Veterinary Technician Manager

Research Animal Resources (RAR) is hiring two Veterinary Technician Managers. These positions will be responsible for each managing and directing the activities of half the department's 12-14 research veterinary technicians as a cohesive management team. In addition to identical responsibilities for management and mentoring of veterinary technicians, each position will have different primary responsibilities within the Veterinary Services Unit of RAR. One position will have primary management responsibility for the RAR technical services program and diagnostic lab while performing a support role for the primary duties of the other position. The second position will have primary management responsibility of clinical supplies inventory and order management, rodent health surveillance program, USDA species procurement and preventative medicine program, the controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations while performing a support role for the technical services and diagnostic lab programs. The Veterinary Technician Managers will also facilitate training and cross-training of RAR technical staff in collaboration with the RAR Training Team as appropriate to ensure high quality and consistent veterinary care and service for the university research community.

The work duties for this position are complex and varied and will require the interpretation of technical and detailed guidelines, policies, and procedures. Analytical ability is needed to gather and interpret data and information to aid in making decisions regarding refining methods, processes, and techniques used to maintain high quality animal care and customer service. Innovation and critical thinking are an essential underlying part of the job duties described within this posting.

These positions will report to a Senior Clinical Veterinarian

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to be successful in position:

• Possess communication and leadership skills needed to interact with veterinary technician employees, professional staff, technical and administrative staff, and animal care staff
• Ability to work collaboratively with counterpart in making consistent management decisions
• Ability to delegate appropriately as needed
• Ability to work and think independently to produce quality work and to encourage the same quality work from employees
• Interest in mentoring, teaching, and cross-training staff to promote professional growth of employees
• A thorough knowledge of animal welfare regulations as described in the Preferred Qualifications
• Working knowledge of generally accepted laboratory animal husbandry practices and the ability to work collaboratively with operations and husbandry supervisors and animal care technicians to promote advances in animal care
• Excellent attention to details, analytical thinking skills, resourcefulness, ingenuity, project organization, and management skills
• Computer skills necessary to learn and use current RAR electronic systems and to adapt to new software programs as they are implemented
• Experience with conflict management and the ability to deescalate difficult situations
• Must be flexible, change-agile, forward-thinking, and motivated to succeed in RAR's mission

Duties/Responsibilities of both Veterinary Technician Manager Positions:

50% - Direct supervision of the veterinary technician staff

• Supervise and direct the work of up to 8 veterinary technicians
  • Plan training/cross-training of staff in collaboration with the RAR Training Team
  • Ensure staff implement proper and consistent clinical care for all species & areas within RAR
  • Create and maintain work schedules (including weekend/holidays) and work with team to cover work during call-outs
  • Provides performance feedback, both immediate and at annual performance reviews.
  • Mentor employees to further career goals and support continued educational and certification opportunities
• Resolve HR issues for labor represented employees
• Determine appropriate staffing levels and communicates needs with manager and counterpart
• Coordinate personnel resources in collaboration with counterpart to cover needs of the department
• Hiring manager for veterinary technician positions as needed
• Co-lead the veterinary technician team in high level customer service
• Interact and work with RAR clinical veterinarians to refine case management and provide high quality laboratory animal medicine and care

5-10% - Clinical and Technical Duties

• Expectation to be a working manager and help perform clinical case triaging, management, training and other technical duties when staffing is short
• Weekend and after hours work may be possible

5% - Develop and maintain cross unit communication and relationships within RAR

• Maintain effective communication with the RAR Operations and Husbandry teams
• Identify areas for improvement for communication and bring ideas to managers and senior leaders
• Provide mentorship to resolve conflict professionally without the need for escalation

5% - Other duties as assigned by the manager or leadership

Unique Duties/Responsibilities for Positions 1 of 2:

25% - Technical Services Program management

• Maintain and further develop the RAR technical services program
• Coordinate the veterinary technician team to fulfill all requests for technical services
• Identify appropriate individuals within RAR to perform atypical services (e.g. vets, training staff) and allow veterinary technicians opportunities to train and develop these services in the future
• Coordinate RAR Diagnostic Lab services (both internal and external) including maintaining necropsy space(s) and diagnostic equipment

5-10% - Cross-trained to provide support and backup as needed for specialized services and programs

• Rodent Health Surveillance and Quarantine programs
• USDA covered species procurement and preventative medicine program
• Supplies inventory program, ordering management, controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations

Unique Duties/Responsibilities for Position 2 of 2:

25% - Oversight/Management of specialized services and programs for the Veterinary Services Unit.

• Incorporate process improvements for each program with key stakeholders
• Oversee the following programs and assign responsibilities to staff as appropriate in each area

• Rodent Health Surveillance and Quarantine programs
• USDA covered species procurement and preventative medicine programs
• Clinical supply inventory and ordering management, controlled substance program, and pharmacy operations

• Identify opportunities for other specialized programs to further refine and strengthen veterinary services

5-10% - Cross-trained to provide support and backup as needed for Technical Services Program and Diagnostic Lab services

• Support the Technical Services Program in identifying employees to perform services
• Support Diagnostic Lab services
• Encourage opportunities for all staff to learn new techniques from subject matter experts

Required Qualifications:
* BA/BS degree plus at least five years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least nine years
* Direct managerial experience of employees, >2 year in duration

Preferred Qualifications:
* Direct managerial experience of bargaining unit employees
* CVT certification
* AALAS Technician Certification (any level)
* Experience with regulations, guidance documents, and accreditation programs that are part of the research field (e.g. The USDA Animal Welfare Act and Regulations, The Public Health Service Policy and PHS Assurance, OLAW, The Guide, The Ag Guide, and AAALAC International Accreditation)
* Excellent communication skills and experience working in a university setting with diverse staff, laboratory researchers and research models

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

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