Parvo ICU Veterinary Technician (Part Time)

CommonSpirit Health • Austin, TX

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The first of its kind in the nation, Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo Puppy ICU and the Panleukopenia Ward provides shelters with an alternative to euthanasia for puppies that contract parvovirus and cats that contract Panleukopenia. By placing puppies/cats that contract parvo/panleukopenia in quarantine, maintaining cross-contamination protocol, and providing consistent care and treatment to puppies/cats that have contracted parvovirus or panleukopenia. This ICU saves a highly adoptable segment of the euthanasia list: puppies/kittens. The Parvo ICU Veterinary Technician works in the Parvo Ward to provide paid staff coverage in support of the Parvo Volunteer teams. Responsibilities will include completing animal intake and discharges, medicating and caring for animals, maintaining ICU cleanliness, and keeping up with data entry.

The Parvo ICU Veterinary Technician plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s Parvo program. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for shelter operations.

The Parvo ICU Veterinary Technician is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork.

APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Parvo ICU Veterinary Technician collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect.

This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need.

Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

Requirements

• Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart
• Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations
• Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission
• Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles
• Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials
• Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations
• Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality
• Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed
• Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience
• Knowledge of standard canine/feline illnesses preferred
• Experience as a veterinary technician, or experience as an APA! Parvo or APA! Clinic Volunteer preferred
• Able to give injections SQ and IV. Ability to draw blood and place IV catheters is preferred
• Knowledge of basic medications, vaccines, drugs preferred
• Understand the current APA! medical protocols
• Willing and committed to working well with volunteers and staff in all roles
• Commitment to providing quality care to the animals under our care
• Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations
• Must have the ability to restrain animals of varying sizes and temperaments with or without reasonable accommodations
• Must have the ability to stand/bend/kneel for long periods of time while performing work requiring concentration and manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodations
• Must be able to work around dogs/cats with varying temperaments, including those that are diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive
• Must be comfortable working around unpleasant smells, loud noises, and a variety of standard cleaning supplies and chemicals
• If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship to the organization.

Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment
• Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed
• Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program
• Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work
• Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager
• Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts
• Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support
• Calculate medication dosages
• Intake and discharge patients, including bathing them out of the ward
• Administer medications orally, subcutaneously, and intravenously
• Place catheters and drawing blood
• Treating and Caring for cats that have Panleukopenia as needed
• Communicate verbally and in writing with volunteers, other programs, peers, and Managers
• Communicate with other shelters to approve/deny incoming parvo dogs
• Completes all parvo cleaning duties by following AM/PM checklists for every shift
• All staff are required to update treatment sheets per the protocol
• Abides by the APA! Code of Conduct and strives to meet all Core Competencies
• Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager

Benefits

• All employees are eligible for access to an Employee Assistance Program, Discounted Perks Programs, fully subsidized Pet Insurance and time off incentives.

What This Job Offers

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