Greater Cleveland Aquarium · Ohio · posted 6 days ago
General Summary of Job Duties The Veterinary Technician is a hands-on, detail-oriented position responsible for supporting the medical care, preventive health, and husbandry of the Aquarium’s animal collection, including aquatic and terrestrial species. Under the guidance of the contracted Veterinarian and Director of Husbandry, this role assists with diagnostic procedures, treatments, surgical and emergency care, laboratory work, recordkeeping, and daily animal health monitoring. This position requires strong communication, sound judgment, effective time management, and close collaboration with the contracted Veterinarian, Director of Husbandry, and Animal Care Team to maintain high standards of animal welfare, exhibit care, and department operations. Principle Responsibilities and Duties • Support the medical care and husbandry of all taxa in animal collection. • Perform daily husbandry for quarantine, exhibit, and holding spaces, including maintenance, water changes, and diet preparation. • Consult daily with the contracted Veterinarian and assist with animal transport, moves, veterinary office trips, and procedures requiring cross-department coordination. • Administer prescribed treatments and medications, and maintain controlled substances, medication, and treatment logs in accordance with applicable regulations and internal procedures. • Coordinate weekly medical rounds, monitor animal behavior, appetite, and clinical signs, and promptly communicate updates or concerns to the Veterinarian and Animal Care leadership. • Perform diagnostic testing and laboratory procedures, including bloodwork, fecal testing, cytology, sample processing, outside laboratory submissions, quarantine procedures, and preventive health practices. • Prepare, clean, and maintain veterinary equipment, including diagnostic, anesthesia, and laboratory equipment. • Support intake for new animal arrivals, transfers, and returning from treatment. • Perform postmortem evaluations, support necropsy documentation and sample collection, and maintain clean, organized specimen storage. • Maintain diagnostic, medical, treatment, and animal health records to the highest standards, including filing, data entry, documentation, and organization. • Assist the Veterinarian with medical, surgical, and emergency care procedures, including setup and cleanup, animal restraint, anesthetic monitoring, medication administration, sample collection, and equipment operation. • Support animal nutrition standards, including proper food handling, diet preparation, feeding practices, and monitoring growth and breeding activity. • Maintain strong cross-functional working relationships with the Animal Care Team. • Serve as point of contact for ordering and maintenance of supplies, medications, and other clinically related items. • Maintain clean, organized, and properly stocked treatment spaces. • Coordinate programs and staff training related to biosecurity, zoonotic diseases, biohazard disposal, PPE, disinfection, hazardous-material handling, and related safety procedures. • Contribute to the development and review of animal health standard operating procedures, and training materials. • Participate in conservation field operations and scientific studies. • Perform other related duties as required by the contracted Veterinarian and Director of Husbandry to support safe, efficient, and effective department operations. Skills, Education and Other Requirements • Licensed Veterinary Technician with a degree from an AVMA-accredited program required. • Minimum of one year of veterinary technical experience required. • Working knowledge of veterinary principles, including anatomy, pharmacology, parasitology, hematology, radiology, anesthesiology, urinalysis, and clinical and surgical techniques. • Experience working with exotic, aquatic, zoo, or aquarium species preferred. • Ability to administer and document treatments accurately, maintain medical records, and follow established veterinary protocols. • Ability to work safely in an animal care environment, including wet areas and around disinfectants, biohazards, potential zoonotic disease risks, and venomous or poisonous species. • Experience with animal nutrition, behavior, training, breeding, quarantine, and preventive health practices preferred. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. • Familiarity with veterinary recordkeeping systems, diagnostic sample handling, medication inventory, controlled substance logs, and regulatory compliance preferred. • Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced environment. • Experience supporting biosecurity, PPE, disinfection, and hazardous-material handling procedures preferred. • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of an animal care team. • Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and integrity. • Ability to work varying shifts, including weekends, evenings, holidays, and on-call shifts as needed. • SCUBA certification, or the ability to become certified, preferred.
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