Full -Time Veterinary Assistant

Full-time and part-time positions available.

About the role

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Act as the extra eyes, ears, and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize productivity.
• Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians, and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.
• Provide professional, efficient, and exceptional service at all times, including performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance.
• Complete preparatory work for other procedures, ensure clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in state practice acts.
• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services, and other issues.
• Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensure the safety of pets, clients, and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile, and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Assist with surgery as applicable.
• Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Other job duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

• Quality - The consumer is our boss, quality is our work, and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility - As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality - A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency - We use resources to the full, waste nothing, and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom - We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Requirements

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant program, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs at a level to aid in the efficiency of the practice.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
• One year of related experience required; customer service experience preferred.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple tasks under distracting conditions.
• Strong communication skills in fluent English, both written and verbal.
• Organizational ability and problem-solving skills.
• Client service skills with a focus on attentive, courteous, and informative service.
• Basic mathematical ability, including computing rate, ratio, and percent, and converting units of measurement.
• Computer skills, including use of specialized medical software, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Skills & Attributes

• Leadership: Action Oriented, Customer Focus, Listening, Peer Relationships, Personal Learning.
• Functional: Ensure medical quality, Effective communication, Drive for results, Functional Skills, Priority Setting.
• Attitudes: Initiative, Integrity, Cooperativeness, Flexibility, Independence, Tolerance for Stress/Resiliency.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Confidence around pets (e.g., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles).
• Work volume may require more than 40 hours per week, including weekends and evenings.
• Mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics, and language ability (reading, writing, speaking English).
• Moderately high noise level in the work environment.
• Sufficient ambulatory skills to perform duties, including standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds.
• Good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity, and visual acuity (close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus).
• Routine exposure to pets that may bite or scratch, anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/controlled substances.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $15.19 - $19.41 hourly, with the specific rate determined based on candidate’s experience, skill level, education, and location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Top-tier mental health and wellbeing resources, including free coaching and counseling sessions.
• Company-paid associate life insurance and optional supplemental life insurance.
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Paid parental leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing education allowance for eligible positions.
• Back-up child and elder care, plus family support resources.
• Fertility and family-building support.
• Digital exercise therapy.
• Voluntary protection benefits (hospital stays, critical illness, accidents).
• Legal plan.
• Identity protection.
• Commuter benefits.
• Three free Optimum Wellness Plans for pets.
• Exclusive discounts.