Animal Rescue Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking a Licensed Veterinary Technician to join our team. This is a full-time, FLSA nonexempt opportunity.

Licensed Veterinary Technician

The Licensed Veterinary Technician is responsible for completing and analyzing diagnostics, assisting with, performing dental procedures, and providing excellent anesthetic management in a high quality, high volume spay/neuter surgery setting. This position reports to the Director of Community Medicine and works closely with all veterinary departments in addition to engaging with and training volunteers and workforce partners. The position requires a person with excellent interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Assisting in the daily care of animals scheduled for spay/neuter surgery:

• Help plan and organize the daily surgery schedule.
• Assist with daily care of surgical patients and disease control protocols.
• Maintain a clean, sterile, and functioning prep and surgery room.
• Clean and maintain surgical instruments; prepare surgical packs.
• Provide anesthetic induction and surgical prep.
• Monitor physiological parameters of patients undergoing anesthesia.
• Assist Surgeon
• Assist when needed for recovery patient intervention.
• Enter surgery records into database and complete appropriate paperwork.
• Clean and disinfect tables, floors, kennels, and surgery equipment.
• Discharge patients and provide education to clients.

Treatment of all patients under care:

• Assist veterinarian in examinations, treatments, and diagnostics.
• Input data into ezyVet regarding exams, medications, and treatments
• Demonstrate and teach technical skills and proper sanitation protocols and procedures to other staff members of HSSW who engage in animal care.
• Educate, train, and assist clinic volunteers.
• Clean and maintain areas of the community clinic.

Professional and friendly service to internal and external clients:

• Educate clients on pre- and post-surgical care of their animals.
• Partner with volunteers and take an active role in their training, integration, safety, performance, and job satisfaction.
• Respond to inquiries and concerns from foster care volunteers.
• Provide training to staff/volunteers on disease control standards, community medicine protocols, and foster care guidelines.
• Provide advice and resources on HSSW programs and other animal welfare-related topics.
• Provide orientation and training to veterinary technician students and veterinary assistants.
• Attend Continuing Education

General operations:

• Assist with inventory and ordering supplies, including managing controlled substance logs and inventory.
• Maintain appropriate records and documents.
• Promote a safe working environment and follow safety protocols.
• Maintain equipment in good working condition.
• Promote the development of skills related to the advancement of our goals and mission.
• Represents HSSW in a professional and courteous manner.
• Provide quality service to customers, volunteers, and staff -- recognizing their individual contribution to the success of the organization.
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns or noncompliance with rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Assist with euthanasia.
• Take initiative to perform other duties as needed

Full Time Employee Benefits

In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose, full-time employees currently enjoy the following benefits and employee perks.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance benefits that become effective the first of the month after hire.
• Matching percentage 401 (k) retirement plan that begins the first month after hire, has a 3-year graded vestment schedule and a ROTH contribution option.
• Employee Assistance Program for all household member access.
• Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
• Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.
• Access to affordable life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer: To learn more about this Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation.

Culture

Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.

Mission: Rescue. Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time

Values: Compassion. Collaboration. Excellence. Service. Integrity.

The ultimate team player:

• Displays interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for working with people.
• Demonstrates an attitude in being of-service, using good judgment, maintaining a positive outlook, and ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration with a sincere interest in helping others succeed.
• Is committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Exhibits adaptability, curiosity, flexibility to change, open to new ideas, and encourages others to recognize changes in work tasks, situations, and environment as an opportunity for transformation.
• Is committed to personal and professional development through life-long learning.

Required Qualifications

• WA State Certification as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (or ability to obtain WA Certification within a reasonable time)

Preferred qualifications

• Minimum of 1-year experience performing feline/canine dentals
• Minimum of 1-year work experience in high-volume, high-quality Spay/Neuter

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills,
• Strong customer service skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Effective organization skills
• Shows initiative and is a conscientious worker.
• Ability to operate multiple tasks in a demanding environment.
• Must have the ability to lift 50 lbs. safely and carry it a minimum of twenty-five feet.
• Detail oriented and exercises good judgment when working/communicating with the public any animal-related concerns.
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of HSSW.
• Recognizes the importance of Spay/Neuter as a means to end pet overpopulation.
• Ability to maintain and organize written and computerized records.
• Must be comfortable monitoring anesthesia and assisting surgeon.
• Must remain aware of how flexibility, professionalism, and teamwork contribute to the success of the organization.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The Licensed Veterinary Technician must be able to work and communicate with people and groups of people. For most of a shift, essential duties include standing, walking, sitting, talking, hearing, listening, stooping, bending, squatting, kneeling, stretching, grasping, and gripping, putting fingers together firmly, reaching above and below shoulder level, flexing the neck upward and downward, twisting the neck and the waist. Additional essential duties include lifting, pushing, pulling, and/or carrying up to 50 lbs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed in a clinical environment with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals. Primary workplace is at an animal shelter that operates 7 days per week, with potential exposure to fractious animals; high noise levels; zoonotic diseases; animal bites and scratches; cleaning chemicals, allergens and include potential exposure of infectious diseases to personally owned animals.

This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. HSSW participates in E-Verify.