Lead Veterinary Technician, Neurology

Neurology Lead Veterinary Technician

Animal Medical Center of Seattle is hiring a full-time Neurology Lead Veterinary Technician!

Compensation: Base Pay: $35.00 $45.00 based on experience, skills, and credentials + Up to $3,000 Hiring Bonus Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Final schedule based on department needs and candidate preferences. Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance; therapy/counseling services and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial Security: 401(k) with company-sponsored match; Life insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
• Perks & Development: Paid Time Off (PTO), discounted pet care after 30 days of employment, uniform allowance, and license fee reimbursements.
• Continuing Education: $1,000 annual CE allowance for VTS; $750 annual CE allowance for LVTs.

Job Summary

The Neurology Lead Technician supports and enhances team performance through effective leadership, clear communication, and a commitment to excellent patient care and staff development. Serving as a key liaison between nursing staff, attending neurologists, and management, this position ensures shifts run smoothly, efficiently, and to the highest standard of specialty care.

The Lead spends each shift working directly alongside the team, providing hands-on clinical care, conducting team huddles, mentoring staff, and maintaining neurology care protocols in alignment with medical advancements and hospital objectives.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Duties

Floor Leadership, Workflow & Team Management

Hands-on Support & Operations: Spend each shift working directly on the floor alongside the team, providing hands-on support and ensuring adherence to the highest standards of care and service.

Resource Utilization & Scheduling: Manage team resources to optimize daily workflow and patient care. Build, adjust, and re-coordinate staff schedules to ensure appropriate coverage for workload, managing planned absences and last-minute shift changes.

Shift Huddles & Daily Priorities: Organize brief, focused huddles to set task priorities, align skills with patient care demands, and maintain efficient shift operations.

Coaching & Conflict Resolution: Provide continuous guidance, floor coaching, and moral support. Resolve interpersonal conflicts in the moment to foster a cohesive environment, and advise the Nursing Supervisor on actionable performance improvement plans when needed.

Alignment & Communication: Communicate daily goals and hospital initiatives to the team. Track performance, maintain interdepartmental communication, and provide regular updates on team progress to hospital leadership.

Culture & Values: Uphold Ethos core values and mission by promoting an inclusive, respectful environment that celebrates diversity.

Clinical Operations & Patient Care

Advanced Specialty Nursing: Perform all aspects of the positions you lead and are able to adapt to changing expectation based on operational needs. Perform hands-on nursing care as directed by neurologist(s). Anticipate patient discomfort, ensure animals are kept clean and comfortable, and immediately alert attending neurologist(s) to changes in patient condition.

Procedures & Anesthesia: Perform and assist in specialized neurology procedures, calculate drug dosages accurately, legally administer medications, and coordinate anesthesia for neurology patients as needed.

Laboratory & Diagnostics: Proficiently perform non-subjective laboratory testing (e.g., Catalyst, ProCyte, ISTAT, SCA2000) and subjective diagnostic testing (e.g., CBC differentials, cross-matching, urinalysis, fecal exams - LVT only). Obtain diagnostic radiographs following state and hospital radiation safety guidelines.

Client Service: Actively update clients on hospitalized pets' status, gather patient intake history, and handle client inquiries or difficult interactions with composure and professionalism.

Training, Protocols & Operations

Staff Development & Mentorship: Implement and maintain a consistent, leveled training program for new and existing staff.

SOPs & Manuals: Create, update, and maintain the Neurology standard operating procedures (SOPs), and clinical care standards.

Supplies & Equipment: Check medical tools and equipment availability to ensure the team is properly equipped. Troubleshoot equipment issues, assist with regular quality control, and report maintenance needs to the Inventory & Facilities Manager.

Metrics & Issue Resolution: Resolve complex patient care issues alongside the Nursing Manager and Medical Director. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement solutions for recurring operational errors.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

High School Diploma or GED required.

Associate or Bachelor's Degree preferred.

Certification: Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) or Certified Veterinary Nurse (CVN) preferred.

Experience: Minimum 1 to 3 years of experience in a veterinary specialty or emergency hospital required (2+ years in specialty veterinary care preferred; extensive background in veterinary neurology strongly preferred).

Leadership: Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong clinical knowledge of neurology nursing, patient restraint, and procedural support.

Excellent leadership, coaching, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.

Ability to problem-solve, make sound decisions, and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment.

Computer literate with proficiency in standard office software and veterinary hospital management applications.

Availability to work varied shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays as required by hospital needs.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

Physical Posture & Movement: Stand 60%+ of an 8-hour shift, walk up to 50%, and sit 40% (or frequent computer/data entry). Requires repetitive hand/wrist movements, bending, squatting, kneeling, and reaching above shoulder level.

Lifting Requirements: Continuous lifting up to 10 lbs; frequent lifting and handling of patients and inventory up to 40 lbs.

Sensory Requirements: Speech, vision, touch, and hearing corrected to near-normal range; close visual acuity required for analyzing data, transcribing, and viewing computer terminals.

Environment: Fast-paced, indoor hospital environment with moderate-to-high noise levels (barking, business machines, equipment). Exposure to cleaning agents, electrical currents, and potential hazards requiring PPE (e.g., radiation safety gear, chemo gowns, nitrile gloves).

Equal Opportunity Employer Ethos Veterinary Health / Animal Medical Center of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.