Assistant Veterinary Clinic Manager

Assistant Veterinary Clinic Manager

Santa Barbara Humane is looking for someone who wants to grow with our organization! We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Assistant Veterinary Clinic Manager to join our Veterinary Services Team. This is a working leadership position for someone who enjoys veterinary medicine, supporting a team, and helping improve clinic operations. Based on performance, leadership development, and organizational needs, there may be an opportunity to advance into a higher-level management position within approximately two years. Please read the job description below to see if this opportunity is for you.

Responsible for supporting the Clinic Manager and Director of Veterinary Services with the daily operations of the veterinary clinic. Provides leadership, guidance, and operational support to ensure high-quality patient care, excellent client service, efficient workflows, and a positive team environment. This is a working leadership position that combines veterinary medical responsibilities with staff support, training, workflow coordination, scheduling, inventory management, client service, and operational improvement. Serves as a resource to clinic staff, reinforces established protocols and expectations, and promotes teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture. Must support and advocate for the philosophy, programs, and policies of Santa Barbara Humane.

Leadership & Team Support:

• Supports the Clinic Manager with daily clinic operations and workflow coordination
• Assists with staff scheduling, daily assignments, lunches, breaks, and coverage planning
• Provides day-to-day guidance, support, and direction to veterinary assistants, RVTs, and client service staff
• Serves as a resource and point of contact for staff questions, workflow concerns, and operational issues
• Assists with onboarding, training, competency development, and continued education of team members
• Helps promote accountability, ownership, follow-through, and consistent adherence to clinic expectations
• Provides coaching and feedback and communicates performance concerns appropriately to the Clinic Manager or Director of Veterinary Services
• Assists with employee development and performance discussions
• Helps address staff concerns and promotes a respectful, professional, and collaborative work environment
• Models positive communication, professionalism, dependability, and teamwork
• Supports communication and collaboration between veterinary services, shelter, client care, mobile operations, and other departments
• Helps ensure adequate leadership and team support during busy periods and changing operational needs
• Participates in staff meetings, trainings, and organizational initiatives

Veterinary Medical Support:

• Performs veterinary assistant and/or RVT duties within the scope of training, credentials, and applicable regulations
• Humanely restrains animals for exams and related procedures using appropriate Fear-Free handling practices
• Assists with surgical preparation, surgical procedures, anesthesia monitoring, patient recovery, and post-operative care
• Performs medical procedures including blood draws, medication administration, vaccinations, microchip implantation, and other approved procedures
• Monitors animal health and communicates abnormalities, concerns, or changes in patient condition to veterinarians and leadership
• Supports timely medical care and adoption readiness for shelter animals
• Collaborates with Shelter Liaison staff regarding patient care plans, medical status, and follow-up needs
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely medical records and documentation
• Follows established medical protocols, treatment plans, and patient-care standards
• Maintains and properly uses medical equipment including autoclaves, IV catheters, fluid pumps, monitoring equipment, and other clinical equipment
• Promotes patient safety, comfort, and appropriate handling practices throughout the clinic
• Assists with special surgery days, mobile clinic operations, community programs, and other veterinary initiatives as needed

Clinic Operations, Workflow & Inventory:

• Helps coordinate daily clinic flow and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency
• Reinforces established workflows, SOPs, checklists, forms, and documentation standards
• Monitors workflow barriers, overdue tasks, and operational concerns and communicates them to leadership
• Helps ensure assigned tasks and documentation are completed accurately and within required timeframes
• Assists with inventory management, ordering, receiving, organization, and distribution of medical and operational supplies
• Monitors inventory levels and communicates supply needs to leadership
• Supports accurate inventory records and database information
• Helps maintain clean, organized, safe, and functional treatment areas, exam rooms, surgery areas, and other clinic spaces
• Supports implementation of OSHA, safety, security, and organizational procedures
• Assists with process improvement initiatives and implementation of operational changes
• Supports communication and appropriate handoffs between shifts, departments, campuses, and mobile operations

Client Service :

• Promotes a welcoming, compassionate, professional, and client-centered environment
• Supports staff in providing accurate and consistent information regarding services, scheduling, policies, procedures, and follow-up care
• Assists with complex or escalated client concerns
• Helps resolve client concerns respectfully while maintaining appropriate clinic policies and boundaries
• Educates clients regarding veterinary services, programs, resources, and expectations
• Helps establish realistic expectations and communicate limitations appropriately
• Helps maintain positive relationships with clients and community members
• Promotes a highly efficient and client-centered environment

Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years of veterinary clinical experience as a Veterinary Assistant, RVT, or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of veterinary medical procedures, patient care, and animal handling
• Previous lead, supervisory, or management experience preferred
• RVT credential preferred
• Experience with staff training, onboarding, or performance coaching preferred
• Experience with ShelterLuv or similar veterinary/shelter management software preferred
• Shelter medicine, high-volume, community medicine, or nonprofit veterinary experience preferred
• Knowledge of Fear-Free animal handling practices preferred
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must possess strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills
• Must be able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Must be able to work effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds
• Must demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, accountability, and follow-through
• Must be able to provide direction and support to coworkers and maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Must hold a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP), if applicable, or have the ability to obtain the permit within the required timeframe
• Must support and advocate for the mission, programs, philosophies, and policies of Santa Barbara Humane

Career Development & Advancement:

• Santa Barbara Humane is committed to developing strong leaders within our organization
• This position provides an opportunity to develop leadership, operational, and people-management skills while taking on increasing responsibility
• Employees in this role may have the opportunity to take on additional leadership responsibilities as their skills and experience develop
• Based on performance, leadership development, and organizational needs, there may be an opportunity to advance into a higher-level management position within approximately two years
• Advancement is not guaranteed and is dependent upon performance, demonstrated leadership, organizational needs, and available opportunities

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• This position may require weekend, holiday, evening, overtime, and rotating schedule work based on operational needs
• Work is performed within a veterinary clinic and animal welfare environment where exposure to animals, disease, bodily fluids, cleaning products, medical equipment, surgical environments, and other hazards is possible
• Physical requirements may include bending, standing for extended periods, stooping, reaching, kneeling, and moving throughout the clinic for 8 or more hours
• Must be able to safely restrain and handle animals of varying sizes and temperaments, including large, fearful, or fractious animals
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Occasionally assist with animals weighing 100+ pounds with appropriate support
• Must be able to perform medical procedures requiring fine motor skills, dexterity, and attention to detail
• Must be able to maintain professionalism, sound judgment, and compassion when working with sick, injured, fearful, or emotionally sensitive patients and clients
• Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable