Veterinary Assistant -Shift Lead, Daytime, ER

Job Description

Animal Emergency of South Orange County is a 24/7 emergency and urgent care hospital that treats dogs, cats, and exotics. We also partner with local Animal Services to assist in the care of local wildlife. We are offering a $2,500 Sign-On Bonus for qualified RVT candidates.

Shifts Needed

• 3x13 (2x30 min lunches)
• Thursday & Friday: 7a - 8p
• Saturday: 9a to 10p

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Veterinary assistant or RVT (Veterinary ER) Shift Lead to join our 24/7 emergency team. This role combines advanced ER technical skills with frontline shift leadership responsibilities.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary shift lead and key holder during assigned shifts
• Navigate hospital and treatment floor flow during high-volume and critical cases
• Support team coordination, communication, and task delegation throughout the shift
• Aid in real-time prioritization of incoming emergencies and hospitalized patients
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to technicians and assistants on shift
• Escalate operational concerns appropriately and communicate updates to leadership
• Promote a positive, accountable, and team-focused culture overnight
• Attend monthly Shift Lead meetings focused on hospital improvement, workflow development, communication initiatives, and team growth
• Support implementation of hospital protocols, training initiatives, and workflow improvements

Technical Responsibilities

• Support triage, patient flow, and treatment prioritization
• Assist veterinarians in emergency procedures, diagnostics, surgery, and stabilization
• Manage hospitalized patient care including IV fluids, medication administration, CRI setup, and monitoring
• Recognize abnormal patient trends and escalate appropriately
• Aid and monitor during procedures, surgery, and endoscopy
• Perform IV catheter placement, blood draws, diagnostic sampling, and in-house lab testing
• Obtain and monitor vitals including blood pressure and anesthesia monitoring
• Maintain accurate treatment sheets and medical records
• Maintain clean, organized treatment and hospital areas
• Maintain professionalism and composure during high-volume emergency situations

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Active California RVT license (a plus)
• Minimum 2+ years veterinary experience (ER/Urgent Care strongly preferred)
• Prior leadership, mentorship, or charge/lead experience preferred
• Must function at a Dark Blue Badge to Maroon Badge competency level (Testing provided), including:
• Strong triage awareness and emergency workflow understanding
• Advanced IV catheter placement and fluid therapy management
• Accurate medical math and drug calculations
• Monitoring critical patients and identifying subtle changes
• Running in-house diagnostics and supporting radiographs
• Advanced restraint and strong technical confidence
• RECOVER CPR knowledge preferred (certification a plus)
• Strong communication skills, professionalism, leadership presence, and team-first mindset

Compensation & Differentials

• Pay is based on experience and competency level ($30–$45/hour)
• Overnight Differential: +$2/hr (10pm–8am)
• Weekend Differential: +$3/hr (Fri 6pm–Mon 8am)
• Differentials stack
• Sign-On Bonus: Up to $2,500 for qualified candidates