Veterinary Assistant - Surgery

Veterinary Assistant – Surgery

Gold Coast Center for Veterinary Care in Huntington, NY is looking for a dependable, hands-on Veterinary Assistant to support our growing surgical service! This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and has an interest in surgery and specialty veterinary medicine. Our ideal candidate is organized, reliable, comfortable handling patients, and familiar with basic sterile protocols. Previous surgical assisting experience is preferred, but we're also open to someone who brings a strong foundation in animal care and is eager to learn!

Your Day-to-Day Responsibilities Will Include:

• Supporting our surgeon, Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and surgical team throughout a busy day of procedures.
• Preparing surgical suites, equipment, instruments, and supplies before scheduled procedures.
• Scrubbing in and providing appropriate non-technical support during surgical procedures, under the direction of the veterinary team and within New York State scope-of-practice guidelines.
• Maintaining sterile technique, assisting with surgical room organization, and helping preserve a clean and safe operating environment.
• Cleaning, sterilizing, organizing, and preparing surgical instruments and packs according to established protocols.
• Assisting with patient handling, restraint, positioning support, and safe transport as directed by the clinical team.
• Supporting surgical patient preparation and recovery areas through appropriate non-technical assistance.
• Reviewing patient records for completeness, organizing paperwork, and communicating relevant information to the appropriate clinical team members.
• Assisting with client communication, scheduling, and relaying veterinarian- or LVT-approved preoperative and postoperative instructions.
• Maintaining surgical supply inventory, restocking materials, and ensuring treatment areas remain organized and ready for the next patient.
• Working closely with the surgical team to support an efficient workflow while maintaining a strong focus on patient safety.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Previous veterinary assistant or animal care experience preferred.
• Experience in surgical assisting and familiarity with surgical instruments and equipment preferred, but not required.
• Basic understanding of sterile technique, infection control, and surgical preparation protocols.
• Comfort scrubbing into procedures and maintaining focus while standing for extended periods, sometimes several hours at a time, with reasonable accommodations as needed.
• Confidence handling and safely restraining dogs and cats.
• Ability to work independently on assigned support tasks while also collaborating closely with veterinarians, LVTs, and fellow assistants.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow established procedures and instructions.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• A reliable, friendly, and positive attitude, with a willingness to jump in wherever support is needed.
• Ability to remain organized and adaptable in a high-volume surgical environment.
• A genuine interest in patient care, teamwork, and specialty veterinary medicine.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: $17–$18/hour, based on experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement (in an accredited Veterinary Technology program)
• Retirement: 401(K) with employer match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Training and career development
• Paid license fees and dues
• Generous CE allowance
• Paid VTS specialization

At Gold Coast Center for Veterinary Care, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated specialty team and gain exposure to a busy surgical service. As we welcome our new surgeon, we're looking for someone who takes pride in being a dependable part of the team, enjoys hands-on work, and understands how important preparation, organization, and communication are to a successful surgical day.

Whether you already have surgical experience or are looking to build on your veterinary assistant foundation, this is an opportunity to contribute to a growing department while continuing to learn.