Veterinary Assistant

Description

Reports to Manager of Patient Services

The Richmond SPCA is a non-profit organization located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia. As a leader in the field of animal welfare, we are cultivating a community committed to saving, protecting and enriching animal lives with a mission to provide education and resources to achieve and sustain a no-kill community. Annually, we rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for about 4,000 homeless animals while also providing our region with vital safety net programs designed to keep thousands of pets in loving homes and out of shelters. Our values of collaboration, creativity, honesty, inclusion and respect guide not only what we do – but how we do it.

The Richmond SPCA is seeking a veterinary assistant to work in our full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital. This is a great opportunity to join this established, well recognized private no-kill humane society.

Veterinary assistants play an essential role in our mission. These team members are key to providing high-quality medical care to pets who may otherwise not have access to these needed services. Veterinary assistants hugely impact the client experience, by building trust and prioritizing effective communication with pet guardians.

Essential Functions

• Effective communication with pet guardians during appointments
• General handling (leash-walking, lifting, and carrying) of cats and dogs
• General animal restraint and placing of animals in cages/carriers
• Assisting with high-volume public surgery via surgical prep and recovery of public pets
• Capacity to learn basic medical knowledge and recognize abnormalities necessitating attention, related to patient care (basic VITAL signs, triage protocols, etc.)
• Ability to perform basic diagnostic and treatment tasks related to patient care after appropriate training period (ear cleaning, administration of vaccines, basic rapid testing, etc.)
• Kennel cleaning and general cleaning, to include cleaning of kennels as well as restocking and upkeep of workspace (sweeping, dusting, mopping, emptying trash, restocking supplies and maintenance of existing organizational systems)
• Clerical work and invoicing as needed
• Working closely with both hospital and shelter surgery teams in a shared space for other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Able to react to change productively
• Excellent customer service skills; effective, empathetic communication
• Comfort handling/learning to handle both dogs and cats, including fearful or fractious patients
• Entry of data into patient charts with respect to client confidentiality
• Education/counseling of clients as appropriate
• Participation in all required trainings and meetings
• Ability to work in a high volume, fast-paced environment
• Early morning and evening availability required (no nights, weekends or holidays)
• 18 years of age or older
• Reliable transportation, including during inclement weather conditions
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications, Skills and Expectations

• Ability to multi-task
• Willingness to follow directions and to provide productive feedback to management
• Strong work ethic, reliability, punctuality
• Commitment to the wellbeing of clients and patients
• Resourcefulness and ability to work independently at times
• Team-oriented mindset with a willingness to communicate
• Time management, prioritization skills
• Strong computer skills and ability to learn new computer systems knowledge of AVImark a plus
• Experience working in the veterinary field preferred (not required)
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred but not required

Physical Job Requirements

• Able to routinely lift 50 lbs.
• Able to push/pull a large cart
• Able to work around animals (including those who are sick or injured or who have behavior challenges), loud noises, cat litter, animal waste, and various chemicals
• Able to bend, kneel and use your arms in a repetitive manner
• Able to stoop and use stairs
• Able to physically restrain a dog up to 50 lbs.
• Able to be on your feet for 8 to 10 hours at a time
• Have physical strength to perform cleaning duties effectively and efficiently

Work Environment

• Rapid pace with limited exposure to potential hazards including animal waste and disinfectants
• High levels of noise at times
• Potential for animal bites and scratches and zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to people)

All employees are eligible to become clients of the low-cost, full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital of the Richmond SPCA. Employees who average 20+ hours a week can participate in our 401(k) retirement plan and have access to paid wellness leave.

Full-time employees are eligible for insurance benefits, including medical, dental, and vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and paid personal leave.