Senior Animal Care Technician

City of Mission Viejo Invites Applications for 

SENIOR ANIMAL CARE TECHNICIAN

$26.23 - $38.16 per hour
 
APPLY BY:  3:00 P.M., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2024

The City of Mission Viejo seeks qualified candidates to serve as our next Senior Animal Care Technician to provide daily care and enrichment for shelter animals. Candidates will assist with adoption counseling, behavioral assessments of shelter animals and customer service.  This position will provide training and technical direction to the lower-level classification. Candidates must possess a valid current certification as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) issued by the Veterinary Medical Board of the State of California, or the ability to obtain RVT certification with the Veterinary Medical Board of the State of California within first (6) months of employment.

There is (1) full-time vacancy scheduled to work forty (40) hours per week:  Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The schedule and assignment may include evenings, weekends, and special events depending on the needs of the City.  This is an FLSA non-exempt position and is entitled to overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week.

The first round of Zoom interviews is tentatively scheduled for some time during the week of November 11, 2024.  Only one date will be available for an applicant to attend.  The City will not accommodate applicant scheduling requests for alternative dates.

 
The eligibility list established for this position may be used to fill future full-time, part-time or temporary Senior Animal Care Technician vacancies.   

Your impact

1. Work alongside contract Veterinarian and Mission Viejo Animal Services (MVAS) management to organize and implement a new veterinary program including SOP’s, policies, and structures for providing quality routine and urgent medical services for animals under the care of MVAS.
2. Provide the highest of standards of animal husbandry, customer service, conflict resolution and communication to the public while upholding promoting the Center’s programs and policies.
3. Complete daily cleaning and feeding routines, provide kennel enrichment for all domestic animals, and evaluate & socialize animals.
4. Safely handle domestic and wild animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles, and monitor their health, report symptoms of illness, and administer prescribed medications and immunizations.
5. Enter clear and concise data and notes utilizing database software.  
6. Learn about the personalities and traits of the adoptable pets in our care, promote great qualities to potential adopters via social media posts and facilitate animal/animal introductions utilizing Center protocols.
7. Maintain inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies; orders, and receives pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies; and maintains order of storage area.
8. Provides training to newly hired animal care support staff.
9. Performs administrative duties in support of the volunteer program; responsible to review and screen volunteer applications and interview potential volunteers; prepares volunteer schedule.
10. Under general supervision and direction of the Animal Services Supervisor with input and oversight from the veterinarian, checks and monitors the general health of shelter animals, evaluates problems or symptoms reported by staff, checks for injuries, observes for signs of illness.
11. Conduct basic physical screening exams and triage; provide for treatment according to pre-established guidelines and/or in consultation with veterinarian, render emergency treatment, first aid, apply casts and splints, and follow-up care to all animals in need.
12. Assist the veterinarian in surgery; ensures that all equipment and instruments are at hand, operable and sanitized; may induce and/or monitor anesthesia. Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues.
13. Perform a variety of diagnostic procedures, including collecting and labeling cultures, samples and skin scrapings for analysis, taking and developing x-rays and conducting laboratory tests.
14. Perform euthanasia of animals in accordance with established laws and departmental policy by injecting animals with controlled substances for euthanasia; may administer Schedule 2 barbiturates and/or narcotics.

Applicants are encouraged to review the entire Senior Animal Care Technician job description by visiting the City’s website at https://cityofmissionviejo.org.

Your Team

The members of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Department are passionate and dedicated to making a difference every day for the domestic animals and wildlife living in the communities they serve. They are looking for someone with the same strong work ethic and passion to join them. 

The Department provides services for Mission Viejo and four surrounding cities which include: City of Aliso Viejo, City of Laguna Hills, City of Laguna Niguel and City of Rancho Santa Margarita. The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is a pro-humane facility that provides an array of services including animal licensing, rabies control, pet adoption, community outreach presentations, patrol of public streets and parks, picking up injured wildlife, impounding stray dogs/cats, issuing citations, and providing a shelter for homeless animals. The facility has dogs, cats and rabbits available for adoption year-round.

Ideal Candidate

• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that includes weekdays, weekends, evenings, and holidays;
• Is a reliable and flexible team player, enthusiastic about helping others; able to work both independently and in a group environment;

• Can establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with all levels of staff, volunteers, and the public;
•  Can handle stressful situations while working in a fast-paced, busy Animal Shelter environment and demonstrates the ability to remain calm when dealing with disgruntled people;
•  Strong work experience demonstrating sound independent judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions while using tact and discretion;
•  Possess strong animal handling skills including the ability to evaluate animal health and behavior, and a passion for animals; and
•  Knowledge of computer applications such Word, Excel, Outlook, Chameleon and has the ability to quickly learn new programs.

Qualifications

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in working with domestic animals in a veterinary hospital or other animal facility.

License and Certificates

Must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Valid current certification as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) issued by the Veterinary Medical Board of the State of California, or the ability to obtain RVT certification with the Veterinary Medical Board of the State of California within first (6) months of employment.

APPLY BY:  3:00 p.m., Friday, November 1, 2024.  Applicants are required to apply on-line directly by visiting the City’s website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/missionviejo.

For more information, contact the Human Resources Division at (949) 470-3008.