Veterinary Technician II

Texas A&M University System • Kingsville, TX

4d • $20 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

The Veterinary Technician II supports animal care and research in a vivarium, primarily working with rodents. The role monitors animal health, assists with research and surgical procedures, and helps maintain a safe, sanitary, and enriching animal-care environment. It also includes animal husbandry, health surveillance, recordkeeping, equipment operation, and administrative support for animal transfers, housing, supplies, and ordering.

The position is based in Kingsville, Texas. It requires working different shifts and participating in on-call coverage; alternate shifts, overtime, holidays, weekends, and/or on-call duty may also be required. Salary is $20.04–$25.00, commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

• Associate degree in veterinary technology, biomedical science, animal science, or a related area, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Two years of technical experience in veterinary medicine.
• Ability to understand and follow applicable Standard Operating Procedures, training manuals, and biosafety and operation manuals.
• Effective communication with fellow technicians, the veterinarian, Study Director, and/or PI.
• Basic computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and billing entry.
• Working knowledge of veterinary equipment used within a veterinary teaching hospital.
• Strong animal-handling skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and positively at all levels within the anesthesia service and Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
• Ability to multitask and cooperate with others.
• Knowledge of high-flow and low-flow anesthesia.
• Familiarity with injectable and inhalant anesthesia.
• Experience working with various individuals and communities.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

• Assist faculty with daily rounds, communicate animal health updates to investigators, and treat animals.
• Perform basic animal care and husbandry procedures, including manual cage cleaning and providing food, water, and enrichment.
• Monitor and report animal-room temperature, air exchange, light/dark cycles, and humidity.
• Maintain animal inventory and records; change cages and provide feed and water according to established schedules.
• Recognize abnormal health conditions, overcrowding, and subtle changes in animal behavior or appearance.
• Provide special care and diets for designated animals.
• Maintain rodent health surveillance programs, including scheduling sentinel shipments, replacing sentinels, and collecting and submitting diagnostic samples.
• Conduct sanitation assessments as part of the quality assurance program.
• Oversee surgical-room protocols involving anesthesia and surgical assistance, applying aseptic principles.
• Operate large cage-washing machines and autoclaves; participate in preventive maintenance and report malfunctioning or unsafe equipment and conditions.
• Use high-level disinfectants and detergents; maintain sanitation and disease-prevention conditions, including sterile animal-handling techniques and cleaning and sterilizing floors and walls.
• Clean, decontaminate, and sterilize laboratory equipment, and maintain knowledge of equipment, animals, and supplies entering the facility.
• Prepare forms for animal transfers and housing animals for shipment.
• Consult with the veterinarian about animal health issues.
• Occasionally assist with ordering and help the vivarium manager.
• Assist with storing incoming supplies.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance; Texas A&M contributes to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Free exercise programs and release time for health and wellness.
• Free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support for conferences, workshops, and other professional development.
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while employed by Texas A&M.
• Living Well employee wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree