Classification Minimum Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent and one year of relevant experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
Classification Title
Veterinary Care Technician I
Job Description
The Sea Turtle Research, Rehabilitation and Education Program at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is seeking a Veterinary Care Technician I. Under the direction of the Veterinary Care Manager and Clinical Veterinarian, this position will perform both veterinary medical care and comprehensive husbandry duties for stranded and injured sea turtles. The candidate will be charged with working in all aspects of veterinary care, husbandry, and public outreach and education through behind the seas tours and other outreach events.
Responsibilities include activities pertaining to the day-to-day operation of the clinic and life support systems, interfacing with permitting agencies, executing protocols for clinic and husbandry staff, responding to and coordinating the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of stranded sea turtles, and communicating and reporting to the appropriate wildlife agencies. The position also supports clinical and surgical activities, collaborates with research teams, oversees medical record-keeping, and maintains medical equipment and supplies.
Sea Turtle Hospital Operations
* Veterinary Support: Assist veterinarian with all aspects of veterinary care, including triage, diagnostics, sample collection, wound care, and administering treatment to sea turtles. Conduct regular assessments of patients and update medical records. Maintain medical equipment and supplies in clean, orderly, and working condition.
* Surgical Assistance: Provide pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative support, including anesthesia monitoring, preparation of surgical sites, and post-operative care, ensuring compliance with best practices in veterinary medicine.
* Husbandry Care: Perform activities related to husbandry care as directed, and in accordance with standard of care guidelines, including feeding and caring for all animals under the STH@WL care, medicating animals and maintaining quarantine protocols as directed, cleaning and maintaining tanks, life support systems, and husbandry record keeping.
* Maintain hospital cleanliness, including such duties as sweeping, mopping, dusting, and disinfecting equipment and hospital areas.
* Follows established protocols and ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines, animal stranding protocol regimes and medical records documentation in coordination with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
* Facilitates the daily Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab operations including coordinating animal rescue response, administering veterinary care regimes as developed by the veterinarian, acquiring samples and technical aspects of applied and basic scientific research.
Medical Operations & Record Management
* Medical Equipment & Supplies: Maintain medical equipment, ensuring that it is clean, orderly, and functional. Monitor and manage inventories of drugs, supplies, and equipment, including medications, consumables, and food, ensuring proper storage and expiration tracking.
* Health Record Management: Document clinical assessments, treatment plans, and outcomes in an accurate and timely manner, following best practices for veterinary record-keeping and wildlife agency protocols.
Research & Protocol Development
* Research Collaboration: Work closely with research teams to facilitate clinical sample collection for scientific studies. Ensure that all treatments align with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines and research protocols. Stay abreast of the latest marine turtle rehabilitation techniques and practices.
* Teaching & Training: Participate in the development and delivery of training sessions for veterinary students, technicians, and animal care staff, focusing on advanced medical techniques and sea turtle rehabilitation protocols.
Public Outreach
* Public Communication: Collaborate with the outreach team to provide medical expertise during public tours, educational events, and behind the seas tours. Share information about sea turtle health and rehabilitation efforts.
* Active community engagement through local organizations and stakeholders.
* Communication and messaging through email and social media outlets.
* Event planning; organizing, and assist coordinating public events, workshops, and informational sessions
* Work with Whitney’s education team for the development of sea turtle hospital-appropriate educational programs.
* Agency Coordination: Work with local and state wildlife agencies to report case findings and adhere to legal reporting requirements.
Volunteer Supervising
* Oversee a database of 30+ volunteers
* Assist with hiring and training of new volunteers
* Assigns weekly/monthly tasks of volunteer duties and responsibilities
* Assist with annual volunteer orientation and training
Expected Salary
Salary will be commensurate with experience and training.
Required Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent and one year of relevant experience. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
Preferred
* B.A. degree or higher in animal science, zoo technology, veterinary science or related field.
* Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in a sea turtle medical and husbandry setting, including hands-on experience with captive husbandry in a rehabilitation setting.
* Experience handling marine turtle stranding and working with volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and life experience.
* Experience with anesthesia, surgical assistance, and emergency veterinary care.
* Must possess strong interpersonal skills, strong communication skills including writing and public speaking.
* Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with others.
* Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
* Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and wildlife agencies.
* Ability to travel for work-related responsibilities and be available to work at night, on weekends, and on holidays based on program activities and the needs of the clinic.
* Ability to work on numerous activities and responsibilities simultaneously while maintaining excellent standards in the veterinary care of injured and sick marine turtles.
* Abreast of the latest marine turtle rehabilitation techniques and practices with experience in conducting at least basic applied research on patients to yield information that could potentially lead to future care protocols or cures to turtle diseases.
* Skilled in capturing required data but also able to communicate rehabilitation “stories” to Whitney Lab personnel and the public at large as needed for tools in education.
* Skilled in communication and working as part of a team of staff and volunteers in a rehab setting.
Special Instructions To Applicants
In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date. This position is eligible for Veteran’s preference. If you are claiming Veteran’s preference, please upload a copy of your DD 214 Member Copy 4 with your application for consideration. See our Veteran's Preference Page for more specific information.
Health Assessment Required: Yes
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