Iowa State

Veterinary Technician I - Large Animal

Ames, IA Full time

Position Title:

Veterinary Technician I - Large Animal

Job Group:

Merit

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and • Registered, licensed, or certified as a veterinary technician within one year of the start date.

Job Description:

Are you passionate about animal health and ready to build hands on experience in a large animal hospital setting? The Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University is seeking Veterinary Technicians to join our Large Animal Hospital.

We are hiring for multiple roles across ICU and Food Animal services, supporting 24 hour patient care in a collaborative academic teaching environment.

Current Openings:

  • Equine ICU
  • Food Animal

Why Join Our Team:

  • Work in a leading veterinary teaching hospital.
  • Gain hands on experience with complex and high acuity cases.
  • Learn from board certified specialists and experienced clinicians.
  • Contribute to training future veterinarians.
  • Build advanced technical and clinical skills.

Position Details:

  • On call requirement: Yes, including weekends and holidays, typically 3 to 5 shifts per month supporting equine and food animal ICU and surgical care.
  • Work environment: On site, hands on clinical setting within the Large Animal Hospital.
  • Residency requirement: Must live within a reasonable distance to meet on call expectations.
  • Ability to work with and safely handle large animals in a physically active clinical environment.

These roles support high quality patient care while contributing to the teaching mission of the hospital.

What You Will Do:

  • Perform advanced technical procedures and assist in surgical, medical, and diagnostic care for large animal species under faculty and clinician direction.
  • Provide patient care including monitoring vitals, administering medications, and supporting recovery for hospitalized and critical patients.
  • Assist with ICU cases and ongoing treatment plans to ensure continuity of care.
  • Demonstrate and teach proper restraint techniques, diagnostic procedures, and clinical skills to veterinary students and house officers.
  • Collaborate daily with clinicians, residents, interns, and students to coordinate patient care and hospital operations.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot medical equipment, manage inventory, and ensure clean, organized, and safe workspaces.

Work Environment:

These roles support different areas within the Large Animal Hospital:

  • Equine ICU roles focus on intensive care and monitoring of hospitalized equine patients.
  • Food Animal roles involve working with a wider variety of species and a higher volume of patients in a fast paced clinical setting.

About the Department:

The Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University is home to a leading Large Animal Hospital that supports clinical care, teaching, and research across equine and food animal medicine. The hospital provides comprehensive services for a wide range of large animal species and plays a key role in training veterinary students, interns, and residents.

Team members work closely with board certified specialists, house officers, and students in a hands on clinical environment, contributing to both patient care and the educational mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience placing catheters in large animal patients.
  • Experience administering medications via IV, IM, SQ, or oral routes.
  • Experience monitoring anesthesia or assisting with surgical procedures.
  • Experience collecting and processing diagnostic samples including blood, urine, and fecal samples.
  • Experience with large animal handling and restraint techniques (equine and or food animal species)


Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Application/Cover Letter

Why Choose Iowa State University?
Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:

  • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans

  • Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans

  • Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)

  • Life insurance and long-term disability

  • Flexible Spending Accounts

  • Various voluntary benefits and discounts

  • Employee Assistance Program

  • Wellbeing program

  • Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Appointment Type:

Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Grade:

7601a

Original Posting Date:

May 6, 2026

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:

R19151

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

 

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.