Veterinary Technician

Piper Companies is seeking a Senior Veterinary Technician to support a university‑based laboratory animal resources program in Philadelphia, PA. This role is ideal for an experienced technician who has worked with a wide range of species—including rodents, dogs, pigs, and other laboratory animals—and is skilled in anesthesia monitoring, surgical support, preventive health, and technical procedures. The Senior Vet Tech will work both independently and within collaborative teams to support animal colony management, research activities, and compliance-driven veterinary care.

Responsibilities for the Senior Veterinary Technician include:

Surgical Suite & Perioperative Support

• Provide pre‑, peri‑, and post‑operative care with associated husbandry
• Set up surgical suites, disinfect rooms, and autoclave instruments and equipment
• Maintain surgical areas, O.R.s, prep rooms, and procedure spaces
• Manage medical waste disposal and animal disposition
• Maintain proper documentation including SOPs, drug logs, and medical records
• Procure and maintain drugs, supplies, and surgical equipment
• Assign and track fees/chargebacks for Veterinary Service Requests

Preventive Health & Daily Animal Care

• Conduct rodent and non‑rodent health surveillance with accurate recordkeeping
• Perform physical exams on rodents and non‑rodents
• Provide treatments, special procedures, and post‑operative monitoring
• Perform environmental and equipment monitoring (e.g., anesthesia machines, autoclaves)

Training & Instruction

• Train ULAR and research staff in:
  • Proper animal oversight and identification of sick/injured animals
  • Anesthesia techniques (rodent and non‑rodent)
  • Blood collection, dosing, and other technical skills
  • Biohazards, allergies, zoonotics

Technical Support & Research Assistance

• Perform dosing, treatment regimens, and sample/tissue collection
• Conduct necropsies and prepare specimens
• Support ULAR‑generated research projects
• Assist in writing documentation for IACUC, USDA, AAALAC, and SOPs
• Assist husbandry staff during special situations or biohazard work
• Support advanced surgical techniques and post‑operative care

Other Duties

• Perform administrative tasks and interface with research customers regularly
• Collaborate effectively with teams while also being able to work independently
• Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications for the Senior Veterinary Technician include:

Required:

• 3+ years of experience as a veterinary technician
• Prior experience working with rodents (rats & mice are the majority of the work)
• Experience working with large animals such as dogs and pigs
• Strong anesthesia experience & monitoring (top requirement)
• Ability to calculate drug dosages accurately
• Experience with surgical procedures and post‑operative care
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (critical due to researcher interaction)
• Understanding of animal welfare vs. animal rights within a research environment
• Ability to work on an on‑call rotating schedule for weekends and holidays
• Proficiency with anesthesia machines, ventilators/respirators, autoclaves, and surgical tools
• Ability to work safely in environments with biohazardous agents, carcinogens, and naturally occurring infectious agents
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and maintain professional technical competency

Highly Preferred:

• Certification as a Veterinary Technician (CVT, LVT, RVT)
• AALAS certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science or Veterinary Technology
• Experience with large animal anesthesia
• Surgical support experience

Compensation:

• $23-$27/hour
• Benefits package