Veterinary Technician Manager

Job Title Veterinary Technician Manager

Positions 2

Hire Type Direct Hire

Work Location Minneapolis

Applicant Eligibility USC, GC, EAD

Salary $ 66,000 Annual

Start Date Immediate Upon Selection

Required Experience & Competency

These positions will be responsible for each managing and directing the activities of half the departments 12-14 research veterinary technicians as a cohesive management team.

In addition to identical responsibilities for management and mentoring of veterinary technicians, each position will have different primary responsibilities within the Veterinary Services Unit.

This position will have primary management responsibility for the technical services program and diagnostic lab while performing a support role for the primary duties of the other position.

We additionally have a second position that will have primary management responsibility of clinical supplies inventory and order management, rodent health surveillance program, USDA species procurement and preventative medicine program, the controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations while performing a support role for the technical services and diagnostic lab programs.

The Veterinary Technician Manager will also facilitate training and cross-training of technical staff in collaboration with the Training Team as appropriate to ensure high quality and consistent veterinary care and service.

Job Responsibilities

The work duties for this position are complex and varied and will require the interpretation of technical and detailed guidelines, policies, and procedures. Analytical ability is needed to gather and interpret data and information to aid in making decisions regarding refining methods, processes, and techniques used to maintain high quality animal care and customer service. Innovation and critical thinking are an essential underlying part of the job duties described within this posting.

These positions will report to Senior Clinical Veterinarian

Required Qualifications

BA/BS degree plus at least 5 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least nine years.

Direct managerial experience of employees, >2 year in duration

Preferred

Direct managerial experience of bargaining unit employees

CVT certification

AALAS Technician Certification (any level)

Experience with regulations, guidance documents, and accreditation programs that are part of the research field (e.g. The USDA Animal Welfare Act and Regulations, The Public Health Service Policy and PHS Assurance, OLAW, The Guide, The Ag Guide, and AAALAC International Accreditation)

Excellent communication skills and experience working in a university setting with diverse staff, laboratory researchers and research models

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Possess communication and leadership skills needed to interact with veterinary technician employees, professional staff, technical and administrative staff, and animal care staff

Ability to work collaboratively with counterpart in making consistent management decisions

Ability to delegate appropriately as needed

Ability to work and think independently to produce quality work and to encourage the same quality work from employees

Interest in mentoring, teaching, and cross-training staff to promote professional growth of employees

A thorough knowledge of animal welfare regulations as described in the Preferred Qualifications

Working knowledge of generally accepted laboratory animal husbandry practices and the ability to work collaboratively with operations and husbandry supervisors and animal care technicians to promote advances in animal care

Excellent attention to details, analytical thinking skills, resourcefulness, ingenuity, project organization, and management skills

Computer skills necessary to learn and use current electronic systems and to adapt to new software programs as they are implemented

Experience with conflict management and the ability to deescalate difficult situations

Must be flexible, change-agile, forward-thinking, and motivated to succeed in s mission

Duties/Responsibilities - Veterinary Technician Manager

50% - Direct supervision of the veterinary technician staff

Supervise and direct the work of up to 8 veterinary technicians

Plan training/cross-training of staff in collaboration with the Training Team

Ensure staff implement proper and consistent clinical care for all species & areas within

Create and maintain work schedules (including weekend/holidays) and work with team to cover work during call-outs

Provides performance feedback, both immediate and at annual performance reviews.

Mentor employees to further career goals and support continued educational and certification opportunities

Resolve HR issues for labor represented employees

Determine appropriate staffing levels and communicates needs with manager and counterpart

Coordinate personnel resources in collaboration with counterpart to cover needs of the department

Hiring manager for veterinary technician positions as needed

Co-lead the veterinary technician team in high level customer service

Interact and work with clinical veterinarians to refine case management and provide high quality laboratory animal medicine and care

5-10% - Clinical and Technical Duties

Expectation to be a working manager and help perform clinical case triaging, management, training and other technical duties when staffing is short

Weekend and after hours work may be possible

5% - Develop and maintain cross unit communication and relationships within

Maintain effective communication with the Operations and Husbandry teams

Identify areas for improvement for communication and bring ideas to managers and senior leaders

Provide mentorship to resolve conflict professionally without the need for escalation

5% - Other duties as assigned by the manager or leadership

Unique Duties/Responsibilities Position 1

25% - Technical Services Program management

Maintain and further develop the technical services program

Coordinate the veterinary technician team to fulfill all requests for technical services

Identify appropriate individuals within to perform atypical services (e.g. vets, training staff) and allow veterinary technicians opportunities to train and develop these services in the future

Coordinate Diagnostic Lab services (both internal and external) including maintaining necropsy space(s) and diagnostic equipment

5-10% - Cross-trained to provide support and backup as needed for specialized services and programs

Rodent Health Surveillance and Quarantine programs

USDA covered species procurement and preventative medicine program

Supplies inventory program, ordering management, controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations

Unique Duties/Responsibilities Position 2

25% - Oversight/Management of specialized services and programs for the Veterinary Services Unit.

Incorporate process improvements for each program with key stakeholders

Oversee the following programs and assign responsibilities to staff as appropriate in each area

Rodent Health Surveillance and Quarantine programs

USDA covered species procurement and preventative medicine programs

Clinical supply inventory and ordering management, controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations

Identify opportunities for other specialized programs to further refine and strengthen veterinary services

5-10% - Cross-trained to provide support and backup as needed for Technical Services Program and Diagnostic Lab services

Support the Technical Services Program in identifying employees to perform services

Support Diagnostic Lab services

Encourage opportunities for all staff to learn new techniques from subject matter experts