Registered Veterinary Technologist - Wildlife

POSITION:                 Registered Veterinary Technologist - Wildlife - RVT

STATUS:                    Permanent; Part-Time with benefits

SHIFT:                        22.5 hours per week

LOCATION:                BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Victoria, BC

CLASSIFICATION:    Cupe Local 50

WAGE:                       Hourly                                                 

CLOSING DATE:       Open Until Filled

About the position: 
Reporting to the Manager, Wild ARC, the Registered Veterinary Technologist – Wildlife (RVT-W) is responsible for direct care, health assessments, rehabilitation, and triage/stabilization of wild animals at Wild ARC in conjunction with required internal and external standards as outlined. Duties will also include support functions such as maintenance of instruments and equipment, medical record-keeping, administration, inventory, training, professional development, and other duties as required to ensure efficient operations and high quality of care.

May also be required to assist with rescue and daily operations of Wild ARC as required.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Direct animal care duties include:

• Support routine patient care, health assessments, rehabilitation, and triage and stabilization of new patients in accordance with BC SPCA Wild ARC policies and protocols and in keeping with International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC)/National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) minimum standards for wildlife rehabilitation and CVBC/Health Canada requirements
• Dispense and record patient medications
• Assist with release assessments and coordinating transportation for release
• Assist with the coordination of rescuing and reuniting wildlife as required
• Perform humane euthanasia
• Perform medical treatments such as physical therapy, wound management, radiography, and fluid therapy as required
• Perform intravenous and intraosseous catheter placement
• Provide pre, peri, and post-anesthesia care and monitoring
• Other duties as assigned

• Laboratory duties include:

• Perform diagnostic testing, such as cell counts, blood lead levels, biochemistry panels, fecal analysis, urinalysis, cytology, x-ray
• Prepare patient samples for external testing
• Perform basic necropsies
• Update patient records and notifies team of lab results
• Prepares carcasses for salvage and laboratory submission
• Other duties as assigned

• Centre maintenance and administrative duties include:

• Perform monthly controlled drug inventory and ensure logs are completed and accurate
• Ensure patient records and database are complete and up to date
• Perform regular and annual inventories of medical supplies
• Assist in ordering medical supplies and equipment for the Centre
• Assist in processing medical supplies donations
• Facilitate disposal of deceased patients, sharps, liquid waste, and unusable medical supplies
• Assist in ensuring adherence to facility hygiene, biosecurity, and health and safety protocols
• Perform routine checks of medical equipment and facilitate scheduled maintenance
• Assist with recruitment and onboarding of practicum participants, volunteers, and staff as required
• Complete ongoing continuing education requirements to maintain active RVT license
• Assist Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator (SWR) with development and conduct of workshops and other training as required
• Stay abreast of latest research and veterinary requirements relevant to Wild ARC policies and protocols and work with SWR for necessary revisions
• Other related duties as assigned

• Communication duties include:

• Maintain regular communication with the veterinarian who holds the license of record for Wild ARC and ensure compliance with their direction in accordance with CVBC bylaws and other provincial and federal professional regulations
• Perform duties as required including answering phone calls, emails, interacting with the public, veterinarians, government, etc. in order to maintain Centre operations
• Communicate with regional, national, and international wildlife rehabilitation associations
• Communicate relevant operational information to the team
• Assist with callbacks/emails as needed for patient follow-ups as required
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge & Qualifications / Skills Required:

• Successful completion of a veterinary technologist program accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association (CVMA) and registration with the BC Veterinary Technologists Association (BCVTA); or recognition by BC governing bodies of an equivalency to an RVT designation.
• Minimum 1 year practical experience as an RVT with basic wildlife skills and knowledge; experience working as an RVT directly with wildlife is preferred.
• Animal care experience with small to medium size wild mammals and birds including raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, seabirds, deer, raccoons, squirrels, seals
• Knowledge of natural history, identification, and behaviour of BC wildlife species; familiar with provincial and federal government wildlife regulations and rehabilitation permit requirements
• Basic Skills certification from a provincial or international wildlife rehabilitation body; advanced skills certifications are preferable
• Knowledge of IWRC/NWRA minimum standards
• Strong teamwork skills and work ethic
• Excellent organizational and data management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to relate to a diverse audience in a respectful manner
• Able to fulfill physical demands of the job which may include standing for long periods of time, walking, sitting, working in all types of outdoor conditions, and lifting heavy objects and patients (must be able to lift 50 pounds)
• Available to work all shifts assigned by the Manager including evenings, weekends and statutory holidays, including reasonable ability to work in emergency situations, on short notice
• Understanding of the risks associated with working with potentially hazardous conditions such as contact with parasites, zoonotic diseases, dangerous animals, and chemicals and the ability to follow safety requirements and other biosecurity precautions
• Willingness and no identified barriers to exposure to supplies commonly used in a wildlife rehabilitation setting such as anesthetic gases, chemicals, drugs including controlled substances, and x-ray radiation within Canadian safety standards
• Must be vaccinated for tetanus and rabies
• Intermediate level of computer literacy
• Valid Class N or 5 BC Drivers’ License and driver’s abstract
• Must have unrestricted access to a reliable vehicle to travel to/from Wild ARC (Wild ARC is not on a regular transit route)
• Philosophical harmony with the vision, mission and strategic directions of the BC SPCA.