Certified Veterinary Technician, Shelter Medicine

Job Location : Portland Campus - Portland, OR

Position Type : Full Time

Education Level : CVPM, DVM or CVT

Salary Range : $30.77 - $33.05 Hourly

Certified Veterinary Technician

About the Oregon Humane Society

Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane Society is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation.

We are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, OHS is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical and humane law enforcement programs.

Visit to learn more about how we’re creating a More Humane Society.

The Team

Certified Veterinary Technicians work collaboratively with the medical and operations leadership team to ensure the clinic’s overall performance in accordance with all the medical standards set forth by our executive leadership and in compliance with the OVMEB veterinary practice act.

The Position

The Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) is a vital member of the Shelter Medicine team. As part of our high volume, high quality veterinary hospital your responsibilities include proficient venipuncture, intubation of dogs and cats of various sizes, preparing, monitoring, and assisting veterinarians with procedures and surgery.

Work under the direction of a veterinarian, performing triage exams, entering medical records, restraining animals, administering patient treatments, performing euthanasia, and maintaining the facility at the highest level of cleanliness and order.

CVTs also engage with the public, veterinary community and shelter staff to provide consultation and information. All OHS staff members contribute to the stewardship of the organization’s mission and are expected to stay current on and understand issues related to animal welfare and OHS programs.

Essential Responsibilities

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

• Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
• Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to our organization and customer service values, while treating all people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrates an awareness of your individual personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback;

builds a culture of feedback and learning.

LEARNING

• Contributes to regular dialogue and accountability with the leadership team and across the organization to review progress and course correct if necessary.
• Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization / team strategy and its progress.
• Builds appropriate feedback loops to measure if we are meeting key milestones and if the impact planned is being felt across the organization.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Communicate effectively to executive and other stakeholder groups to ensure they are informed and able to actively engage.
• Liaise with and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including other departments, and donors; build mutually rewarding professional relationships inside OHS at all levels.
• Leverage our best practices externally and grow OHS’ reputation as a leader in the animal welfare space.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist veterinarians with physical examinations and help determine the nature of illness or injury.
• Handle individual animals of varying species, size, and temperament in a caring, respectful, and safe manner.
• Ensure that animals with infectious diseases are handled safely and according to infectious medicine protocols.
• Perform patient care including taking and recording TPR, dressing wounds, and applying splints and other protective devices.
• Administer medications, fluids and blood products as prescribed by the veterinarian.
• Perform routine lab procedures and tests, collect urine, draw blood, and perform skin scrapings.
• Place catheters, administer intravenous fluids and tube feedings.
• Perform dental examinations, charting, and procedures.
• Capture and process radiographs.
• Prepare animals for surgery : Induce, intubate, monitor and maintain anesthetic patients during and after surgery.
• Assist veterinarians in surgery for specialized procedures including retraction, lavage, suctions, and transfusion.
• Operate, maintain, and assure technically advanced hospital equipment is in good working order.
• Monitor, record, and report physical signs of patients before, during, and after surgery and throughout hospitalization.
• Enter medical and treatment notes according to established protocols in a timely and accurate manner.
• Perform medical consultations with clients from the public as outlined by relevant state regulations.
• Assist veterinarians and clients with end-of-life services.
• Assist in maintaining inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies.
• Maintain controlled drug logs in accordance with state and federal laws.
• Assist with public education events such as presentations and in-shelter types of education.
• Teach and mentor volunteers, staff, veterinary interns, residents, and students.
• Perform any other duty as requested by management.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY

Supervises : None

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To : Manager, Hospital Operations

Often Engages Directly With : Medical Team

Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position interacts and collaborates will all levels of the organization, including OHS staff, executive team members, donors, general-public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters.

Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone and digital interactions. Excellent customer service skills are essential to success.

Communication must be clear, understandable, professional and respectful in all circumstances.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in an office and medical center / animal shelter environment.
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required.
• Animal contact and related injuries may occur.
• Noise exposure varies and sometimes includes uncontrolled barking and other animal vocalizations.
• Pace of work is active and demanding, requiring a high degree of multitasking and ability to adapt to changing priorities while managing concurrent projects / tasks to completion.
• This position primarily resides within the Oregon Humane Society campus which is open to the public. Contact with emotional people may occur.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Occasional lifting and moving of inanimate objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Occasional pushing and pulling of carted items weighing up to 100 lbs.
• Occasional moving items above shoulder level.
• Occasional use of hands and arms at or above shoulder level.
• Prolonged standing, sitting and / or stooping may occur.
• Occasional climbing and bending.
• Must be able to lift, move, restrain, guide, or manage an animal weighing up to 150 lbs. on a leash on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods.
• Ability to respond and perform life saving techniques in an emergency.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and address and overcome complex challenges and barriers.

We strive for a culture of integrity, respect and compassion where every member of our community contributes their perspectives and authentic selves and where everyone reaches their potential as individuals and teams.

We recognize that striving for diversity, equity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Oregon Humane Society is an