Lead Veterinary Technician (Hospital Manager)

The Hospital Manager (Lead Veterinary Technician) will assist the Virginia Aquarium Veterinarian with the Aquarium’s veterinary medical needs and animal health program. Manage and coordinate all operations of the Aquarium’s veterinary hospital facilities and supervise a small team of veterinary technicians and support staff. Duties will include but are not limited to:

Clinical duties:

• Assist veterinarian with routine, diagnostic and emergency medical and surgical procedures. Perform anesthesia, pre/post op care, and euthanasia as directed.
• Manage critical care and treatment plans for hospitalized and resident animals.
• Safely transport and restrain animals of various species.
• Conduct post-mortem sampling and necropsies.
• Oversee appropriate handling, storage and disposal of controlled substances, materials, and biological waste.
• Maintain accurate medical and test result records in ZIMS and other tracking databases.
• Communicate with other animal care teams to schedule and coordinate exams, procedures, and treatments.

Laboratory duties:

• Collect samples and run diagnostics tests on a wide variety of aquatic and zoological species, including inhouse testing and storage, as well as shipping samples to diagnostics laboratories.
• Coordinate annual routine sampling schedules requests and submission.
• Create and ensure compliance with laboratory protocols providing training and review for veterinary technicians and staff as needed.

Facilities management duties:

• Ensure cleanliness and hygiene of the Aquarium’s veterinary facilities.
• Manage and oversee the hospital pharmacy inventory, controlled substances, and medical and surgical supplies.
• Maintain quality control, calibration, routine maintenance schedules and any necessary repairs for all laboratory, diagnostic, anesthetic and surgical equipment.
• Ensure purchase are made within set budget limits and in accordance with procurement laws, practices, and ethics. Maintain accurate records, receipts, and appropriate paperwork for procurement, warrants and maintenance.
• Manage licensing, inspections, certifications and permits as required for hospital facility and equipment.
• Coordinate the radiation safety program and annual training.
• Develop and implement hospital protocols and standard operations procedures.

Supervisory and leadership duties:

• Coordinate schedules, on-call rotations, duties and daily tasks of all veterinary technicians/assistants, ensuring hospital and treatment needs are covered with the aquarium facilities.
• Provide skills training and review as needed to ensure high standards of animal care, accuracy and quality control, health and safety. Provide development and coaching opportunities and maintain a positive and respectful workplace. Exercise general supervision of other veterinary technicians / assistants including recruitment training, performance management.
• Collaborate with Chief Veterinarian and HR on personnel actions when necessary.
• Monitor the veterinary team’s effectiveness and efficiency, recommend and implement changes as appropriate.

Professional collaboration:

• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with outside vendors, suppliers, and laboratories.
• Collaborate with other aquarium, zoological, wildlife and research facilities.
• Participate in leadership programs, professional organizations and conferences.

Public engagement:

• Engage with guests to enhance their Aquarium experience by facilitating discussion and explanation of veterinary procedures conducted in public areas hospital public viewing windows.
• Conduct formal and informal public presentations and assisting with behind the scenes tours.
• Provide relevant information and assist in training of other Aquarium staff members to appropriately discuss these topics.
• The City offers a generous benefits package such as health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans.

Other key benefits include:

• Maternity/paternity and parental leave
• Leave donation program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistant Program
• Professional Development

Experience Required

• MINIMUMS: Associates degree in veterinary technology from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technology program and five (5) years of experience working as a licensed/certified veterinary technician, one (1) year of which is in a supervisory capacity.
• Must have current licensure, in good standing, to practice as a veterinary technician in Virginia or be licensed in another state and eligible to obtain a Virginia veterinary technician license within 3 months of hiring.
• Must have, or obtain, a current and valid drivers license. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime when required to meet operational needs.
• Periodic 24hr on-call rotation required.
• This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to mandatory drug testing.
• Positive drug test results may result in counseling and/or discipline, up to and including, termination. Successful completion of a pre-employment physical.
• Upon hire, the selected candidate will be required to receive rabies pre-exposure vaccination provided by the City of Virginia Beach Occupational Health Services. Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City's operational status.

Further Comments

• Position will remain open until filled.

Perks

• https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/Careers/Full-time-Employee-Benefits.pdf

Salary

• $45,300.90 - $70,216.40; Depending upon Qualifications