ACE Large Animal Care Tech

Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position involves caring primarily for cows used in teaching activities within the ACE Unit (the nonclient animal facility) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, with also some time spent caring for horses. The job requires strict adherence to protocols that prevent the accidental introduction of disease. Duties include cleaning, feeding, watering and general cow and horse husbandry. This position also assists with implementing veterinary instruction, which includes setting up equipment prior to labs, determining supply needs, identifying and correcting equipment and facility dysfunctions and reporting to a supervisor for repair, and preventive health programs, performing work to accreditation standards of the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), USDA maintaining and documenting quality control standards for sterilization equipment and other records, observing and reporting on the health of animals, and exercising judgment in monitoring animals or seeking veterinary consultation for animals maintained within ACE. This position also performs some maintenance and field work on cow and horse enclosures. May include equipment work such as pulling a trailer, driving a mower with training provided.

Requirements

• Previous experience handling, restraining and providing basic veterinary care to large animals, especially cows, horses, and sheep.
• Previous experience in animal husbandry.
• Knowledge of health care procedures for animals.
• Excellent organizational, time management and communication skills.
• Ability to independently prioritize and order assigned daily tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly with team members to accomplish department goals.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize abnormal behavior and clinical signs in animals, generate a basic rule out list for common disorders, and determine when a veterinarian should be consulted.
• Rabies prophylaxis will be required (provided by employer).
• Training will be provided for any equipment usage.

Responsibilities

• Cleaning, feeding, watering and general cow and horse husbandry.
• Assisting with implementing veterinary instruction, including setting up equipment prior to labs, determining supply needs, identifying and correcting equipment and facility dysfunctions and reporting to a supervisor for repair.
• Assisting with preventive health programs.
• Performing work to accreditation standards of the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), USDA.
• Maintaining and documenting quality control standards for sterilization equipment and other records.
• Observing and reporting on the health of animals.
• Exercising judgment in monitoring animals or seeking veterinary consultation for animals maintained within ACE.
• Performing maintenance and field work on cow and horse enclosures.
• May include equipment work such as pulling a trailer, driving a mower with training provided.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed