Senior Veterinary Assistant

Summary:

The Senior Veterinary Assistant (SVA) is a vital member of our team who works directly with clients and the veterinarians and veterinary technicians to prepare animals for surgery, enter medical records, and monitor patients. The SVA has a direct impact on supporting our critical work. 

Who we are: 

Have you ever wondered what happens to cats and dogs whose owners are unable to afford veterinary care? We did. The ASPCA’s Community Medicine (CM) team provides expert veterinary care to support the welfare of animals and their people through our stationary and mobile veterinary clinics, serving the most underserved communities in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. We help pet owners overcome barriers to care, bringing quality services directly to the communities that need us most and partially or fully subsidizing the cost of basic and preventive care. CM treats people and pets with dignity and respect, assisting pet owners in making informed decisions about their pets’ health and wellbeing regardless of their financial circumstances. When you come to work at the ASPCA, you join a team of over 1,000 dedicated colleagues with deep knowledge, skills, and passion for the animals we serve.  

What you’ll do: 

The SVA supports two program functions - spay/neuter surgery and primary pet care - for pet cats and dogs living with their families in ASPCA service areas and animals in the care of the rescue community. Throughout the day, SVAs are responsible for client communication, assisting the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician, animal handling, preparing animals for surgery, entering medical records, and monitoring patients while they are under anesthesia.  

Where and When You’ll Work:

• This is typically a Monday – Friday, 8 hour schedule with flexibility to work occasionally beyond the scheduled workday. The working hours are generally 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM or 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM and staff regularly rotate between these shifts.

• This is an on-site position based at the South LA Clinic. Occasional flexibility in reporting to other ASPCA locations throughout the Greater LA Area may be required based on operational need. 

• This position has no direct reports

What you’ll get: 

Compensation: 

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.   

The target hiring range for this role is $25.00 – 26.44 / hour 

Benefits:

• Work/life balance: 

  • paid vacation time to relax 

  • paid sick time to heal 

  • ten paid holidays to observe 

  • plus - paid personal time off to celebrate what and when you like 

• Terrific benefits package: medical, dental, and vision insurance, pre-tax dependent care and health flexible spending accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions beginning after one year of service, employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance and more (note that benefits are subject to change annually) 

• Room to grow: the ASPCA has robust professional development programs to help you grow as a medical professional 

• Support: we are one of the largest and most impactful animal welfare organizations in the world, so you will always have a strong team to lean on and cheer you on  

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.  

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance.  They include, but are not limited to:

Medical

• Care for cats and dogs each day presenting for spay/neuter surgery up to calculated clinic capacity 

• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques during various procedures (examples: exams, treatments, injections, venipuncture, intubation) 

• Monitor vital signs of sedated and anesthetized patients in pre-operative, operative, and post-operative phases 

• Take direction regarding medical protocols and animal care from the clinic veterinarian or veterinary technician 

• Organize and maintain pre-operative area and operating room for patient anesthesia, surgical preparation and sterilization  

• Ensure anesthesia machines, pulse oximeters, scales, and other equipment are functional and report equipment that is not working properly 

• Clean, sonicate, pack, and sterilize surgical instruments and endotracheal tubes 

• Work with coworkers to clean and disinfect animal areas and facility while utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment 

• Assist with patient exams, take medical history, perform diagnostic testing, and prepare medications to go home with the client/patient  

Customer Service

• Communicate with all clients in a non-judgmental, effective and professional manner  

• Greet clients and assist with the intake process, including assisting clients in filling out intake and service documents, flag relevant medical history  

• Communicate basic veterinary medical concepts to clients, including, but not limited to vaccine protocols and anesthetic risks 

• Explain information provided by the veterinarian about an animal’s condition to clients 

Other

• Enter medical information into digital databases 

• Represent ASPCA in a professional and courteous manner 

• Provide medical information and representation to other ASPCA departments 

• Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

• Follow all written and verbally communicated CM Standard Operating Procedures  

• Collaborate and foster good communication with ASPCA colleagues 

• Participate in veterinary/medical training of CM staff, ASPCA staff and veterinary and technical students by coaching, discussion, and demonstration  

• Attend staff meetings and training sessions 

• Perform other duties as assigned  

.   

Qualifications              

• Experience using a computer and navigating software applications 

• Ability to lift and carry 40-plus pounds repeatedly throughout day with assistance 

• Ability to work standing for 8 or more hours  

• Fear Free® Shelter certification is required within 60 days of hire 

• Excellent customer service skills 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

• Ability to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions  

• Must maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols 

• Excellent animal handling skills (cats, dogs)  

• Strong interest in animal welfare and serving underserved communities 

Education and Work Experience  

• High school diploma or GED equivalent 

• Minimum 1 year animal handling in a professional setting required, veterinary medical experience preferred 

Language: 

English (Required) 

Bilingual (Spanish) Strongly Preferred 

Language:

Education and Work Experience: