Surgery Technician Reports to: Surgery Supervisor FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time Location: Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) – Des Moines, IA (On-Site) Your Mission: Deliver Expert Care That Saves Lives Are you a certified veterinary technician ready to make a direct impact on animals in need? At the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, our Surgery Technician is a key player on the front lines of lifesaving care—ensuring every procedure is performed safely, efficiently, and with compassion. From pre-op preparation to post-op recovery, your expertise and steady presence will help provide animals with the best chance at healing and a new beginning. This position is ideal for someone with strong clinical skills who thrives in a fast-paced, team-based environment. You’ll work closely with our Surgery Supervisor to support surgical and medical operations while contributing to a culture of care, safety, and excellence. What You’ll Do As a Surgery Technician, you’ll assist in the performance of a wide range of surgical and medical procedures. You’ll administer anesthesia, monitor animals before, during, and after surgery, and ensure the surgical area is clean, sanitized, and stocked at all times. You'll be responsible for entering procedure data and keeping precise records, particularly for controlled drugs, in accordance with policy and regulation. In addition to surgery support, you’ll help evaluate and care for animals throughout the shelter as directed by the Surgery Supervisor. You’ll participate in efforts to reduce stress and disease through safe and compassionate animal handling, and you’ll model professional, mission-driven service in all interactions—with team members, clients, and the public. Your attention to detail, commitment to animal welfare, and ability to remain calm under pressure will be critical in supporting the medical needs of both shelter animals and community-owned pets. What You Bring You are a Certified Veterinary Technician—or bring equivalent professional experience—with a minimum of three years in animal care and handling. You hold a high school diploma or GED, and you bring confidence and precision to your work in surgical settings. You're detail-oriented and dependable, able to manage medical documentation and safety protocols with accuracy and care. You communicate effectively with a wide range of people, have a calm and professional presence under stress, and bring a proactive, problem-solving mindset to every shift. You’re comfortable using Microsoft Office and basic mathematical skills in recordkeeping and inventory. Working Conditions This role requires the ability to stand or sit for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs. You’ll work in a clinical setting that may include exposure to animal waste, loud noise, pet dander, and zoonotic diseases. You must be comfortable working with animals of all temperaments and capable of handling minor injuries such as scratches or bites. Why Work at the ARL? At the ARL, every team member is part of something bigger—a movement to protect and care for animals in need. As a Surgery Technician, your skills directly impact lives every single day. You’ll be supported by a dedicated, mission-driven team and gain the satisfaction of knowing your work matters—to the animals, to the community, and to the people who love them. Employment in this position is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the ARL may terminate the employment relationship at any time. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or applicable state regulations, the Animal Rescue League will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations.