Veterinary Technician (CS-PRP and BPRP Containment)

Goldbelt Apex, a part of the Healthcare Technology Transformation Group, is a data-focused company dedicated to process and quality in every aspect. As experts in healthcare IT experts, Apex is committed to building systems for healthcare organizations to seamlessly communicate and exchange data across different systems and devices.

Summary:

The Veterinary Technician providing veterinary technical support in Quarantine, Barrier, ABSL-2, ABSL-3 and ABSL-4 animal care and use areas. The Veterinary Technician shall independently select and apply appropriate procedures for the supported tasks. The Veterinary Technician shall assist in providing non-routine care, supporting changes in procedure, addressing problems, etc.

Work requires continuous standing and walking on concrete or hard surfaced floors, climbing, working in a bent position and carrying materials up to 50 pounds. Greater strength, effort and agility are required in the handling, capturing, restraining, and providing veterinary technical services to the stronger, more active animals. Work, as performed, exposes veterinary technical support staff to unpleasant odors and noises and may require contact with unpredictable, ill-natured, stronger animals which pose greater risks of injury, bites, scratches, etc. There is a hazard of burns from autoclaves and ultra-violet lights, skin irritations from cleaning and decontaminating solutions. The veterinary technical support staff must wear protective clothing or equipment such as BSL-4 positive pressure suits, positive air pressure respirators, or other personal protective equipment, for prolonged periods. The veterinary technical support staff may work prolonged periods in auditory and physical isolation in a completely isolated containment suite which possesses risks to infection by highly infectious agents. Some of these agents can cause fatal diseases in humans if personnel become infected.

*Containment involves adhering to specific procedures and requirements designed to manage and protect sensitive information and materials in this role.

