Job Title: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)

Reports to: Medical Director 

Objective: The primary purpose of the CVT is to assist the veterinarian with spay and neuter, special, and dental surgeries and to provide high quality medical care to shelter cats and publicly-owned cats.

Position Type and Hours: Non-exempt, hourly, full-time. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Preventative Care & Medical Treatment  (45% of time)

• Work with the medical veterinarian to organize and prioritize daily medical needs.
• Using safe handling techniques, perform physical exams, assess a cat’s overall medical condition, and administer appropriate treatment while following preset medical protocols. 
• Administer basic and preventative medical care treatments like vaccines, parasite control, and microchips in accordance with hospital treatment protocol and policy. 
• Process bloodwork by collecting blood samples and preparing them for analysis; run in-house blood tests as needed. 
• Perform lab work by collecting fecal, urine, and skin samples and analyzing them under the microscope. 
• Take x-rays using digital x-ray equipment.
• Update cat medical records when appropriate by inputting medications, exam findings, surgery notes, and preventative care treatments into various software systems. 

Surgery (Spay/Neuter and Other Surgeries) Assistance (30% of time)

• Along with the surgical veterinarian, lead and organize the surgical flow for the day.
• Prepare cats for surgery by shaving them appropriately for the procedure; sedating and intubating them following established hospital protocol. 
• Monitor cats while under anesthesia by checking their vital signs and adjusting the anesthesia as needed to ensure the cat’s well-being during surgery.
• Administer basic and preventative medical care treatments like vaccines, parasite control, and microchips by using safe administration techniques in accordance with hospital treatment protocol and policy. 

Dental Surgery Assistance (10% of time)

• Prepare the dental surgery suite by setting up the dental surgery supplies, monitoring equipment, and anesthesia according to established hospital protocol. 
• Serve as a hospital representative to public dental clients by greeting and checking-in their cats; processing their payments; providing follow-up care instructions if necessary. 
• Prepare cats for surgery by sedating and anesthetizing them according to established hospital protocol; properly attaching monitoring equipment to them.
• Assist the veterinarian during and after the surgery by monitoring the cat's vital signs, taking pre-and post-surgery radiographs, scaling and polishing their teeth, and administering IV fluids.
• Recover the cat post-procedure while following established hospital protocol. 

Hospital Support (15% of time) 

• Maintain fully stocked hospital supply areas by retrieving supplies from the warehouse and/or unpacking and putting away supply shipments; follow established protocols to reorder supplies when stocks are low. 
• Assist with the communication treatment plans, schedules, protocols, and other specific issues related to cats and/or clients by using a multi-line phone system, a variety of software systems including Microsoft Office, and/or the Google suite, and others. 
• Remain informed regarding changes to policy and protocol by regularly attending shelter meetings and weekly check-in meetings. 
• Train new staff and volunteers by demonstrating and delegating tasks related to cat medical care; providing corrective feedback in a positive manner when necessary; assisting with hospital operation policy and protocol development. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge 

• Advanced veterinary medicine procedures  
• Animal sheltering 
• Computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Shelter Buddy 

Skills

• Perform advanced veterinary procedures requiring certification 
• Remain organized 
• Complete tasks with little direction or supervision
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously 
• Manage details
• Communicate effectively in person and in writing 
• Handle animals safely 
• Follow protocols and procedures
• Analyze and solve problems effectively 
• Operate standard office equipment, including computers and telephone systems  
• Operate equipment found in a veterinary hospital setting 

Abilities 

• Work cooperatively within a team environment 
• Provide corrective feedback in a positive manner 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Necessary

• Valid Oregon Certified Veterinary Technician License
• >1 year of professional experience 

Preferred 

• 1 year of applicable professional experience 
• Previous experience working in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic
• Proven veterinary knowledge and skills 

Mental Effort: This position consists of duties that are mostly comprised of routine and repeated tasks based on established protocol. However, the job holder may need to assess risk, anticipate potential problems, and devise alternate courses of action. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Move and/or transport items up to 50 pounds (assisted or unassisted)
• Position oneself at various levels to successfully carry out the essential functions of the job
• Provide direct animal care including feeding, watering, cleaning litter boxes, and other animal handling
• Provide direct medical care to animals including administering vaccinations, medications, subcutaneous fluids and performing other treatments/procedures as needed 
• Clean animal housing and facility 
• Disinfect and sanitize using agents such as bleach and Rescue®
• Communicate effectively with other staff and volunteers by email, phone, or in-person
• Navigate the shelter and building
• Read and keep accurate records/files
• Work on a computer and use various software programs
• Operate office equipment such as a copy and fax machine, printer, scanner, and multi-line telephone 
• Operate equipment found in a veterinary hospital setting 

Work Environment

Work in this position is performed at an animal shelter hospital. The work environment will have hazards or obstacles, and there is a higher risk of personal injury while performing assigned tasks if safety protocols are not followed. Job conditions are uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, smell, cleanliness, or exposure to contagious disease. The worker may encounter the following: 

• Distressed animals that put the worker at risk for injuries such as bites and scratches
• Animal urine, animal feces, animal vomit, animal blood, animal fur
• Medications used to treat animals
• Needles used to vaccinate or provide other treatments to animals 
• Zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from cats to humans
• Disinfecting agents such as bleach and Rescue®
• Animal handling equipment such as nets, leather gloves, etc.

Pay Range: This position starts at $25.85-$31.60/hour 

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

To Apply, Click the Apply button below. Please upload your resume to the application portal—a resume is required for consideration. If you are having any problems uploading your resume to the application portal, please email it to jobs@catadoptionteam.org, and we can send you a list of the screener questions to answer.  

PLEASE NOTE: There are required screener questions for this position that will replace a Cover Letter requirement.