Job Title: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)

Location: Naperville, Illinois

Department: Clinic

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Full-time/Part-time Nonexempt 

Pay Range: $19.00-$26.00 per hour

About Us:

A.D.O.P.T. is a private, “no-kill,” non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has found homes for more than 30,000 pets. We provide a temporary, loving home for dogs and cats that no longer have a family of their own. The animals in our shelter have ended up here for a variety of reasons ranging from abandonment, to rescue from an abusive situation, to owner surrender because they no longer are able to take care of them. Our animals are loving, family pets who are desperately awaiting for their forever home.

A.D.O.P.T. was founded in 1989 by a group of dedicated volunteers determined to find homes for animals in need. Over the years, our objective has remained the same: to place animals into permanent, caring homes and advance the humane treatment of animals through education.

Job Purpose:

The Certified Veterinary Technician is an important professional animal care specialist within the clinic. The primary duties are to insure high animal care standards, high medical and surgical standards, and to promote animal welfare. The CVT must communicate in a way that demonstrates and promotes collaboration, cooperation, problem solving and interpersonal skills to foster a positive work environment, team work and productivity. The Certified Veterinary Technician will work with other skilled A.D.O.P.T. staff, veterinarians, A.D.O.P.T. administrators, volunteers, and outside professional in the regular course of business. It is the expectation that the Certified Veterinary Technician act independently as well as part of the clinic team. The CVT is to maintain consistent and accurate communication with A.D.O.P.T. and the Clinic Veterinarian at all times as well as thorough and clear communication with clinic staff regarding scheduling and animal’s medical needs. The Certified Veterinary Technician has supervisory responsibilities and support/training responsibilities in addition to supporting the professional veterinary staff. It is the expectation that the Certified Veterinary Technician will take advantage of outside continuing education programs to keep technical skills and medical knowledge current and at a high level of proficiency.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Patient Care 
• Dental prophylaxis
• Administer medications and treatments
• Triage urgent care patients to identify patients in emergent need of medical intervention
• Assist veterinarians in patient workup and treatment
• Perform or assist with humane euthanasia
• Take and develop radiographs (x-rays) to aid in diagnosing and treating animal conditions.
• Provide nursing care to hospitalized animals, including monitoring vital signs, administering fluids, and maintaining cleanliness and comfort.
• Maintain accurate medical records and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.
• Handle and restrain animals safely and with compassion.
• Client Education
• Nutrition and wellness care
• Medication compliance
• Participate in team approach to educating clients on medical concerns and chronic disease management
• Help develop client education tools
• Oral health care
• Laboratory
• Run in-house diagnostics
• Prep samples for referral laboratories
• Patient sample collection
• Use of safe sample handling techniques
• Pharmacy
• Maintain in-house formulary
• Coordinate prescription refills
• Fill prescriptions using the 5 rights
• Additional duties as assigned
• Duties and responsibilities may change, and new ones may be added, at any time with or without advanced notice.

Skills & Qualifications

• Certified Veterinary Technician (or equivalent)
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Actively engaged in learning new skills
• Able to learn software systems (including electronic medical records systems)
• Able to think on feet and problem solve
• English/Spanish multilingual preferred
• Self-starter
• Must be comfortable handling companion animals such as cats and dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, ages and backgrounds.

Working Conditions:

• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker may have contact with domesticated animals.
• The worker may have contact with animal wastes, kennel cleaners and disinfectants, soiled kennels, animal bedding and dishes. 
• The worker may be exposed to loud noises or exposed to zoonotic diseases.

Physical Requirements:

• Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward. 
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion. 
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling. 
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. 
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound. 
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

A.D.O.P.T. provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of A.D.O.P.T. to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [name and/or department, telephone, and e-mail address].

Your employment with A.D.O.P.T. is on an at-will basis, meaning either you or the Company can terminate the employment relationship, at any time, for any or no reason, and with or without cause or notice. As an at-will employee, your employment with A.D.O.P.T. is not guaranteed for any length of time.