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Veterinary Assistant/Technician

Our Mission:
Project Chimps is the newest chimpanzee sanctuary in the United States and was founded to provide lifetime exemplary care to more than 200 former research chimpanzees. Today, Project Chimps is home to 77 chimpanzees and we are working to bring more than 120 to permanent sanctuary.

Our Location:
The Project Chimps sanctuary is located on 236 acres of forested land in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are located in Morganton, Georgia, just east of the town of Blue Ridge.

Our Culture:
Our culture of excellence is sustained by a passionate, high-performing team of core staff and volunteers. If you thrive in a results-oriented culture dedicated to performance excellence, we invite you to join our team!

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Under the general supervision of the Director of Chimpanzee Care, the Veterinary Assistant participates in all on-site medical care. Duties include daily rounds of resident chimpanzees, collecting samples, running diagnostics, coordinating prescriptions and treatments, facilitating the work of the Care staff by ensuring that the staff have the necessary knowledge to perform routine medical treatments, overseeing the medication/drug inventory; responsible for administrative functions such as medical records and drug logs. Orders, receives and distributes materials, supplies and medications; and facilitates medical care operations; reviews, develops and/or revises standard operating procedures or other reports; conducts or coordinates operational training. Supports veterinarian during any procedures. Additionally, acts as a liaison between the Veterinarian and Care staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES are derived from SECTION C, Performance Standards.
  • Monitor anesthesia and vitals during procedures.
  • Participate in all diagnostics procedures; review results with veterinarian and interpret outcomes to Care staff.
  • Ensure medical standards are met through supervision of routine cleaning and setup of medical areas.
  • Ensure that all equipment is in good working order and fully prepared and ready for use.

Animal Husbandry
  • Assist in ensuring that veterinary care standards are maintained at or above those set by USDA, DNR, GFAS, and HSUS.
  • Implementation of routine medication prescriptions.
  • Implement protocol modifications for veterinary care, triage, rehabilitation viability, and euthanasia protocols.
  • Implement wellness plans for all chimpanzees collaboratively with the Vet.
  • Monitor all husbandry practices for patients within the medical center or under direct veterinary care.
  • Consult with Care staff on medical concerns and routine wellness exams; additionally, work with behavior coordinator on operant conditioning for routine exam procedures.

Volunteer & Interns
  • Work with volunteers and interns in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Mentor interns on individual projects as assigned.
  • Update volunteers and intern training protocols as needed.

Supply Inventory
  • Monitors use and care of medical equipment including microscopes, centrifuge, x-ray, anesthesia, and other veterinary tools.
  • Monitors inventory levels of veterinary supplies and medications.
  • Maintains control drug logs.
  • Works with vendors to ensure quality and prices meet standards provided by management.
  • Identifies and suggests new products, vendors, resources, or inventory routines as needed to continually improve quality and meet budget.

Admin
  • Implements, develops and/or revises standard operating procedures or other reports; conducts or coordinates training.
  • Maintains or reviews necessary records of logs relating to medical care in both handwritten medical files as well as the ZIMS online database.
  • Prepares and has responsibility for the annual budget for medical supplies and consultants in tandem with the consulting veterinarian.
  • Provides support on writing monthly and annual reports.
  • Train team members in the use of diagnostic, surgical and radiographic equipment.

Disaster Response
  • Test, repair, or replace all medical equipment and supplies as part of the disaster response program on a routine schedule.
  • In the event of a major disaster, respond to the situation as outlined in the current Emergency Preparedness Protocol.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES are derived from SECTION C, Performance Standards.
  • May develop, conduct or supervise advancements in veterinary treatments or procedures.
  • Actively participating in team problem-solving and decision making processes; required attendance at weekly staff meetings.
  • Is prepared to travel for meetings and continuing education.
  • Other duties as assigned.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Licensed and/or registered as a Veterinary Technician preferred
  • Must be 18 years of age per state and federal requirements.
  • Five years progressive experience in veterinary facilities, primate experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of microscopic fecal analysis.
  • Must remain current in CPR and first-aid certification.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license with 3 years clean driving record.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
  • Must have advanced knowledge of animal husbandry and rehabilitation.
  • Must know basic principles of operant conditioning in relation wellness exams and medication receipt.
  • Must be able to move/lift 50 pounds.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Must have or obtain and maintain an up-to-date vaccines as required for this position.
  • Must be able to use a computer and word/excel programs.
  • Excellent organizational and time planning skills.
  • Demonstrated critical thinking and ability to handle complex situations with sound judgment and problem solving skills.
  • Demonstrated to be proactive and self-motivated.
  • Must be able to endure occasional long workdays (up to 12 hours) and maintain focus, accuracy and physical activities required by job.
  • Work requires continual attention to detail. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Supervise volunteers and interns in normal daily duties; additionally mentor assigned interns on individual projects.

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 this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must have good physical agility, strength, vision & hearing, and the ability to perform strenuous physical work in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments, (e.g. outdoor animal enclosures). Specifically, this means the ability to lift 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal's sounds, radio communication and emergency situations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit and talk. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to hear and see near and far. Must be able to bend, kneel, crawl, run, and climb stairs and ladders frequently.
Employee must also be able to operate vehicles and heavy machinery.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Flexible scheduling; will be assigned to work weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Will work outdoors in a variety of adverse weather conditions including: temperatures as low as 15 degrees, temperatures as high as 110 degrees, wind storms, rain, hail, and intense sunlight. May be required to work outside in the evenings and middle of the night using safety lights.
Will be working around dangerous animals.
Natural odors from these species and their fecal waste will be high.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Our Commitment:
Project Chimps is committed to fostering a work environment that embraces diversity and inclusion in a unified approach to delivering quality care to the chimpanzees, our volunteers, and one another. We are an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.