Part-Time Veterinary Assistant

JOB OPENING

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSTING #64: PARTTIME VETERINARY ASSISTANT

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

DEPARTMENT: Parks Recreation & Cultural Affairs

WORK LOCATION: Farmington Animal Shelter

HIRING RANGE: $14.00 to $16.00 per hour DOE

PAY GRADE: Temporary

TYPE OF POSITION: Temporary PartTime

DAYS WORKED: Monday through Friday

HOURS WORKED: 11:30AM to 5:30PM

APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL: Until Filled First Review in Two Weeks

JOB DUTIES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Works under the direct supervision of the Lead Veterinary Assistant the Veterinary Technician and the Staff Veterinarian.

Assists the Lead Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Technician in daily setup for all surgical procedures. This includes setting up hydrowarming blankets heated exam tables and replenishing stock.

Assists Lead Vet Assistant and Vet Tech in performing basic pet exams. This includes retrieving animals from kennels weighing them and returning them to their kennels.

Assists Lead Vet Assistant and Vet Tech in restraint and tranquilization of pets for surgery.

Performs postoperative patient recovery. This includes administering pain injections and vaccinations placing a tattoo on the animal wiping out ears and trimming toenails. Lifting and moving animals postop taking temperatures and removing endotracheal tubes.

Cleans and maintains kennels and surgical facility. This includes cleaning and disinfecting all kennels daily cleaning and disinfecting surgery room daily mopping floors cleaning and sanitizing surgical instruments and maintaining a clean and sterile triage area including countertops and all work areas.

Walks dogs outside as necessary and cleans/disinfects after any biological animal accidents/spills.

Maintains all surgical packs and drapes. This includes cleaning and sanitizing all surgical instruments creating surgical packs and operating two autoclaves.

Performs weekly and monthly maintenance on autoclaves.

Operates blood machines and runs blood samples for patients.

Transfers animals to and from the shelter and AMD. Also transfer of animals to San Juan Vet Clinic for xrays.

Assists in the process of euthanasia.

Assists shelter veterinarian with any necessary tasks or exams.

NONESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Must demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to FRAS policies and procedures.

Must ensure a safe work environment follow all safety guidelines and model safe work practices.

Must take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member volunteer customer animal or the organization at risk.

Must be able to follow direction of a contract veterinarian as well as the staff veterinarian.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is subject to the City of Farmingtons Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes: preemployment testing postaccident testing random testing reasonable suspicion testing return to duty testing and followup testing.

Must have a high school diploma with preference given to applicants with veterinary assistant experience and/or education.

Must have ability to hear understand and execute directions from supervisors.

Must have ability to lift up to 50 pounds onto a table with assistance.

Must have ability to work in direct contact with animals without experiencing allergy symptoms.

Must have ability to cope with euthanasias and medical deaths.

Must have knowledge and concern for animals.

Must have ability to communicate effectively with supervisors coworkers and public pet owners.

Must have ability to physically restrain animals for procedures with assistance when needed.

Must have ability to multitask and handle stressful situations.

Must have ability to handle high volume of daily surgical procedures.

Must have a desire to learn and be open to constructive criticism regarding medical protocols and procedures.

Must have a valid New Mexico drivers license with acceptable driving record for the past three years.

Must have excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask and prioritize medical cases.

Must be selfmotivated while being unsupervised.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Animal capture equipment police radios first aid equipment leashes gloves cleaning materials in shelter maintenance and disinfecting including chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide as well as chlorhexidine. Needles and syringes surgery tables and lights blood chemistry machines surgical instruments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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

While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand used hand to finger handle or feel objects tools or controls reach with hands and arms climb or balance stoop kneel crouch or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision and peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Ability to use a computer

Ability to work around animals without severe allergic reactions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee frequently will need to walk quickly and communicate with coworkers in a high noise environment. The employee will be exposed to noxious odors animal blood urine feces saliva and may encounter zoonotic diseased such as ring worm leptospirosis tickborne diseases coccidiosis mange helicobacter campylobacter rabies and brucellosis.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F/D/V.