Technician Manager

VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists, located in Clackamas, OR, just minutes from downtown Portland and a short drive from Mt. Hood and the Pacific Ocean, is a fast growing, 24/7 Specialty and Emergency/Critical Care hospital seeking a full-time Technician Manager to join our leadership team.

POSITION TITLE: Technician Manager

DEPARTMENT: Veterinary Technical Services

POSITION REPORTS TO: Hospital Administrator

The Technician Manager is a member of the hospital leadership team and will assist in planning, policy formulation, and administrative decision making for the technicians and technician assistants. This position is responsible for the management of patient and client care as well as working to enhance the competency, autonomy, and accountability of the nursing team. Must work in a professional manner with all personnel in varied work situations and possess the ability to oversee large groups of nurses while maintaining a global view and how the departments fit in the large picture of the hospital. This position includes the responsibility of assuming a leadership role in all areas of the hospital and work to establish and achieve goals for VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Must possess knowledge of veterinary nursing principles, methods and procedures; veterinary medical terminology and disease processes; hospital protocols; a wide variety of medical equipment and understanding of their use; principals of personnel management and supervision; and effective methods of training, counseling, and coaching.

Must possess skills in veterinary emergency and critical care nursing; organization and planning; verbal, written, and presentation communication skills; veterinary leadership, management and supervision; and problem solving.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage veterinary technical support staff utilizing a positive and collaborative team-oriented approach
• Prepare and maintain the staffing schedule and assist in filling open shifts with relief and full time staff as needed
• Monitor and coordinate daily workflow and adjust staffing as needed for vacation coverage, CE, illness and slow production days
• Maintain and report the status of staff morale and facilitate direct communication with appropriate parties to address any issues
• Function as a mentor to staff by providing guidance with developing interpersonal skills while working in an ever-evolving environment
• Perform annual reviews for all team members
• Providing small performance based rewards for deserving team members within a budget set by hospital administration
• Meet with the hospital leadership team weekly to assess needs of the department and to implement policies, procedures and standards of care
• Participate in the planning of and attending necessary doctor, management, and department meetings as needed
• Participate in training and orientation of specialty department technical staff and assist technicians in all areas of the hospital
• To hold staff accountable for all aspects of their job duties including disciplinary action when necessary
• To assist in writing protocols and oversee implementation of the standards of nursing care in the hospital
• Assess the hospitals staffing needs and schedule employees to ensure optimum staffing levels for all shifts
• Help maintaining hospital inventory at ideal levels
• In conjunction with the hospital administrator, identifies and develops methods of improving the hospitals financial and operating efficiency
• Assist with the development of the hospitals annual operating budget
• Leads staff in maintaining professional relationships with the doctors, technicians, customer service and kennel staff
• Acts as a resource to staff to troubleshoot or problem-solve medical issues ensuring the highest quality of care for all hospitalized patients
• Assist in interview and hiring process of prospective employees
• To handle all animals humanely, properly and with compassion, including those that may be sick, injured or feral
• To always treat people and animals with respect; to contribute to effective teamwork, promote interdepartmental cooperation and practice direct communication
• To follow established procedures governing safe work practices including wearing protective clothing or equipment when necessary

  EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree and/or certificate from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program preferred
• Current CVT in Oregon or ability to transfer license to Oregon
• At least three (3) years of work experience as a Veterinary Nursing Professional in a ER/ICU or Specialty Hospital and one to two years of veterinary technician supervisory experience
• Affection for animals and concern for their welfare
• Experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective and humane manner
• Ability to cover varied work assignments and schedules depending on hospital and department needs
• Ability to communicate in a professional, pleasant, respectful and courteous manner at all times
• Maturity, good judgment and professional personal appearance

  SKILLS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 40 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.
• Proficiency in core ER/ICU veterinary technician job skills including but not limited to emergency care techniques, critical patient care and monitoring, anesthesia, laboratory and pharmacy duties, radiographic techniques, and calculations
• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize
• Excellent written, verbal and computer skills
• Ability to communicate and explain complicated medical concepts in a clear and professional manner to clients, co-workers and doctors

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com