Veterinary Research/Health Technician I at Oregon Health & Science University – Portland, Oregon

Veterinary Research/Health Technician I

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-38826
Position Category: Veterinary
Job Type: AFSCME union represented
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Comparative Medicine
Posting Salary Range: $24.58 - $33.26 per hour, with offer based on experience, education and internal equity
Posting FTE: 1.00
Posting Schedule: Monday - Friday
Posting Hours: 7:00am - 3:30pm
HR Mission: Research
Drug Testable: Yes
LinkedIn Job Code: LI-LP1

Department Overview

Under the direction of the Unit Head with indirect reporting and coordination with faculty veterinarian(s), the Veterinary Research/Health Technician 1 primarily provides clinical assessment, monitoring, and care for colony animals for standard clinical conditions; assists with veterinary team operations; supports research programs through technical support services; and may support husbandry services, as needed.

This classification is the first level of a three-level series. It is distinguished from the higher levels by reduced responsibility for complex care and research support. This position has more direct oversight and supervision of workload, case management, and coordination of research involvement by the reporting manager or their designee.

Function/Duties of Position

Animal Health Care

• Examines and provides clinical support for colony animals reported for illness, injury or behavior-related issues.
• Administers basic care in accordance with established clinical support guidance.
• Consults with veterinarian(s) regarding case management for conditions outside of established clinical guidance.
• Determines if cases require more complex or colony-level assessment.
• Prioritizes animal health assessment based on review of reported health condition(s).
• Assists with more complex treatment(s), supportive care and case monitoring.
• Assists with the preparation, monitoring, and support of animals before, during, and after surgical and non-surgical procedures, including those involving anesthesia, sedation, and recovery.

Observation and Records

• Checks clinical cases daily or as needed for signs of abnormal behavior, illness, or injury.
• Prepares and updates clinical treatment sheets and other ancillary health records.
• Records information necessary to document adequate clinical care.
• Establishes treatment plans for routine clinical conditions, under the supervision of a veterinarian.
• Communicates clinical presentation and recommended care plan to researchers.

Administrative Support

• Reviews and executes DCM-OPS requests for veterinary service needs.
• Performs electronic entry of veterinary health check reports.
• Reviews treatment sheets for completeness.
• Prepares, monitors and replenishes veterinary supplies at central and satellite facilities.
• Monitors and maintains diagnostic sample collection sites as needed.

Research Support Services

• Provides animal-based technical procedures (e.g., venipuncture, parenteral or enteral substance administration, genotyping, animal identification, weighing animals, resource measurement) to support research and/or clinical outcomes.
• Develops proficiency in required technical service support.
• Ensures timely completion of technical services to support clinical and/or research outcomes.
• Communicates with research staff to plan for study support.
• Prepares, maintains and dispenses equipment rented by researchers, including but not limited to portable anesthesia units and supplies.
• Assists with collection and processing of samples for quarantine and permanent colony biosurveillance program.
• Performs common veterinary diagnostic sample collection under veterinary direction.
• Prepares and ships samples for analysis.

Animal Husbandry

• Euthanizes animals, as needed, to support animal welfare outcomes.
• Assists with animal enrichment program
• Assists with housing of animals.
• Assists with weighing animals for husbandry care.
• Assists husbandry staff in standard animal care responsibilities.

General Maintenance/Other

• Operates veterinary and general facility equipment including but not limited to: pass-through tunnel, tabletop autoclave, gas anesthetic machines, ventilators, microscopes, vaporizers, vital signs monitors.
• Cleans and sanitizes supporting animal care areas and equipment as necessary.
• Cleans, prepares and autoclaves supplies, instrument packs, and other materials as necessary.
• Provides training to researchers on veterinary-specific equipment (i.e., portable anesthesia units, CO2 euthanasia units).
• Processes incoming/importing animals and exporting animals to collaborating institutions when needed.
• Assists the veterinary and/or training teams with training support via direct interactions or in-class situations.
• Drives vehicle to attend to animals on campus.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED, AND
• Six months experience providing paid or voluntary care for animals.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively an environment of cooperation, coordination and teamwork.
• Effective time-management skills, particularly during times of competing demands.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds of varying educational levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Office 365 or MS Office software applications (i.e., MS Word, Excel, MS Teams).

Preferred Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working with traditional laboratory animal or exotics animal practice species (e.g., rodents, rabbits, domestic species).
• Knowledge of animal care for laboratory animal species.
• Knowledge of basic animal health care.
• American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level or ability to obtain certification in the next 6 – 12 months.

Additional Details

Exposure to animals, animal tissue and fluids. Busy environment with constant interruptions, multiple demands and interactions with people from diverse backgrounds of varying educational levels. Ability to work overtime, as needed.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Vacation - up to 200 hours per year dependent on length of service.
• Sick Leave - up to 96 hours per year.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and national businesses.