Veterinary Assistant

PETS FIRST VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Veterinary Assistant

Thousand Oaks, CA
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Benefits:

    401(k) matching

    Bonus based on performance

    Free food & snacks

    Free uniforms

    Health insurance

    Opportunity for advancement

    Profit sharing

    Training & development

    ABOUT US: Pets First is an appointment-based urgent care/ER bridging the gap between general practice and traditional emergency hospitals. We offer low-cost hospitalization when appropriate and emergency dental care (with RVT-supported radiography and prophylaxis within RVT scope). We collaborate closely with board-certified veterinary specialists—criticalists, surgeons, internists, cardiologists, and dentists—to elevate patient outcomes and team learning.

    SCHEDULE:

    Soft Open: January 9, 2026 – June 2026

    Operating Fri–Mon, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

    Expansion: Transition to 5–7 days/week with the Grand Opening in June 2026

    Opportunity for a fixed or rotating schedule at expansion, based on team preferences and hospital needs

    COMPENSATION: $22–$30/hour to start, based on skills and experience

    BENEFITS AND PERKS

    Flexible Scheduling

    Career Advancement Opportunities

    Structured Training & Development (RVT or other clinical pathways)

    Competitive Compensation

    Revenue-Sharing

    Premium Health Insurance (HMO or PPO)

    401(k) Matching

    Employee Pet Insurance

    Culture-driven, supportive working environment

    RESPONSIBILITIES

    Clinical Support (under RVT/DVM supervision)

    Triage & rooming: capture thorough histories, vitals (TPR/weight/pain score), and help prioritize cases using protocols

    Practice low-stress handling and restraint for exams, imaging, and treatments

    Prepare treatment/surgery/dental areas; assist with instrument care and sterilization (autoclave)

    Assist with sample collection and processing (urine, fecal, ear/skin cytology) per protocols

    Radiography assistance: positioning/restraint and radiation-safety compliance

    Patient care & monitoring: comfort rounds, nutrition/hydration support, timely reporting; document accurately in the EMR

    Pharmacy support (prep/label/dispense) within VACSP rules and under DVM direction

    Run approved in-house tests; maintain logs and precise EMR entries

    Client Interaction, Phones & Coordination

    Answer phones and perform call triage using decision trees; schedule and set expectations with warmth and clarity

    Guide clients through visit flow; review estimates/consents (with RVT/DVM) and support check-in/checkout

    Deliver discharge reinforcement (home-care/medication instructions) and complete follow-up calls per protocol

    Assist with issue resolution professionally, escalating to the RVT/DVM/Manager as appropriate

    Operations & Quality

    Inventory support: stocking, counts, expiration checks, and vendor coordination assistance

    Uphold safety and compliance (OSHA/Cal-OSHA, radiation safety, DEA/Board documentation under supervision)

    Contribute to a safe, organized, and patient-ready environment as part of routine standards

    Participate in team trainings/case reviews; offer ideas to improve workflow and patient experience

    TRAINING AND GROWTH

    Structured skill progression with RVT mentorship and checklists (triage, anesthesia support, dentistry support, diagnostics)

    Shadow opportunities with RVTs/DVMs and exposure to specialty collaboration (critical care, IM, surgery, cardiology, dentistry)

    Guidance on RVT pathway planning (scope, competencies, exam readiness resources)

    QUALIFICATIONS

    Prior experience as a VA or in animal care (GP, urgent care, ER, shelter) preferred

    Willingness to obtain and maintain a California Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP) promptly after hire (or current VACSP) required

    Strong low-stress handling, organization, and teamwork skills

    Excellent communication and client-service skills; calm under pressure

    Comfortable with EMR/computers; able to lift ~50 lbs safely and stand for extended periods

    Evening/weekend availability within the schedule above

    Pets First Veterinary Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All medical decisions are made by veterinarians; duties remain within the California scope of practice for Veterinary Assistants and are performed under RVT/DVM supervision.