Animal Health Technician Lead (Animal Services- Veterinary Services Division Only)

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of experience in a field related to direct contact with companion animals.

Licenses or Certifications:

Valid Texas Class C Driver License.
Notes to Applicants
Austin Animal Center Main Building

Who Are We?
Austin Animal Center‘s mission is to enhance the lives of pets and people by preventing animal homelessness, to help lost pets find their way home or find new homes, to provide education and resources to preserve the human-animal bond, and to administer animal-related ordinances to ensure public and animal safety, all while achieving a 95% live outcome rate for sheltered pets.

What is the Job?
The Animal Health Technician Lead position offers an excellent opportunity to utilize the skills and knowledge you have acquired from your prior experience, and the chance to learn new technical skills and broaden your animal care knowledge. With general supervision, the Animal Health Technician Lead assists in the practice of veterinary medical care and regular maintenance of all animals at the shelter.

The primary responsibility of the Animal Health Technician Lead is to work closely with our veterinarians to provide the highest quality medical care, while giving our clients an exceptional experience. The Animal Health Technician Lead assists in performing minor surgical procedures and prepares sheltered animals for surgery including providing anesthesia to animals and monitoring after anesthesia. Observes animals in assigned areas and reports abnormalities, sickness, or injury. Administers medical treatments (injections, oral) to shelter animals. Maintains required records including data collection and entry. Assists with inventory of medical, pharmacy and sterile supplies. Humanely performs euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, supervisors and/or lead animal health technicians.

Being able to prioritize, multitask, and complete tasks accurately and efficiently will be key to succeeding in this position. The successful candidate will also have a positive attitude, be at ease handling animals including animals that weigh more than 50 pounds or with animals that can be aggressive or dangerous, a commitment to learning, outstanding communication skills, and great attention to detail. Preferred candidates will have prior veterinary technician experience in a veterinary hospital or animal shelter working under a licensed veterinarian. Must be able to work at least one weekend day and holidays.

We offer outstanding benefits including several health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Regarding Your Application: Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications. A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job title and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered. A cover letter and résumé are required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include contact information from previous employers.

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a Valid Class “C” Texas Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. The job offer is contingent on having a driving record that meets the City’s Driver Record Evaluation Standards.

Writing Assessment:
Writing skills will be assessed by cover letters and answers to the supplemental questions. Please limit your answers to the supplemental questions to 250 words.

If you are selected to interview: Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.

If you are selected for hire: You must provide proof of education which may include your official college transcript, High School diploma, GED or equivalent degree and your professional licenses. A Criminal Background check ( CBI ) will be conducted.

Additional Information: Austin Public Health/Animal Service Office worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any APH / ASO worksite - including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

Please Note this posting may close any time after 7 days. days.
Pay Range
$23.44 - $26.83
Hours
40 Hours per week - Varies
10-hour+ shifts.
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. and in Surgery 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Shifts will include weekday and weekend hours.

This position is considered “essential;” employees may be required to report to work when the City of Austin offices are otherwise closed (bad weather, etc.).
Job Close Date 03/11/2025 Type of Posting Division Only Department Animal Services Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop Bldg A 78702 Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with cats and dogs as a Veterinary Technician under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
• Experience working in a veterinary hospital/animal shelter as a surgical technician.
• Demonstrated experience inducing, monitoring, and recovering anesthesia in patients and using anesthesia/monitoring equipment.
• Demonstrated experience with radiology of animals.
• Demonstrated skill in safely handling animals, including those with behavior issues.
• Demonstrated experience working within a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience handling/restraining dogs over 50 lbs.
• Experience dealing with euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, and supervisors with understanding and compassion for the animal.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Provides staff with training, instruction, and assignment of duties, ensuring daily completion of tasks. This includes assigning priorities to projects or tasks to best use resources to achieve success. Makes observations and reports on staff performance. Performs accurate and timely inventory and ordering of veterinary services supplies to include all pharmaceuticals, biological, and controlled substances in order to ensure surgical areas are supplied with the correct equipment, instruments, and supplies. Monitors the health and welfare of animals within the shelter and provides medical care under the direction of staff veterinarians, to include performing physical examinations, vaccinations, in-house laboratory tests, collecting specimens, and diagnostics to determine and evaluate the health condition of animals at the time of impound or prior to adoption or surgery. Assists veterinarians in surgery to include preparing and administering pre-anesthetics and induction agents, monitoring the animal during surgery, and providing post-operative care. Assists in the euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, and supervisors with understanding and compassion for the animal. Assists Veterinarians with emergency care and treatment in life-threatening situations. Implants microchips in sheltered animals. Informs the public tactfully and courteously about medical treatments for shelter animals. Maintains accurate and relevant written and electronic records of medical treatments.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

Provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal animal health laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of disease management and safety protocols.
• Knowledge of animal services and related programs.
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of current principles and practice of veterinary medicine as it relates to shelter medicine.
• Knowledge of animal care and husbandry of common breeds of dogs, cats, livestock, and other animals kept as domestic pets.
• Knowledge of general surgical procedures, aseptic technique, and operation of common equipment used in providing veterinary care.
• Knowledge of euthanasia techniques.
• Skill in safely handling animals, including those with unknown temperament.
• Skill in providing medical care services to a wide variety of well, sick, and injured animals; including support of high volume spay/neuter operations.
• Skill in identifying normal and abnormal behavior and signs of disease including the symptoms of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to train others.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* This position requires graduation from high school or equivalent plus two (2) years of experience in a field related to direct contact with companion animals. Do you meet these qualifications?

• Yes
• No

* Describe your experience in a lead position where you managed and coordinated day-to-day responsibilities for veterinary technicians.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience restraining animals including dogs over 50 pounds.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with IV placement, intubation, induction and monitoring anesthesia, and radiology.
(Open Ended Question)
* This position requires the ability to multitask and work in a fast paced environment. Describe your experience working in this type of environment.
(Open Ended Question)
* Are you able to work varying hours, weekends and holidays as required by this position?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License. Do you have a valid Texas Class C Driver License or, if selected for this position, do you have the ability to acquire a valid Texas Class C Driver License by your hire date?

• Yes
• No

* The City of Austin Driver Eligibility Standards require that External New Hires meet the City’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.

* This position requires the ability to perform tasks that involve bending, lifting, walking, carrying, and using a force equal to lifting up to fifty (50) pounds, with or without accommodations. Are you able to perform these duties as required by the position?
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience dealing with euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, and supervisors with understanding and compassion for the animal.
(Open Ended Question)


Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents Resume

• 

• City of Austin

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