Veterinary Technician

Purpose

The Veterinary Technician II performs daily vivarium activities and provides clinical care and preventive medical procedures for assigned research animals. This role works independently on weekends and holidays, contributes to Comparative Medicine projects and initiatives, and provides exemplary animal care in accordance with departmental and AbbVie regulatory expectations. All work must comply with applicable local and federal requirements, including GLP, FDA, and USDA regulations, while supporting AbbVie's drug discovery and development process.

Responsibilities

• Provide proficient veterinary care with some oversight, including basic care for all species housed in the facility.
• Provide or lead anesthesia support for surgical and translational imaging procedures, including PET, CT, MRI, and ultrasonography.
• Provide veterinary and/or research technical support for tests, experiments, and procedures according to standard protocols.
• Lead a focus area and understand related research projects and activities.
• Apply experience and training to make decisions, plan work, and complete assigned tasks.
• Develop practices and procedures for routine tasks.
• Maintain, handle, and archive documentation and data as required by research, veterinary procedures, and regulatory guidelines.
• Identify and report technical or other discrepancies as they occur.
• Monitor and report adverse events involving study subjects.
• Provide basic technical training in multiple areas.
• Ensure compliance with corporate safety, quality control, and quality assurance standards.
• Work and train within the animal care and use program as directed by management.
• Document, review, and maintain current standard operating procedures and protocols.
• Maintain laboratory, vivarium, and support areas, including supplies, medications, equipment, and facilities.
• Identify and report operational or facility issues.
• Use basic computer skills to support regulatory compliance and training, including email, calendars, computer-based training, data entry, and Microsoft Office.
• Complete duties accurately to avoid impacts to pipeline activities or regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Science or Veterinary Technology; CVT required.
• Two years of Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) or relevant clinical experience required.
• AALAS certification at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) level is preferred; LAT is preferred.
• Knowledge of veterinary and laboratory animal medicine.
• Proficiency in anesthesia monitoring and surgical preparation for basic procedures involving multiple species.
• Ability to conduct scientific literature reviews and apply scientific principles to the research process.
• Ability to comply with all applicable local, federal, GLP, FDA, AAALAC, and USDA regulations.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to animal welfare.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including independently addressing routine issues and collaborating with team members on more complex animal care matters.
• Good communication skills with internal staff and stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate difficult conversations with internal personnel while maintaining workplace efficiency and an effective team environment.
• Ability to consistently perform responsibilities in alignment with AbbVie leadership behaviors and attributes.
• Ability to safely lift 50 pounds and stand or walk for extended periods.
• Must be able to perform physical activities such as grasping, squeezing, pushing, pulling, squatting, stooping, and bending while following safety requirements.
• Willingness and ability to work a rotating schedule that includes required weekend and holiday coverage.