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