Start Date: November/December 2021

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Position Status: This is an 11 month temporary position

Salary: $13/hour

Hours: 40 hours per week, including Weekends and Holidays
Schedule: Typically Tuesday- Saturday (Sun & Mon off) with variability as needed

This NC Museum of Natural Sciences position assists the Chief Veterinarian and Coordinator of Veterinary Sciences (VetS) with the medical management of the Museum's live animal collection (>1,500 vertebrates) and public interactions at the Window on Animal Health (WOAH). 

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Assistant Curator in the Veterinary Sciences (VetS) section of the Museum and is supervised by the Coordinator of VetS. Position assists the Chief Veterinarian with medical procedures and medical management of the Museum’s diverse collection of live animals including over 2500 non-venomous and venomous reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates.

The scope of work of this position includes animal husbandry, veterinary medical procedures, assisting with surgical procedures, animal handling, quality control, and education. Position coordinates medical treatments and standards of medical management of live animals as directed by the Chief Veterinarian and performed by  Living Collections section staff.

To apply: Submit a pd-107 (found at the following link http://oshr.nc.gov/document/nc-state-government-application-employment-pd-107) along with a cover letter & resume/CV (include information regarding Veterinary Experience, Exotic Animal Experience, Leadership/Organizational Experience) to the Coordinator of Veterinary Sciences, Shane Christian: larry.christian@naturalsciences.org

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

Knowledge
•    Knowledge of and experience in the care, husbandry, nutrition, and general healthcare of live amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, and invertebrates. 
•    Knowledge of animal anatomy, physiology, common diseases including zoonosis, treatments and restraint, and surgical/diagnostic procedures and techniques as pertaining to wildlife, exotic, avian, aquatic, and zoo animal species.
•    Knowledge of aseptic techniques and knowledge of medications and surgical instruments.
•    Knowledge of patient monitoring equipment and ability to administer medication and injections to animals. 
•    Working knowledge of and ability to operate medical laboratory equipment typically used for veterinary medical procedures.
•    Knowledge of zoonotic diseases as they apply to animal interactions and potential human health risks. 
•    Basic knowledge and understanding of biology, zoology, and natural history. 

Skills
•    Handling, restraining, and performing veterinary procedures with native and exotic species in a clinical, captive, and field setting.
•    Assisting veterinarian with clinical techniques and procedures for the diagnoses of illness and disease in Museum species.
•    Performing medical treatments as directed by the veterinarian for wildlife, avian, aquatic, and zoological animal species.
•    Assisting veterinarian with common surgical procedures as needed for wildlife, avian, aquatic, and zoological animal species.
•    Recognizing common clinical signs and symptoms of potential zoonotic diseases.
•    Assisting veterinarian as directed by performing post-mortem examination of wildlife, avian, aquatic, and zoological animal species specimens.
•    Competency with computers and basic software such as MS Office Suite & telemedicine software.

Abilities
•    Ability to safely manage emergency situations efficiently and effectively and trouble shoot problems.
•    Ability to maintain detailed accurate records and files.
•    Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Ability to work independently and as an active team member and to train and supervise volunteers.
•    Ability to prepare and evaluate medical samples used to assist in the diagnosis of a variety of animal diseases.
•    Ability to recognize common clinical signs and symptoms of disease in a variety of animal species and ability to identify common microscopic organisms associated with animal disease or pathology.
•    Ability to speak to groups of people of all ages, to design, develop, and/or implement natural science educational programming, including ability to handle animals and interpret them to the public.
•    Ability to regularly perform physically demanding activities such as lifting over 50 pounds and climbing up and down stairs and ladders, standing for the majority of the workday, enduring outdoor field conditions at any time of year, negotiating uneven outdoor terrain on foot, and driving at day or at night.

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in biology, zoology, botany, or other natural science curriculum related to the area of work assignment and one year of experience working with a veterinarian in veterinary medicine and/or curatorial or teaching in natural science. 

Or graduation from a four-year American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technology program and one year of experience working with a veterinarian in veterinary medicine and/or curatorial or teaching in natural science.

Or graduation from a two-year American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technology program and three years of experience working with a veterinarian in veterinary medicine and/or curatorial or teaching in natural science.

Or an equivalent number of years (5) and experience working with a veterinarian in veterinary medicine and/or curatorial or teaching in natural science.