Veterinary Care Technician III

Summary

Positions provide senior level support to research, husbandry and laboratory animal health and well-being; develop and deliver teaching and training classes, wet labs and special training sessions for Animal Care Services (ACS) staff, investigators and other customers; and provide expertise in compliance and quality assurance protocols and procedures.

Examples of Work

Job functions are specific duties that would be included in the essential functions of the job description. These functions are not all-inclusive nor do they cover the full extent of the duties performed.

• Plays a leading role in teaching and training classes, wet labs and special training sessions for ACS staff, investigators and other customers.
• Demonstrates an excellent understanding of established protocols and procedures and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines concerning quality assurance and laboratory animal care and use.
• Performs activities relating to veterinary care as directed, including but not limited to: triage, assessment, treatment, sample collection, documentation, anesthesia and surgery support.
• Performs animal health treatments, ensuring clinical health records are complete and current.
• Assists with surgical and post-surgical monitoring and care assistance procedures.
• Establishes working relationships and communicates effectively with University research staff and ACS staff.
• Processes incoming animals and assists in routine health maintenance and enrichment programs.
• Demonstrates an increased participation in protocol support and special services.
• Ensures treatment regimens are consistent with contemporary veterinary practices and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol provisions.
• Maintains accurate, precise inventories of drugs and related records.
• Serves in a leadership role within a lab, working independently and seeking ways to improve processes.
• Assumes some scheduling and oversight responsibilities.

Education and Experience

Degree from an accredited veterinary technology program; or an associate’s degree and three years of experience as a veterinary technician, including work with research animals.

Licensure and Certification

Veterinary Technician National Examination certification (VTNE) strongly preferred. Certification as Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science will be required within 12 months of hire unless otherwise specified by supervisor. Positions that focus on surgical and anesthesia support should have a Surgical Research Anesthetist certification or higher from the Academy of Surgical Research.

Supervision

Positions may serve as a team lead or provide some staff oversight.

To see common career pathways for each position at the University of Florida please visit the Career Paths section of the UFHR website.