Location of Position: Marin Headlands, Sausalito, California 

Reports to: Animal Care Manager (Training and Field operations)

Position Classification: Veterinary Technician Externships are available on rotation from February through September. 

Externship is a minimum of 8 weeks with a maximum of 12 weeks. Externs must be able to work 2-5 days a week, at least 16-40 hours per week. Work schedule must be flexible and may include evening shifts, weekends, and holidays. Based upon different technician program requirements. Exceptions may be made for externship length and hours per week, upon acceptance into the externship.   

Benefits: This position is unpaid; we do have limited housing available at a reduced cost. Applicants are responsible for their own transportation. We can host international applicants, but they are responsible and required to obtain the appropriate work visa before their externship start date if accepted.  

Position Overview

The Veterinary Technician Externship is an exciting opportunity for students in a veterinary technician program and or approved alternate route track to become a licensed veterinary technician who are interested in increasing their technical skills, gaining experience and knowledge as a technician in veterinary medicine and learning and about the behavior, rescue, and rehabilitation of marine mammals. This position works with our veterinary staff and the Center’s animal care volunteers to provide veterinary care for our patients, which consists of phocids, otariids, and the occasional cetaceans and sea otters.

Due to the cyclic nature of our patients, our Veterinary Technician Externships are available from February through September. Each externship opportunity may vary slightly depending upon our patient load and what opportunities are available. During the externship students will be on their own trajectory, independent of any other students, depending upon their capabilities and experience. 

The weekly schedule of the externship will consist of: 

Once accepted into the   program you will receive a more detailed schedule

1 Day a Week -Participating on Animal Care Crew helping with husbandry and care of animals on site.

1 Day a Week - Alternating each week between the Clinical Lab and Necropsy.

1-3 Days a Week – Participating in Clinical Rotations: Includes scheduled daily exams, procedures, sedation, and anesthesia.

Key Responsibilities

· Assist with the hospital's daily procedures, including helping prepare, monitor, and expedite numerous exams and procedures that may require sedation or anesthesia. 

· Externs will assist and work directly with the staff technicians on duty to ensure all the daily tasks and preparation for the next day are complete. 

· Externs will be assigned to work on an animal care crew one day a week to gain husbandry experience. Duties on crew include animal handling, pen cleaning, medical charting, feeding, medication preparation and administration. 

· Complete on boarding, training modules electronically.

· Patient record keeping paper, data entry, maintaining and restocking of medical supplies. 

· Willingness to support and participate in the Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, initiatives, and trainings.  

Qualifications and Experience

· Students must be in their second year or equivalent of a Veterinary Technician program or near completion of alternate track Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) program. 

· Worked a minimum of two months in a veterinary hospital required.

· Must demonstrate maturity and professional conduct.

· Must demonstrate excellent skills in communication, multi-tasking, be able to deal with ambiguity, and maintain composure under pressure. 

· Must work well in a team setting with large numbers of people.

· Must pass a background check if accepted into the externship.

· Provide proof of liability insurance from their school/program required.

· Students must be receiving university credit for their externship, are responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institution. 

· Students are responsible for informing their supervisor at the start of their externship of any skills they need to gain or any requirements, evaluations, or projects they need to complete during the externship.

· Proof of medical insurance required.

· Proof of Covid vaccination required.

· Must have a valid driver’s license. 

Physical Requirements 

· Ability to frequently move, restrain and lift animals and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds across site and locations.

· Applicants must be able to accept long hours and unpredictable schedules, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.

· Ability to walk/cover, climb stairs, and be on your feet for prolonged periods during a shift on a frequent basis.

· Ability to operate a computer and possess practical computer knowledge with MS Word, Power point, and Excel. 

· Ability to drive/operate a vehicle.

Work Environment 

· Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.

· Working in outdoor weather conditions and elements 80% of the time.

· May involve strong smells associated with animals and the care of animals.

· The center is a teaching hospital, accommodating large numbers of students each year. Applicants must be able to work well in a team setting. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment.  We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint. 

OUR MISSION

The Marine Mammal Center advances global conservation through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education.

ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. 

For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org

To Apply: 

Applicants will be required to submit a resume and cover letter to apply. You must answer detailed application questions and provide contact information for two professional references. The following documents are required:

Veterinary Technician students in a program or alternate track RVT program: Cover letter, resume, two professional references, two letters of recommendation (one of the letters of recommendation must be from an instructor). Letters of recommendation can be uploaded to the application portal under “upload additional files".

Please submit a cover letter and resume and provide a brief description about how your experience aligns with the role. Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. 

In your cover letter, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc.). 

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

Applications accepted: Oct 2023 thru  Dec 17th, 2023. Applications will be reviewed upon submission.

Interviews conducted: Virtual interviews for select candidates will be scheduled upon review   of applications and conducted

upon school   deadlines & application review. 

Notification of Acceptance By: Notification by Friday Dec. 31st, 2023 or earlier depending upon school deadlines & application review.