Registered Veterinary Technician

Job Description

Job Description

REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN (RVT)

The Grand Lake Veterinary Hospital | Oakland, CA | Full-Time

You didn't earn your license to spend your days underutilized.

You trained for anesthesia, dental extractions, emergency procedures, advanced catheter placement, and running the floor when it counts. So the question isn't whether you can do the work, it's whether you get to. At too many hospitals, skilled techs get boxed into restraint and nail trims, and their hardest-won skills go rusty. That's not how we do it here.

The Grand Lake Veterinary Hospital is an independently owned, progressive, well-established hospital in Oakland, where medicine is driven by doctors and standards of care, not corporate profit targets. Our RVTs will tell you it's the best place they've ever worked. You'd be joining a smart, kind, collaborative team in a recently renovated, state-of-the-art facility, working alongside doctors who trust their technicians to practice at the top of their license.

We believe techs do their best medicine when they're encouraged, inspired, and genuinely happy to come to work. So we've built a place where your input is not just welcome but wanted, your skills are put to real use, and your growth is part of the plan, not an afterthought.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The RVT is the veterinarian's primary medical support. You begin the examination procedure and continue to assist the doctor throughout examination, diagnosis, and treatment. You relieve veterinarians of technical work and administrative detail, enabling greater efficiency, and you play a significant role in communicating with and educating clients about their pets.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Clinical Procedures and Technical Skills:

• Induce, monitor, and recover patients under anesthesia
• Perform dental prophylaxis, dental radiographs, and assist with dental extractions
• Place advanced IV catheters and other catheters; manage fluid therapy
• Support emergency and critical care procedures (control bleeding, resuscitation, airway management, external cardiac massage)
• Draw blood, perform cystocentesis, run in-house diagnostics (CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, fecal, snap tests), and process reference lab samples
• Take and process radiographs; effectively position patients
• Calculate and administer medications (SQ, IM, IV injections); manage drug calculations and CRIs
• Provide full surgical prep, assist in the surgical suite, and maintain sterile surgical materials
• Monitor hospitalized patients; know common disease states and alert veterinarians when symptoms change
• Perform TPR, ear smears/cytology, anal gland expressions, ECGs, and nail trims
• Administer and explain vaccination protocols to clients
• Admit and discharge patients following hospital policy and doctor's orders

Client Communication and Education:

• Educate clients on treatment plans, medications, follow-up care, and home care instructions
• Handle medical questions with confidence; direct to veterinarians when appropriate
• Prepare estimates for procedures and discuss financial commitments supporting hospital policies
• Greet clients with poise; remember client and patient names
• Outline costs and fees in a positive light

Record Keeping and Organization:

• Maintain legible and accurate medical records in electronic format (EzyVet)
• Thoroughly review patient records before every appointment to ensure all prior instructions and treatments are addressed
• Record weight at every visit; document all physical findings, client communications, observations, and treatments with initials
• Ensure all charges for procedures performed are accurately entered

Teamwork and Operations:

• Run the treatment floor and mentor veterinary assistants and newer technicians
• Maintain positive, cooperative relationships with all team members
• Display tact and respect even when busy or hectic
• Prepare and maintain exam rooms and treatment areas
• Maintain a clean, organized, and professional facility
• Prepare patients for ultrasound procedures

WHAT WE LOOK FOR (BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILLS)

We evaluate candidates on these core competencies:

• Action Oriented: You seek out challenges and take initiative without being asked
• Approachability: You're warm, put others at ease, and people naturally come to you for help
• Learning: You actively seek feedback, show humility, and grow from both successes and failures
• Communications: You're clear, concise, and tailor your message to the audience
• Composure: You stay calm and solution-focused in high-pressure and emergency situations
• Conflict Management: You address issues directly and constructively
• Customer Focus: You genuinely put clients and patients first
• Empathy and Compassion: You're attuned to the emotional states of coworkers, clients, and patients
• Detail Orientation: You don't drop balls; you have systems that keep you organized and thorough

REQUIREMENTS

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification (required)
• Minimum two years' experience as a veterinary assistant or technician
• Associate degree preferred
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Able to stay calm and efficient during a medical crisis
• Genuine enjoyment working with animals and people
• Excellent communication skills and a real team-first attitude

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting and carrying animals (assisted by staff for animals over 40 lbs)
• Standing or walking for extended periods; frequently working in a bent position

Working Conditions:

• May be exposed to unpleasant odors, noises, and animal feces
• May be exposed to bites, scratches, and contagious diseases

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive pay based on experience ($30-$40/hour)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with up to 4% employer match
• Profit-sharing plan
• Paid Time Off (full-time) and paid holidays
• Educational Assistance Reimbursement, up to $5,250/year for qualifying programs
• Generous employee pet discounts
• Generous CE support and frequent Lunch and Learns
• Team-building events
• Real opportunities to grow within the practice
• A genuinely great team culture

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRAND LAKE

• Independently owned and doctor-led: medical decisions are made in the exam room, not a boardroom
• Rare staff turnover. People come here and stay.
• We invest in you with CE support, Lunch and Learns, and real internal growth paths
• Community recognized: runner-up in the East Bay Express "Best of the Bay" Reader Poll and a NextDoor Neighborhood Favorite