Veterinary Assistant

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Overview

The Veterinary Assistant supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians to ensure quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on pet health, and helps maintain a safe and effective hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and maximize productivity. Communicate with veterinarians, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain patient flow.
• Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times. Perform or prepare procedures not requiring veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, complete preparatory work for other procedures, ensure client and pet comfort, and monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by state practice acts.
• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues.
• Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensure safety of pets, clients and associates by using safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Assist with surgery as applicable.
• Utilize technical skills to the fullest within state practice acts and NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Five Principles

• Quality – The consumer is our boss; quality is our work and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility – We demand total responsibility from ourselves and support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future and need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications and Competencies

• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Listening
• Peer Relationships
• Personal Learning
• Ensure medical quality
• Effective communication
• Drive for results
• Functional Skills
• Priority Setting

Capabilities and Experience (Can Do)

• Ability to multi-task – Manage multiple tasks and switch attention quickly and accurately under distraction.
• Communication skills – Fluent English, strong written and verbal communication with correct spelling and terminology.
• Organizational ability – Systematic, orderly and able to create order from confusion.
• Problem solving – Identify, analyze and translate problems into practical solutions.
• Client service – Provide attentive, courteous and informative service to clients; derive satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability – Follow instructions delivered orally, in writing or diagram form; provide directions when needed.
• Mathematical ability – Basic math, unit conversions and calculations.
• Computer skills – Proficient with computer software, including medical software, Outlook, Word and Excel.

Attitudes (Will Do)

• Initiative – Proactively find solutions and take on additional responsibility as needed.
• Integrity – Adhere to company values and ethics; exercise honesty and good judgment.
• Cooperativeness – Work with others, share information promptly.
• Flexibility – Adapt to changing situations and tasks.
• Independence – Perform tasks with minimal supervision when appropriate.
• Resilience – Maintain a positive attitude and composure under stress.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods.
• Comfort around pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• May require more than 40 hours per week; includes weekends and evenings.
• Ability to reason, remember, and use mathematics and language effectively in English.
• Moderately high noise level; ambulatory requirements; ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds; good hand-eye coordination and vision.
• Exposure to animals that may bite or scratch, and exposure to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medications.

Experience, Education and/or Training

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant program, or equivalent education/experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform radiography duties.
• One year of related experience preferred (customer service preferred).

Pay range: $15.00 – $18.39 per hour. The specific rate is based on experience, skill level, and education and may vary by location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision; retirement plans; student debt relief for eligible full-time veterinarians; paid time off and holidays; mental health resources; life insurance; disability; flexible spending and health savings accounts; parental leave; continuing education allowances; and various voluntary protection plans and discounts. Eligibility is based on employment status.

About Banfield: Banfield is a community focused on caring for pets and people. We strive for an inclusive environment that supports the health and well-being of our associates.