Full-time Veterinary Technician

Summary

Heartland Animal Shelter is seeking a mission-driven, collaborative part-time veterinary technician. The technician is part of a small team that is responsible for all medical care of the animals under the organization’s care, ensuring the health and well-being of all cats and dogs, both at the shelter and in foster homes.

This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a dedicated and results-oriented team who values collaboration, open communication, and a positive workplace culture. We do our best to leverage each other’s strengths and strive to create opportunities for the work to be fun, rewarding, and to meet our individual and collective organizational goals. We take our mission seriously to provide excellent and life-saving care to the most vulnerable dogs and cats. We envision a humane community where pets and people thrive together in Chicagoland and beyond, and we’re dedicated to making that vision a reality. Are you an energetic and experienced veterinary technician with a passion for helping shelter animals? If your answer is YES, we invite you to apply to be a part of our team!

Qualifications and Duties

The Veterinary Technician will play an important role on our small medical team ensuring we are following best practices in shelter medicine and High Quality, High Volume (HQHV) surgical practices. Working in collaboration with our senior staff to adhere to the highest ethical standards and ensure that veterinary care is provided in a safe, competent, professional, and humane manner. This role requires collaboration and teamwork with two veterinary assistants, contract relief veterinarians, staff, and volunteers. Interacting with the public is also required on occasion.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the health of the shelter animals via daily rounds 
• Follow-up on reported medical issues (verbal, email and via clipboard), using currently implemented standards and protocols
• Administer medications and vaccines per our shelter protocols
• Check in new animals through our medical intake process
• Assist in our once weekly surgery/vet day
• Field questions and concerns daily with staff, volunteers, adopters, fosters, etc. via phone, email, and in-person in a timely and professional manner

Physical Job Requirements

• Must be able to routinely lift 50+ pounds
• Must be able to work around animals (including sick, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, etc. 
• Must be able to work in all environmental conditions

Required Qualifications

• Kindness and compassion toward animals including a low-stress, fear-free approach 
• Previous experience handling and administering medications to both cats and dogs
• A willingness to learn all skills deemed needed to perform the best possible medical care for the shelter’s animals

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Experience as a veterinary technician at an animal shelter OR Certification as a veterinary technician

Expectations

• Complete Fear Free certification within 8 weeks of hire (if not currently certified)
• Flexible schedule with some on-call or after-hours work as needed

Working Relationships

The Veterinary Technician reports to the Medical Manager and Shelter Operations Manager. This person also follows the direction of the Veterinarian on duty. 

Locations(s)

This is a mostly onsite role at Heartland Animal Shelter with some remote work possible 

Time Commitment

This is a full-time, salaried role. Working some evenings, weekends and holidays as needed is a requirement of this role.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range is $43,680 – $47,840 commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid time off, health insurance, at-cost veterinary services and continuing education support.

How to Apply 

Email a one-page cover letter and resume to Allyson along with a cute pic of your animal friend(s)!