Veterinary Technician (9535U) 32764 About Berkeley
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Departmental Overview
The Office of Laboratory Animal Care (OLAC) ensures the health and well-being of animals used for research and teaching in compliance with the USDA/AAALAC/OLAW, state regulations and institutional policies and guidelines. OLAC provides veterinary care and oversight, animal husbandry and oversight, research support services, and training. In addition, OLAC coordinates animal purchases and acquisition, animal shipping, pharmacy and animal supply purchases, and animal facility.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: March 25, 2022
Responsibilities
OVERVIEW:
The incumbent is a senior level technical specialist who is responsible for performing a full range of veterinary nursing procedures involved in the care of laboratory animals. Under the general direction of the Campus Veterinarians or the AHT Supervisor, the incumbent is able to exercise good judgment while performing a highly technical level of research services with minimal direction. The AHT III provides sophisticated technical assistance for a wide variety of research needs and special projects. This leadership position also provides technical guidance and training to the campus research and animal care staff and assists in maintaining the animal facilities in compliance with USDA/AAALAC/OLAW and institutional policies and guidelines.
General Nursing Duties
Perform daily health rounds of all species. Perform all necessary medical treatments. Participate in discussions with vet staff and PIs to identify newly emergent health needs of research animals. Conduct routine diagnostic and laboratory procedures for all species (radiographs, blood sampling, anesthesia, oral hygiene, euthanasia, necropsy, etc). Maintain accurate medical records for all required species.
Research Service Recharge
Provide clinical research services to PIs including but not limited to arterial and venous blood collection/processing, injections, catheterizations, gavage, anesthesia and surgical assistance on any research animal model.
Central Surgical Support
Maintain clinical and surgical areas in all facilities, maintaining a high level of cleanliness and in compliance with applicable regulations in all functioning environments. Insure proper maintenance, QA and repair of all clinical instruments and equipment. Manage central supplies and surgical instruments via autoclave, ethylene oxide, following proper aseptic guidelines.
Training and Compliance
Provide intra- and inter-departmental training to researchers and animal care staff in all aspects of disease recognition, health evaluation, asepsis, and various clinical techniques, as needed. Perform regular rounds of all facilities to evaluate surgical outcomes and identify potential training needs, animal welfare and compliance issues.
Time Management/Administration
Schedule research services and events on the computer calendar. Data enter all documents (research service requests, pharmacy, shipping, etc) into data management system (OASIS or other). Administer all paper-work for recharge purposes in an organized and timely manner.
Inventory/ Record Keeping
Oversee all logs including DEA controlled substances, surgery and radiograph logs ensuring proper documentation is being maintained. Perform inventory on a monthly basis, informing the supervisor of impending deficiencies. Manage animal health records per the varied oversight agency standards (USDA/AAALAC).
Quality Assurance Program
Perform or assist in all necessary procedures to maintain the Rodent Health Surveillance Program, including ordering replacement animals and sampling sentinel populations on a monthly basis. (exsanguination, necropsy, parasitology, sera processing) Shipping rodents to outside institutions.
Required Qualifications
Applies demonstrated veterinary nursing skills to the broad range of tasks necessary to care for laboratory animals.
Nursing skills include animal restraint, catheterization, phlebotomy, anesthesia (volatile and injectable), basic laboratory skills, clinical experience with a variety of animal species.
Knowledge of medical record-keeping, basic computer skills including data entry and database management software; familiarity with equipment maintenance (x-ray, anesthesia machines, ventilator, autoclave, etc).
Good organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks to optimize time-management.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a variety of stakeholders.
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, ability to walk moderate distances from facility to facility.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and/or experience required.
Minimum 2 years of clinical experience as a registered veterinary technician required, experience working with laboratory animals preferred.
RVT required. AALAS certification at the ALAT level preferred, with intention to continue advancing certification required.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience working with laboratory animals, previous knowledge of regulations applicable to care and use of laboratory animals.
Salary & Benefits
Salary is commensurate with experience. Rate is $27.30 - $41.24/hour. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit:
https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html