Hospital Technician/Animal Care Liaison

Job Summary

The Hospital Technician & Animal Care Liaison (Hosp Tech/ACL) is responsible for coordinating, overseeing, and instructing Hospital/Animal Care Volunteers and Interns/Students, particularly in matters related to husbandry for rehabilitating animals in the facility. They will also carry out the orders of the attending veterinarian or hospital supervisor regarding patient care in our Sea Turtle Hospital. The Hosp Tech/ACL  will ensure proper and timely administration of care for rehabilitating animals in the facility and effective communication regarding care to internal and external parties as necessary.

Core Responsibilities

• Responsible for preparing food, performing feedings (and/or supervising volunteers and/or students doing these tasks).
• Responsible for cleaning and disinfecting materials, equipment, and tanks (or directing volunteers or students in these duties).
• Assists the Animal Care department with monitoring water quality, adjusting water level in tanks, life support system functions for any tanks in the facility.
• Responsible for responding to stranding calls and capturing, restraining, and handling patients.
• Responsible for administering medications and supportive care as prescribed and directed by the attending veterinarian or hospital supervisor, and charting and recording of clinical data and treatments in electronic medical records.
• Monitors patients and reports conditions to the attending veterinarian or hospital supervisor.
• Assists with coordinating Hospital Volunteers and Interns/Students under the direction of the attending veterinarian or hospital supervisor and in consultation with the animal care department.
• Performs necropsies under the direction of the veterinarian and assists in surgical procedures.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in biology, animal care, or related field preferred.
• Experience working with sea turtles is strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated ability to follow instructions.
• Ability to supervise & instruct volunteers and students.
• Must be able to work under pressure in emergency situations.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call time as needed.
• This position requires several hours of outdoor work and requires staff to be physically fit, able to swim, and able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Possess or have a desire to pursue a veterinary technician license or certification preferred.

About Us

Founded in 1983, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a leading cultural attraction in South Florida that provides open access to all guests. Today the Center is a global leader in the research, rehabilitation, and protection of sea turtles, serving our broader mission to promote ocean ecosystem conservation. Annually we reach 900,000 guests with our transformational education programs and partners with nearly 100 organizations across six continents and 16 countries in ocean conservation. In early 2022, we opened a new 27,500 square-foot campus that greatly expands our exhibition, education, and convening space and doubles our medical facilities.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position involves working outdoors in Florida, often in hot and humid conditions. Successful applicants must be comfortable in a highly dynamic environment working long hours in the sun and at night in extreme conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Must be willing and able to travel for offsite work and possess a valid driver’s license.

Notes 

This is an essential, salaried, exempt, full-time position. The successful incumbent may be required to perform tasks beyond the scope of this job description as requested by the supervisor. This recruitment may be used to select candidates for additional open positions. It is our policy that all team members, including newly hired, transferred, and promoted team members, will be carefully monitored and evaluated for an initial introductory 3-month period on the job. After satisfactory completion of the introductory evaluation, such team members will be evaluated on an annual basis.