Orthopedic Surgery Veterinary Technician II or III

Colorado State University · Fort Collins · $50,000–$55,000 (stated in the posting)

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Job Description

Position Summary:

The Orthopedic Surgery Service is seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician to provide technical leadership and support the daily clinical and surgical operations of the service. This role is responsible for coordinating patient care and workflow, supporting orthopedic procedures, mentoring and guiding veterinary technicians and students, and helping ensure the team has the resources and expertise needed to provide high-quality patient care. The position serves as an important link between the veterinary team, technical staff, students, and other hospital services. Through clinical expertise, team leadership, and workflow coordination, this role helps maintain efficient case flow, support staff development, and ensure consistent delivery of specialized orthopedic care.

For full consideration, please apply by Monday, November 9, 2026, 11:59pm (MT). This position will remain open until filled. 

Signing bonus and/or relocation expenses may be available for eligible and successful candidates. 

Description of the Work Unit:

At the CSU Veterinary Health System, animals and the people who care for them are at the heart of everything we do. Every decision we make reflects our commitment to those who trust us with their animals’ health. That focus inspires us to deliver expert veterinary services, support veterinary education and training, and advance groundbreaking research.

We show up every day with passion, eagerness to collaborate, and a drive to redefine what’s possible. Our deep partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences amplifies our impact, enabling us to boldly innovate and share knowledge widely.

In addition to the salary, this position is eligible for differential pay.
Salary Differentials: We offer hourly differentials for certain days/times as an incentive to team members should your shift fall during these days/times. These differentials apply when half or more of the scheduled hours fall between that shift.
+ 20 % of your hourly rate for hours worked 4 pm on Friday – 6 am on Monday
+ 14 % of your hourly rate for hours worked 11 pm – 6 am Monday-Thursday
+ 7.5 % of your hourly rate for hours worked 4 pm-11 pm Monday-Thursday

Essential Job Duties:

Veterinary Technician II job duties would include:

• Patient Care and Clinical Support: Independently provide patient care and technical support by performing clinical procedures, diagnostics, treatments, and monitoring while exercising sound clinical judgment within established protocols. Provide safe and appropriate care for orthopedic patients throughout the perioperative period.
• Communication, Collaboration, and Teaching: Collaborate effectively with veterinarians, technicians, students, clients, and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate patient care. Provide guidance, mentoring, and instruction to students, trainees, and less experienced staff within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
• Service Operations and Organizational Support: Support daily clinical workflows, maintain accurate documentation, prepare and maintain equipment and supplies, and contribute to efficient patient care through problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Professional Development and Organizational Contribution: Maintain technical competencies, participate in quality improvement initiatives, support protocol compliance and implementation of best practices, and perform other duties as assigned in support of patient care, departmental operations, and organizational priorities.
• Orthopedic Surgical Support: Provide technical support for orthopedic surgical procedures, including patient preparation, positioning, surgical site preparation, equipment and instrumentation preparation, intraoperative assistance, and postoperative patient care.
• Orthopedic Patient Management: Provide nursing and technical care for orthopedic patients throughout the perioperative period, including patient monitoring, treatments, pain management, mobility support, and recognition and communication of changes in patient status.
• Orthopedic Equipment and Supplies: Prepare, maintain, and appropriately utilize orthopedic equipment, instrumentation, supplies, and clinical spaces to support safe and efficient patient care and surgical procedures.
  

Veterinary Technician III job duties include:

• Patient Care and Clinical Support: Provide advanced patient care and technical expertise for complex patients while serving as a clinical resource for specialized procedures, patient management, and problem solving.
• Communication, Collaboration, and Teaching: Lead communication and collaboration among clinical teams while mentoring technicians, supervising assigned personnel when applicable, and supporting the education of students, trainees, and hospital staff.
• Service Operations and Organizational Support: Coordinate clinical operations, improve workflows, manage resources, support implementation of departmental initiatives, and assist with operational planning to enhance patient care and service effectiveness.
• Professional Development and Organizational Contribution: Promote professional excellence by advancing clinical competency, supporting quality improvement and protocol development, fostering a culture of safety and evidence-based practice, and performing other duties as assigned to support patient care, departmental priorities, and organizational initiatives.
• Orthopedic Surgical Support: Provide technical support for orthopedic surgical procedures, including patient preparation, positioning, equipment and instrumentation preparation, and intraoperative support.
• Technical Team Leadership: Provide day-to-day technical leadership for the Orthopedic Surgery team by coordinating assignments, supporting workflow, troubleshooting clinical challenges, and ensuring appropriate resources are available for patient care and surgical procedures.
• Orthopedic Equipment and Resources: Oversee readiness and appropriate use of specialized orthopedic equipment, instrumentation, supplies, and clinical spaces to support safe and efficient surgical and patient care operations.
  

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires)
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety and welfare.

Supervision:

• If VeterinaryTech III is hired, this position will supervise some direct reports:  Vet Tech II and hourly employees.
• If hired as VTII – No Supervisory Responsibilities will be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Veterinary Technician II:

• Current Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification recognized in Colorado or ability to acquire certification at the time of hire.
• 2+ years of working experience in veterinary medicine.

Veterinary Technician III:

• Current Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification recognized in Colorado or ability to acquire certification at the time of hire.
• 3+ years of working experience in veterinary medicine.

NOTE: VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT – Effective January 1, 2024, anyone wanting to use the titles Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician, RVT, or VT will have to be certified through the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) AND registered through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Please visit the CACVT website for more information: https://www.cacvt.org/registration-faqs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to independently prioritize and coordinate patient care and daily workflow in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with veterinarians, technicians, students, clients, and other hospital personnel.
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in patient care, anesthesia, surgical preparation, and safe animal handling.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter that addresses how professional experiences align with the required and preferred qualifications and a current resume. Workday will only allow one file upload. Please combine your cover letter and resume into one document and upload it to your application. References will be requested from finalists and will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.

CSU is committed to the full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you need assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the VHS HR staff at vhs_hr@colostate.edu.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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