The Veterinary Health Hospital Manager’s primary duty is to maintain the medical and organizational management of the Zoo & Aquarium’s Veterinary Hospital. This includes scheduling, medical supplies and general inventory, budgetary control, housekeeping, and student programs. On occasion, if qualified, this position may assist in the care and support of procedural animal care.
POSITION DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Duties
- Percentage
- Responsible for the daily function of the Veterinary and Aquarium Health facilities including:
- Ensuring daily organizational structure of Veterinary Health.
- Ensuring adequate daily veterinary health coverage.
- Inventory control and budget adherence of all veterinary health medications and medical products.
- Facilitating controlled drug monitoring and tracking
- Scheduling routine removal of animal remains and medical waste.
- Maintaining safety protocols, standard operating procedures, and presentations.
- Ensuring warranties and equipment documents are up to date and readily accessible to staff.
- Active participation in Zoo & Aquarium functions, which may require evening attendance.
- Maintaining the Zoo’s contraception program by processing and submitting required samples and sending annual updates to the Reproductive Management Center.
- Facilitating hiring/selection process for staff, interns, students, etc.
- Coordinating hospital cleaning routine and scheduling routine maintenance of hospital equipment.
- 75-100%
Secondary Roles & Responsibilities, as/if qualified:
- Reporting injuries, irregular behavior, death, or birth of hospitalized/quarantined animals to veterinarians at time of observation.
- Providing input on animal husbandry, enrichment, and operant conditioning within Veterinary Health.
- Administering oral and topical medications to hospitalized/quarantined animals according to established protocols and direction of veterinary staff, on occasion as needed.
- Assisting with the movement, capture and restraint of animals as needed.
- Assisting with in-house animal health procedures as warranted.
- In the absence of a Registered Veterinary Technician, assisting with the monitoring of anesthesia and surgical procedures.
- Effectively communicating decision regarding animal husbandry, enrichment, and operant condition during quarantine/hospitalization period to VHC personnel.
- Participating in hand rearing of animals, if necessary, as needed.
- Assisting with the management of the Veterinary Technician intern program.
- 0-25%
- This position may at times be requested to perform other duties or special projects as assigned, which are in the best interest of the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
- All employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily and, upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & FORMAL TRAINING:
- RVT certification from an AVMA accredited program, with ability to become a licensed RVT in the state of Missouri, strongly preferred.
- EXPERIENCE:
- Previous hospital management experience, ideally in a zoological setting, strongly preferred.
- Previous management/supervisory experience preferred.
- Previous experience with hospital supply ordering and inventory management.
- Knowledge of animal behavior, husbandry, and welfare preferred.
- Knowledge of procedures used for the proper care and handling of exotic and domestic animals preferred..
- Knowledge of zoological nomenclature and veterinary medical terminology preferred.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and ZIMS software, required.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- OTHER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have valid driver’s license.
- Must have or be able to obtain negative TB test.
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds, with or without assistance. Assistance depending upon task or role.
- Must be able to manage stress, endure potentially high-risk situations when feeding, transferring, or restraining animals, or make immediate decisions concerning the safety of animals, staff or the public.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays and evening hours, in all weather extremes.
- Must pass a background and drug screening.
