all species. This person must be able to maintain records on all animals, including follow up care provided beyond initial treatments.
• Additional responsibilities will include sample collection and handling for diagnostic testing, diagnostic necropsies, and basic laboratory techniques. These lab techniques will include but not be limited to performing fecal diagnostic exams on individuals and groups of animals, collecting blood and urine samples for appropriate testing. Assist with colony health surveillance program, including collection and submission of sentinel samples, performing in-house diagnostic tests as needed, tracking diagnostic reports, helping control outbreaks, and notifying veterinarians of findings.
• Record-keeping pertaining to the above (ie, necropsies, diagnostic lab submission forms, etc) will be required. Knowledge of the use of appropriate equipment (microscope, centrifuge, autoclave, stethoscope, spectrophotometer, and computer) is required. This person must be familiar with computer programs for health records, drug inventory tracking, controlled drug logs, and animal inventories. The individual must also be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Assist with clinical inventory, including checking for drug expiration, restocking therapeutic drugs and supplies, and maintaining controlled drugs according to federal and state DEA regulations.
• Help maintain general veterinary equipment according to manuals and warranties, and consult with vendors, suppliers, and literature as needed to maintain current equipment in support of the OLAR mission.
• Oversight, leadership, and training, including assurance of high-quality animal health care and compliance with regulatory standards, including those of the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the American Veterinary Medical Association's Guidelines on Euthanasia, and related WVU Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). This involves providing oversight and training for research and husbandry staff as needed, and reviewing literature to be familiar with new methods or equipment that will enhance the WVU program of animal care.
• This position will require employee to teach a hands-on training and advanced clinical procedure courses for investigators, students, and laboratory staff prior to working with biomedical research animals. Basic veterinary techniques will be taught, including but not limited to handling and restraint, injections, blood collection, basic aseptic technique, anesthesia administration and monitoring, necropsy techniques, fecal exams, breeding management and general colony management principles.
• This position will also have teaching responsibilities for specific Animal Science courses.
• Regulatory duties will include using controlled drugs for techniques on biomedical animals and maintaining a controlled drug log under the supervision of DVM with DEA license.
• The person in this position must review protocols relevant to animal research use and be familiar with all on-going research projects, in order to maintain compliance and to coordinate animal use, Pl needs, facility availability, and research animal health. This person will also assist the DVM with preparation of ACUC training and sentinel protocols. This person will be responsible for maintaining research animal medical records to ensure compliance with federal, state, university and regulatory agency laws and guidelines.
• Administrative duties include contributions to the development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP's) related to animal care - as well as enrichment and animal care procedures in consultation with the husbandry manager.
• Attendance at regular staff meetings, training events, university-sponsored staff development events continuing education (CE) meetings and other relevant activities will be required for this position. The incumbent will be responsible for acquiring, maintaining, and submitting a record of CE events to maintain current RVT licensure (currently 18 hrs are required annually in WV).

Pay Grade: 17

• Masters degree in related field. Completion of an Associates or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited veterinary technician program.
• A minimum of 0-6 months of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Experience working with animals in a clinical/veterinary setting.
  • Experience with the care and use of laboratory animals (including knowledge of regulations, policies, procedures)
  • Experience with clinical, laboratory, anesthesia and surgical techniques used in a Veterinary Medical program.
  • Coordinating treatment and veterinary care plans.
  • Experience with training co-workers.
  • Computer skills.
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the basic biology, anatomy and physiology of common farm animal species including rodents, sheep, rabbits, and birds.
• Knowledge of principles, theories, and practices of laboratory animal science to provide technical support functions.
• Knowledge of primary laboratory animal care standards in the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policies, AVMA guidelines on Euthanasia and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
• Basic understanding of VS Drug Enforcement Agency policies and practices with regard to controlled substance categorization and veterinary use.
• Knowledge of anatomy and biology of laboratory animals and applicable regulations, policies, and standards of animal care.
• Knowledge of clinical, laboratory, anesthesia, and surgical techniques, supplies, and equipment used in veterinary medicine.
• Knowledge of veterinary pharmacology including, but not limited to, administration of anesthetics and analgesics.
• Skilled in handling, restraint, and clinical care management of multiple species of laboratory and farm animals.
• Clinical mathematical competency (dose calculation, English-Metric conversion, etc)
• Technical clinical competency:
  
  
  
  • Administer subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal injections and oral medications.
  • Perform basic phlebotomy skills
  • Perform basic animal restraint skills.
  • Perform aseptic technique and prepare patients properly for surgery.
  • Provide surgical assistance and perform external suturing.
  • Provide intraoperative cardiac and respiratory monitoring, administer oxygen and/or resuscitative drugs.
  • Perform basic diagnostic/ clinical laboratory techniques.
  
  
  
  
• Skilled in effective oral communication with researchers, co-workers, and vendors.
• Ability to assist in the training of researchers and husbandry staff.
• Skilled in computer use.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional observation skills - recognize details!
• Ability to read and write English, follow oral and written instructions, and perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to rapidly learn laboratory animal duties, procedures, and safety principles, and implement changes or updates as needed.
• Ability to maintain proper attendance and punctuality; train, advise, and learn from co-workers; and work independently and as part of a team.

• WV State Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license - to ensure appropriate level of technical proficiency and to satisfy regulations requiring properly trained animal health care givers. This must be obtained within six (6) months of start date.
• Valid driver's license - to drive state vehicles as needed.
• Required within one (1) year of start date: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification.
• Required within two (2) years of start date: AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certification.
• Expected within five (5) years of start date: AALAS Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.