Receptionist/Veterinary Assistant

Job Type


Full-time

Description

JOB SUMMARY

This Receptionist/Vet Assistant job involves providing excellent customer service in a veterinary clinic setting. Responsibilities include educating clients, handling financial transactions, scheduling appointments, maintaining cleanliness, upselling products, and establishing positive relationships with vendors. The role also includes performing veterinary assistant duties such as cleaning and disinfecting clinic areas, assisting with animal preparation for surgery, conducting basic animal lab work, and supporting overall clinic operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities listed are not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties that are required of the position. Responsibilities, tasks, duties, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


• Provide excellent customer service by educating clients and answering questions on available services, general animal care, preventative medications, dietary recommendations, annual vaccines, service estimates, and medication and pre-op/post-op instructions

• Handle all financial transactions for services rendered including billing, processing payments and deposits, verifying charges, transaction reconciliation, and close-outs

• Schedule patient appointments and check patients in

• Review patient medical records, complete necessary paperwork, and scan documents into clinic software system

• Maintain the cleanliness and organization of the lobby area, including placement of merchandise for sale and rotating inventory of products

• Upsell products to clients including preventative medications, service packages, and merchandise

• Arrange end of life packages for clients with compassion

• Establish positive professional relationships with vendors and sales representatives who visit the clinic

Perform all duties of a Veterinary Assistant, including:

• Clean and disinfect all clinic areas and surgery equipment including but not limited to kennels and cages, traps, exams rooms, linens, sweeping, mopping, trash disposal, sanitization of prep areas, disposing of sharps properly, making surgical packs, and sterilizing instruments

• Maintain and organize clinic inventory and restock supplies, as needed

• Assist veterinary technicians in preparing animals for veterinarian by taking animal's vital signs, drawing blood for testing, and preparing and administering vaccines

• Complete basic services including but not limited to nail trims, ear cleanings, etc on animals

• Assist veterinary technicians in preparing animals for surgery and observing animals during post-op recovery phase

• Use proper animal restraint techniques for the safety and well-being of the animal and the team

• Perform basic animal lab work including collecting blood, urine, and fecal samples, and assisting with X-rays

• Assist and train volunteers on routine tasks

• Walk, feed, and water animals following surgery, as directed

• Perform and assist with other lab testing or medical procedures, as directed

• Support the smooth operation of the animal clinic

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred

• At least 6 months of customer service experience required, but at least 1 year is preferred

• Previous work experience handling financial transactions

• Completion of certified Veterinary Assistant program preferred

• Previous experience working or volunteering in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter or animal welfare organization, or similar environment highly preferred

• Basic knowledge of animal handling and general pet care principals highly preferred

• At least 6 months of work experience in a team environment preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of and ability to skillfully perform tasks on a computer using different software programs

• Ability to work with animals safely and humanely and to remain calm in stressful situations

• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

• Strong active listening skills and empathetic communication to understand customer concerns

• Ability to quickly adapt to customer, animal, and business needs

• Ability to collaborate with others and work effectively in a team environment

• Strong attention to detail and ability to focus with distractions

• Ability to assess basic animal behaviors and cues

• Ability to comfortably work with animals, treating them with respect and care, including animals that are difficult to handle and/or stressed

• Ability to understand and interpret medical terminology and procedures

• Ability to be self-motivated and take initiative in completing mundane tasks

• Ability to stay cognizant of changing circumstances, anticipate challenges, and make informed decisions to ensure efficient and effective clinic operation

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

• Physical demands include extended periods of sitting, handling, grasping, talking, and hearing with constant lifting and carrying requirements of up to 25 lbs.

• Work regularly includes routine, mundane and repetitive tasks/motions

• Visual acuity and depth perception is required for safe handling of animals

• Work includes providing compassionate and dedicated care to others

• Work requires the ability to maintain focus and composure while working under pressure, manage stress during difficult situations, and adapt quickly to resolve issues or conflicts

• Work frequently requires critical thinking to solve problems and make decisions through compromise and sometimes creating accommodations that offer the best outcome for the client and Pet Alliance

• Work includes managing challenging customer interactions with a focus on de-escalation and conflict resolution, turning these interactions into positive experiences

• Work requires situational awareness, consistently assessing and interpreting the clinic environment and customers to identify clinic flow and potential issues and opportunities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Most work is performed in the animal clinic and medical areas of Pet Alliance which is open and well lit, adequately ventilated, noisy and distracting environment.

• Work environment involves exposure to potentially hazardous materials and situations that require following safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.

• The job requires frequent and routinely intense public contact as well as the ability to multi-task under conditions that can be described as extremely fast-paced/high volume and are potentially stressful on a routine basis.

Salary Description


16.00/hr