Veterinary Technician
5 days ago
Draper
Job Description Position: Veterinary Technician Reports To: Hospital Manager Compensation: Starting at $20/hour Why Utah? Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home. About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds. Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact. Position Summary: Under the supervision of the Hospital Manager, the Veterinary Technician is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium’s Veterinary Services Department. This position works closely with Veterinary and Husbandry team members to facilitate routine and emergency medical care for the Aquarium’s diverse living collection. This position performs essential job functions in accordance with the standards of accrediting and regulatory bodies, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Loveland Living Planet is a non-profit, AZA-accredited public aquarium located near Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to being the largest science-based education outreach program in the state of Utah, we are home to a diverse collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, ranging from critically endangered native fish to Asiatic clouded leopards. The institution is growing rapidly, as is our full-time veterinary services program, with the goal of providing best-in-class medicine for the animals in our care using advanced equipment including: digital radiography, rigid and flexible endoscopy, dental prophylaxis, ultrasound, in-house bacteriology, and more. Essential Duties/ Responsibilities: This position supports the daily function and operation of the Aquarium’s Veterinary Services Department, including but not limited to: • Assisting veterinarian in performing diagnostics and providing medical treatment for the collection, • Ensuring veterinary clinic areas and equipment are clean and well-maintained, • Maintaining drug and hospital supply inventories and filling prescriptions, • Assisting veterinarian with all medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures, • Facilitating medical record-keeping and appointment scheduling, • This job may entail on-call responsibilities and other duties as assigned Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree or graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary technical program (CVT/LVT) preferred, • Minimum 2 years’ experience as a full-time veterinary technician, • Minimum 6 months of internship or paid experience working with an exotic animal or zoological collection Critical Skills/Competencies: • Experience working with zoo animals, aquatics, wildlife, or exotic pets preferred, • Familiarity with use of medical equipment such as radiology, endoscopy, microscopy, and surgical sterilization processes., • Understanding of general disease processes, biosecurity practices, and cleaning and disinfection., • Ability to perform drug calculations and prepare and administer medications., • Ability to set up and manage anesthetic procedures, including inducing anesthesia, monitoring vitals, and providing post-operative care., • Ability to use computers on a daily basis, including Microsoft Office software (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and web-based electronic medical record systems., • Good interpersonal verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively as part of a team., • Maintaining a consistent professional attitude, high motivation, and ability to accept feedback., • Interest in developing efficiency, good time management, and demonstrated desire for growth. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations • Valid Utah driver’s license (or ability to obtain within 90 days), • Must possess or be willing to obtain current, negative drug and TB test results Physical Demands of the Job: • This position requires periods of standing and walking as well as extended periods of sitting with technology systems and reporting. The role will primarily be within an attraction environment., • Must be able to provide veterinary care and assessments in a variety of exhibit and non-exhibit settings. This may include wading, walking on wet floors, and outdoor work under variety of conditions: cold weather, hot weather, high humidity, rain, mud., • Considerable physical exertion, such as walking, bending, stooping and climbing of ladders may be required., • Lifting of heavy objects (up to 50 pounds) on a frequent basis. Application Materials • A current curriculum vitae or resume Benefits & Perks • Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:, • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts, • Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year, • Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement), • Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage, • Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost), • 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution, • Employee Assistance Program (EAP), • Free Aquarium membership, • Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases, • Free and discounted animal encounters, • Pet insurance and discounts, • Footwear discounts, • Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies. The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact