Lead Veterinary Technician/Assistant - Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University
Job no:
Work type: Full-Time
Location: Glassboro, New Jersey
Categories: School of Veterinary Medicine
Position Summary:
The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University (SSVM) is seeking Lead Veterinary Technicians/Assistants to join our new veterinary program and teaching hospital, currently slated for completion in July 2025 in Harrison Township, NJ and planned opening for the fall. The hospital is located 1.5 miles from our main Glassboro campus.
SSVM is a new and innovative veterinary teaching hospital for small animals, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The teaching hospital is designed to accommodate multiple specialty departments, including anesthesia, cardiology, dermatology, dentistry and oral surgery, diagnostic imaging, emergency/critical care, exotics, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, primary care, and a full pharmacy with sterile compounding capabilities.
This position supports important clinical services in the veterinary teaching hospital. The selected candidates will work as clinical veterinary technicians/assistants and have additional responsibility for the daily operations and workflow of their assigned section (department) including but not limited to onboarding, scheduling, training and mentoring veterinary technicians/veterinary assistants/veterinary students in the clinical setting and managing equipment and inventory needs. Our top priorities are delivering excellent client and patient care in addition to training graduates who are competent, confident, and ready from day one.
The Lead Veterinary Technician/Assistant role will report directly to the Veterinary Technician Manager.
Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Staffing:
- Responsible for the overall daily operations of the assigned section.
- Responsible for hospital-related activities including but not limited to, client care, patient care, billing procedures, staff concerns and conflict resolution, equipment issues, and implementation of department/office policies and procedures.
- Provides necessary information to and works directly with the Veterinary Technician Manager to review time and attendance records, vacation and time off requests, and other timekeeping responsibilities for veterinary technical staff.
- Creates veterinary technical staff schedules ensuring adequate staff in relation to number of veterinarians.
- Plans and schedules for the work of the section to make maximum effective utilization of employees, equipment, resources and materials within budgetary requirements.
- Prepares daily staff assignments to support rotation between duties to ensure that all skills are maintained.
- Evaluates patient flow and redirects staffing as needed to increase efficiency and to reduce costs.
- Provides recommendations to and works directly with the Veterinary Technician Manager regarding the hiring, firing, promoting, and/or disciplining of employees and other personnel changes.
- Responsible for onboarding and training new veterinary technical staff, including follow-up training and signing off on training checklists upon completion.
- Ensures that the staff are appropriately trained and evaluated on their knowledge of compliance policies and procedures such as OSHA, Radiation Safety, Controlled Drugs, etc.
- Provides a clear and organized monthly summary of team member performance to the Veterinary Technician Manager and assists in the evaluations as outlined by the hospital policy.
- Responsible for providing conflict resolution.
- Assures completion of daily assignments for veterinary technical staff prior to leaving for the day.
- Clinical Duties:
- Responsible for performing daily veterinary technician or assistant duties.
- Ensures that clinical space is maintained in a professional and orderly manner whereby appearance in the clinical area is appropriately maintained and ensures staff appearance reflects professionalism.
- Trains veterinary technical staff on procedures and clinical information related to triaging client communications or calls.
- Assigns staff to communication responsibilities based on their level of knowledge if necessary.
- Ensures veterinary technical staff communicate effectively with local hospitals or referring practices to ensure consistency of care for shared patients.
- Works with veterinarians to ensure patient management protocols are available and updated as needed.
- Works directly with the Veterinary Technician Manager to develop new or revised departmental policies and procedures ensuring patient flow is maximized, provider time is used efficiently, staff time is used efficiently, and client satisfaction is maximized.
- Monitors veterinary technical staff to perform all responsibilities in accordance with existing regulations (OSHA, Radiation Safety, DEA, sterilization, etc.)
- Ensures medications are stored properly and that access is given only to those authorized.
- Administrative Duties:
- Maintains a positive work culture and promotes collaboration among departments
- Organizes and runs monthly section meetings and participates in meetings as needed with Administration, Veterinary Technician Leads and/or Veterinary Technician Manager.
- Organizes monthly check-in meetings with veterinary technical staff within their assigned section.
- Manages and maintains section equipment as suggested by the manufacturer to ensure equipment is ready for patient use.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of scheduling, billing, and electronic medical records system to assist veterinary technician staff.
- Oversees section audits as needed, regarding billing procedures.
- Runs reports from the EMR systems as needed.
- Develops and maintains section inventory and orders supplies with Veterinary Technician Manager and Director of Veterinary Medical Services. As directed, prepares requisitions for equipment and materials.
- Maintains section Emergency Plan in case of power outage, natural disaster, or other unplanned occurrences.
- Maintains all necessary records in accordance with federal, state, university, and departmental regulations and policies.
- Oversees the maintenance of section records and ensures that files and record keeping systems meet the needs of the section.
Required Qualifications:
- One (1) year of experience as a Supervisor, Lead or other Leadership role in a veterinary clinical setting.
- Five (5) years of experience as a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant in a veterinary clinical setting.
- Associate’s Degree OR completion of an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program and evidence of passing the VTNE.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and high emotional intelligence.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.
- Must be willing to work flexible hours and weekends as needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Additional Leadership training or certification.
- VTS certification or certification eligible.
- Experience working in a veterinary teaching hospital.
Working Conditions
- Hazards
- Veterinary workers may be exposed to hazards like slips, trips, and falls. They may also be exposed to unpleasant odors, noises, and animal feces and urine. When working with animals that are frightened or in pain, veterinary workers risk being bitten, kicked, or scratched.
- Veterinary workers may be exposed to hazards like bloodborne pathogens, hazardous drugs, radiation, toxic waste, and chemical hazards such as disinfectants, pesticides, and latex.
- Animals
- The types of animals treated at a veterinary hospital can affect the working conditions. Our teaching hospital may consist, but is not limited to, the following types of animals: small mammals, large mammals, livestock, reptiles, avians, other exotics.
Information about the institution:
A top 100 national public research institution, Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral and professional programs in person and online to 22,000 students through its main campus in Glassboro, N.J., its medical school campuses in Camden and Stratford, and five others. The University has earned national recognition for innovation, commitment to high-quality, affordable education, and developing public-private partnerships. A Carnegie-classified R2 (high research activity) institution, Rowan has been recognized as the fourth fastest-growing public research university, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education. For more information on Rowan University, click here.
The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is located on the Glassboro, New Jersey west campus, 22 miles southeast of Philadelphia. The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine plans to admit its first class of DVM students in 2025. Facilities will include an academic teaching facility aimed at the delivery of pre-clinical training, a small animal teaching hospital, and a research facility.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, (dis)ability status, military status, and other NJ protected classes. Rowan University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment as required by Title IX. Rowan is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with (dis)abilities.
As a state public University, Rowan employees are eligible to participate in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. More information on this program is available at https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
Notes:
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US, and the university will not sponsor an applicant for a work visa for this position.
- Rowan University offers a generous benefit package which can be viewed at https://sites.rowan.edu/hr/benefits.
- Position posting will be active until the job is filled.
