Veterinary Assistant - 000363

If you are a current associate, please apply through our internal career site.

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, and monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by 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

• Ability to multi-task: manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills: reads, writes and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability: demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments, excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem-solving skills: demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems, translating them into practical solutions.
• Client service skills: ensures the team provides attentive, courteous and informative service, gaining personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability: accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered orally, in writing, or via diagrams; can provide directions.
• Mathematical ability: ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, compute rates, ratios, and percentages, and convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills: comfortably and confidently uses a computer, specialized medical software, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Qualifications

• Initiative: shows willingness and aptitude to find solutions, presents options to enhance processes, and takes on additional responsibilities.
• Integrity: firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital, exhibiting honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Cooperativeness: willing to collaborate and compromise with others, promptly sharing relevant information.
• Flexibility: open to changing situations and opportunities, willing to perform all assigned tasks.
• Independence: able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision as appropriate.
• Tolerance for stress/resiliency: maintains a positive outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations, and maintains composure in stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to be confident around pets (e.g., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles).
• Client needs and work volume may require more than 40 hours per week, including weekends and evenings.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics, and language ability (reading, writing, speaking English) to perform duties proficiently.
• Moderately high noise level in the work environment.
• Requires 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 to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Specific vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Routinely exposed to pets that may bite or scratch, and occasionally exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education, and Training

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant program, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs to aid in practice efficiency.
• 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.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $18.40 - $23.51 per hour, determined based on candidate’s experience, skill level, and education, and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Best-in-Class Student Debt Relief Program (for Full-Time DVMs).
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Top-Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources, including free coaching and counseling sessions.
• Associate Life Insurance (company-paid) and 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 and 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 on products and services.

Benefits eligibility is based on employment status. Full-time associates are eligible for all benefit programs (Student Debt Program available for Full-Time DVMs only); part-time associates are eligible for benefits marked with an asterisk (*).