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs administration of medications or other substances by injection, orally, or topically; performs anesthetic monitoring, surgical procedure assistance, and euthanizes animals; provides assistance in radiographic and surgical procedures; collects blood and other bio-samples; makes entries in animal medical records (to include Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant entries); conducts health checks; and performs handling and restraint of animals.
• Requires familiarity with surgical suite maintenance and the ability to learn additional skills in this area. Requires experience and formal training in handling and basic procedures for Old World non-human primates, rodents, and rabbits.
• Shall provide veterinary technical support to the animals at all biocontainment levels during experimental and non-experimental periods IAW SOPs and/or protocol. This includes, but is not limited to, conducting daily observations, surgical site preparation; administration of medications or other substances by injection, orally, or topically; placing intravenous catheters; intubating, anesthetizing animals using injectable or gas anesthetics, anesthetic monitoring and euthanasia; prep surgery site; providing assistance in radiographic and surgical procedures; collection, storage and proper submission of blood and other bio-samples; creating entries in medical records (to include Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)-compliant entries); conduct of health checks and physical exams; handling and restraining animals; transferring animals between cages/restraint devices/jump boxes; providing environmental enrichment; reporting/documenting abnormal conditions or treatment failures; pairing NHPs; and ensuring food/water are available IAW SOPs or protocol.
• Assist in reviewing SOPs for all functions and activities performed by Contract Employees. Shall assist preparation for oversight visits by any oversight body. Contract Employee shall assist the development of responses to remarks made during such visits or inspections as they pertain to Contractor Tasks.
• Assist the Contract PM with reviewing pending animal studies provided by the TPOC, advise the Contract PM regarding the veterinary technical personnel/facility/capability/equipment/supply resources necessary, advise the Contract PM regarding the resources on hand, advise the acquisition of resources not on hand, and ensure resources are in position where and when required.
• Ensure all animals are properly identified and associated with specific experiments IAW SOPs.
• Shall transport animals within the facility or to/from other facilities IAW.
• Shall ensure proper room designations and entry procedures and update room entry order IAW SOPs.
• Shall maintain veterinary medical procedure areas IAW.
• Shall operate veterinary medical equipment and document operations at all biocontainment levels IAW SOPs. Equipment includes but is not limited to imaging equipment; anesthesia administration and monitoring equipment; and clinical pathology diagnostic equipment (hematology, serum chemistry, and coagulation profiles, etc.).
• Shall conduct and document time/temp and bacteriological monitoring of autoclaves IAW SOPs. Contract Employee shall ensure resolution of any deviations and notify Contract PM immediately of unresolved deviations.
• Perform routine operator/user-level maintenance and repair of all veterinary medical equipment used by Contract Employees IAW SOPs and notify the Contract PM when more extensive repairs are necessary.
• Shall monitor certification/maintenance dates on veterinary medical equipment and notify the Contract PM in a timely fashion of certifications that are coming.
• Shall process, transport, and document the disposal of waste, including general, animal carcasses, medical, pathological, chemical, and radioactive wastes from the animal care and use areas IAW SOPs. Contract Employee shall render biohazardous waste safe by autoclaving or other appropriate means before removal from the animal care and use areas.
• Shall conduct and document all Core Safety duties IAW SOPs. This includes preparing decontaminating solutions, and related materials by weighing and measuring constituents, mixing, sterilizing, and dispensing to designated areas; cleaning and waxing floors, washing windows, emptying waste containers decontaminating supplies, equipment, salvage, and other materials before removal from infectious areas, or use of decontaminating solutions; collecting, sterilizing, sorting, counting, and exchanging laboratory clothing, shoes, and towels; receiving, storing, and distributing bulk laboratory supplies (PPE, chemicals, feed, bedding, etc.) or large equipment (i.e., caging); and operating sterilizers (autoclaves).
• Maintain an inventory of supplies and equipment on hand and notify the Contract PM of supply and equipment needs and provide quotes as needed.
• Shall receive, inspect, and store each shipment of supplies and equipment IAW SOPs. Shipments shall not be accepted in damaged condition, or it is an incorrect type, quantity, and quality, or if expired/short dated. Uncrate and assemble equipment on receipt to ensure it is the correct item.
• Shall complete and document all trainings as required to perform tasks IAW SOPs and Contract Employee shall enter documentation of training, experience, and professional certifications into systems of record designated by the COR.
• Shall travel to local (75-mile radius) research facilities to observe and learn or develop novel approaches to facilitate animal care at USAMRIID, if required by the needs of the Government with TPOC and COR approval.
• Attend continuing education annually at no additional cost to the Government with prior coordination through the Contract PM.
• Provide training to USAMRIID personnel as requested by TPOC. Some areas of instruction may include, but are not limited to, observation of animals, safe work practices, and procedures and animal husbandry topics of interest in the research.
• Shall inform Contract PM of all absences as far in advance as possible.
• Shall promptly report illness or injury, new prescription medications, changes in current medications, any changes in health status or foreign travel to Certifying Official (CO) and the CMA. If absent for three (3) or more workdays due to a medical condition get evaluated and cleared by the CMA upon returning to duty.
• Enroll in and meet the Controlled Substance Personnel Reliability Program (CS- PRP) requirements.
• Shall enroll in and meet the Biological Personnel Reliability Program (BPRP) and Select Agent requirements IAW Army Regulation 190-17. Contract Employee shall initiate all administrative requirement for enrollment into BPRP within one (1) month of start date. Contract Employee shall complete all BPRP requirements for unsupervised access to ABSL-3 and ABSL-4 within twelve (12) months of start date unless extended by the TPOC and COR after review of each request.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Apply practical knowledge and technical expertise to resolve problems independently and in cooperation with other personnel.
• Shall work in Microsoft Word, SharePoint, MS Teams, Excel, Outlook and other software systems as required.
• Personnel must demonstrate adequate training and certification to meet requirements outlined in the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations (9 CFR Chapter 1), Army Regulation 40-33, and Public Law 99-158, and to assure that the facility retains AALAC accreditation in accordance with AR 40-33 and DoDI 3216.0.

Minimum Qualifications:

• LAT certification or higher, as defined by AALAS, is required prior to or within twelve (12) months of hire.
• At least three (3) years' veterinary technical experience in support of NHPs in a research setting is required.
• Experience in ABSL-3 and/or ABSL-4 settings is highly desirable.
• BPRP enrollment is required and will be held and maintained IAW the provisions in this contract and all applicable regulations.
• Must be able to lift to 50 lbs.
• US Citizenship Required.
• Variable work hours, to include 24/7 coverage, evenings/nights, weekends, Government holidays, and during unforeseen closures or circumstances shall apply, as requested to meet mission requirements.
• Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a favorably adjudicated Secret security clearance eligibility, with no access to classified. *NACLC/ANACI is acceptable if completed within 5 years prior to enrollment.
• Ability to successfully pass a drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with rodents, swine, rabbits, and ferrets in a research setting is highly desirable.
• GLP experience is desirable.

Pay and Benefits

The pay for this position is $31.94 hourly.

At Goldbelt, we value and reward our team's dedication and hard work. We provide a competitive base salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience. As an employee, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company matching, tax-deferred savings options, supplementary benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.