Responsible for providing veterinary technical support for The Florida Aquarium’s main animal collection, off-site facilities, and/or animal rehabilitation programs. Works closely with the veterinary team as well as a diverse team of biologists and researchers dedicated to responsible animal care and health practices. This position will be based mostly at our main campus facility in Tampa, FL and provide support to the aquarium’s sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center in Apollo Beach, FL and other offsite facilities. Performs essential job functions in accordance with guidelines set and approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and other safety regulatory agencies.
Essential Position Functions:
- Performs veterinary diagnostics and provides medical treatments for the collection and rehabilitation animals
- Performs daily treatments and triages medical concerns
- Works as part of a team or via telemedicine with the primary veterinarian
- Ensures medical and laboratory areas/equipment are clean and maintained to OSHA and AZA standards
- Assists veterinarian with medical record keeping
- Assists with necropsies of collection animals across taxa
- Maintains medical equipment in proper working order
- Ensures surgical suite and exam room cleanliness, and is stocked for daily use and treatments
- Assists with training veterinary technician students, interns and volunteers
- Assists as needed with inventory, ordering, permit assistance, new business relations, and scheduling
- Assists with biohazard disposal, scheduling, histopathology management, and performs all other duties as assigned by manager.
Education Requirements and Technical Skills:
- Must be a graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary technical program and be a certified, licensed or registered veterinary technician.
- Must be able to be licensed in Florida within 6 months of accepting the position
- Two years of experience in a veterinary technician position as well as experience with exotic/aquatic animals or sea turtles is preferred
- Thorough understanding of general disease processes, diagnostics, and prevention programs
- Familiar with the use of medical equipment including radiology, endoscopy, and surgery equipment as well as autoclaves and microscopes
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Knowledge of Tracks digital record keeping preferred.
Competencies
- Customer Service – Demonstrates courtesy, cooperation and friendliness with staff, volunteers and customers. Actively listens, anticipates and evaluates the customer’s needs. Ensures that customer satisfaction is a priority in all areas of responsibility. Actively engages our customers while fulfilling job responsibilities.
- Interpersonal Skills/Teamwork – Supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness; demonstrating sensitivity for the feelings and needs of team members and supporting team goals.
- Professional and Technical Knowledge – Remains current on developments in the fields within and outside the organization; maintains proficiencies.
- Initiative – Taking actions to achieve goals; self-starting and proactive; asserting oneself to support others in the achievement of their goals; originating action rather than responding only to the action of others; anticipating the needs of both internal and external constituencies.
- Work Standards – Applies high performance standards to all work-related activities.
Typical Physical Requirements:
- Standing (up to 8 hours per day)
- Walking (6 hours per day)
- Lifting up to 50lbs. - Occasionally
- Carrying up to 50lbs. - Occasionally
- Exposure to marked changes in temperature and humidity
- Exposure to chemicals, dust, fumes, gases
- Ability to conduct field work in collection and research
- Typing on a computer keyboard
- More than normal talking
- Ability to travel driving car or truck
- Ability to maintain daily contact with a living collection of plants and animals
- Flexibility in working weekends and evenings
- Flexibility in working holidays
- Ability to interact and be around animals
- Ability to work outdoors for extended lengths of time
Perks
- Medical,
- Dental,
- Vision,
- EAP,
- Memberships,
- and more!
