VETERINARY PATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN - NECROPSY TECHNICIAN - 07142026-79148

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time07/14/2026 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time07/27/2026 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$3,229.00Salary (Annually)$38,748.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationNashville, TNDepartmentAgriculture

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DAVIDSON COUNTY

This position is with Technical Services and will be based on-site at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Ellington Agricultural Center campus in Nashville, Tennessee.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology, medical technology, or related biological, physical or agricultural science.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying full-time technical experience in one or a combination of the following: veterinary technician or assistant, meat processing, stockyard, diagnostic laboratory assistant, or other relevant medical field may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years (e.g., experience equivalent to one year of full-time work in a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required education).

OR

Licensed as a Veterinary Technician.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid driver's license may be required.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Under general supervision, is responsible for assisting veterinary pathologists during necropsy, processing tissue samples for testing, distributing and storing, removing carcass remains for incineration, and cleaning the lab following completion of the necropsy.

An employee in this class performs a variety of tasks of average difficulty including but not limited to dissecting animals, disposing of animal tissue, sample collection and sample processing. This class differs from that of Agricultural Scientist Associate, in that the incumbent of the latter functions at the working level performing technical microscopic analysis and identification of micro-organisms in their relation to disease.

Responsibilities

• Assists veterinary pathologists during necropsy, processing tissue samples for testing, distributing and storing, removing carcass remains for incineration, and cleaning the lab following completion of the necropsy.
• Receives, collects, and verifies animal samples (e.g., tissue, blood, food) from the US mail, express carriers, or in person and gathers information from the submission form to verify the submitted information matches the sample provided.
• Enters important information (e.g., veterinary clinic, veterinarian, animal identification) into laboratory information management software program using computer to generate an accession number.
• Physically restrains, unloads animals, prepares animal carcasses for storage and disposal, weighs animals using electronic scale, takes picture of animals, operates incinerator following standard safety protocols, disposes of animal carcasses.
• Maintains purchase order log to document receipt of orders, track purchases and evaluate need for future purchases.
• Performs and records preventative maintenance on various pieces of equipment used in necropsy and tissue processing laboratory (e.g., autoclave, band saw, cassette printer).

Competencies (KSA's)

• Manages Ambiguity
• Manages Conflict
• Tech Savvy
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness

Knowledges:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Customer and Personal Service
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Clerical

Skills:

• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Science

Abilities:

• Inductive Reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning
• Depth Perception
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Near Vision

Tools & Equipment

• Office Equipment
• General Laboratory Equipment
• Specialized Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment