Surgery Supervisor

About the role

The Veterinary Surgery Supervisor is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the Surgery Department, providing clinical support, and fostering a high-performing team environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as the immediate/direct supervisor and first point of contact for the Surgery technical team, addressing day-to-day concerns, needs, workflow, and performance.
• Provide strong, visible, and consistent leadership while fostering a professional, respectful, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
• Maintain an active clinical presence and step into cases, anesthesia, patient care, and workflow support as operational needs require.
• Work collaboratively with all surgeons and support team members, recognizing differing clinical styles and ensuring the team can successfully support each surgeon's needs and standards.
• Promote open and direct communication among team members, surgeons, and leadership; address conflict early and facilitate productive resolution.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and make leadership decisions objectively, consistently, and in the best interest of patients, the team, and the hospital.
• Set clear expectations for performance, behavior, communication, attendance, teamwork, and accountability. Recognize performance concerns promptly; provide coaching and feedback; document concerns appropriately; and partner with the Surgical Services Manager and Hospital Director on performance improvement plans or disciplinary action when needed.
• Aid in annual performance reviews and ongoing employee development.
• Serve as a mentor and advanced clinical resource to LVTs, veterinary assistants, and other Surgery team members.
• Assess individual and departmental training needs and work with the Surgery Service Manager and surgeons to develop training plans, competencies, and continuing education objectives.
• Support onboarding and orientation of new Surgery employees and ensure consistent training in workflows, SOPs, equipment, anesthesia, and patient-care standards.
• Ensure compliance with hospital policies, Surgery SOPs, safety standards, controlled-drug protocols, OSHA requirements, and PPE requirements.
• Maintain high standards for surgical preparation, anesthesia support, perioperative patient care, recovery, hospitalization, discharge, and client experience.
• Support efficient daily case flow, including staffing, case assignments, scheduling, room utilization, turnover, and prioritization of patient needs.
• Anticipate staffing and operational challenges and communicate concerns proactively to the Surgical Services Manager.
• Assist with staffing plans, scheduling needs, recruiting, interviewing, selection, and orientation of Surgery candidates.
• Conduct regular one-on-one communication with team members and maintain an understanding of engagement, workload, concerns, and development goals.
• Meet regularly with the Surgery Services Manager regarding staffing, performance, training, department culture, workflow, and hospital priorities.
• Partner with surgeons and hospital leadership to improve efficiency, patient safety, quality of care, and department growth.
• Work with Inventory and hospital leadership to ensure appropriate Surgery supplies and equipment while maintaining responsible expense management.
• Ensure controlled-drug procedures, reconciliation, storage, and documentation are completed according to hospital policy.
• Maintain department cleanliness, organization, equipment readiness, and maintenance standards.
• Participate in Surgery department and hospital leadership meetings as required.
• Maintain professionalism, composure, sound judgment, and effective decision-making during high-stress or rapidly changing situations.
• Attend and complete required leadership trainings.
• Model and uphold VVC's Core Values and leadership expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Highly focused, accountable, and results-oriented leader who can establish priorities, address concerns early, build trust, and lead effectively within a complex specialty hospital environment.
• Current Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) credential required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in a specialty veterinary Surgery Department required.
• Advanced clinical proficiency in specialty surgery nursing, perioperative patient care, and anesthesia required.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and strong leadership skills, including coaching, mentorship, expectation-setting, accountability, and conflict management.
• Ability to lead team members with different personalities, experience levels, and working styles while maintaining consistency and fairness.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver clear and constructive feedback.
• Ability to remain objective and professional while navigating challenging team dynamics or competing priorities.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly fluid, complex, fast-paced, and changing specialty hospital environment.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to exceptional patient care, client service, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Ability and willingness to work clinically and provide hands-on support to the Surgery team as needed.
• Availability to adjust schedule as needed to provide appropriate leadership coverage and support.