Receptionist (LEAD) - Hardin Valley Animal Hospital

Lead Customer Service Representative

Hardin Valley Animal Hospital has provided comprehensive care to the Knoxville community since 2005, built on a core mission of customized, compassionate medicine. We are proud to be a Fear Free Certified Practice, prioritizing the emotional and physical well-being of every patient. Our commitment to excellence is further evidenced by our Cat Friendly Certified designation and the 4.8-star Google rating we hold in the community. If you are looking for a place where you can fully immerse yourself in high-quality veterinary medicine and truly do your best work, this opportunity in Knoxville, TN, is designed for you. Joining our hospital means becoming part of a cohesive team that values building lasting relationships with clients and patients. Our mission emphasizes tailoring innovative medicine to meet individual needs, fostering a collaborative environment where all teammates work together to alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. This focused approach to emotional well-being means you receive strong workflow support, allowing you to focus on delivering high-level surgical, dental, and advanced medical care alongside our dedicated DVMs. We provide the setting where you can grow your clinical expertise and succeed professionally. Hardin Valley Animal Hospital offers a comprehensive suite of medical services crucial for career development. You will be utilizing up-to-date, innovative medicine across all practice areas, including extensive Wellness & Prevention, Testing & Diagnostics, and critical Advanced Care. We routinely perform complex Surgical Procedures, manage Dentistry cases, and provide crucial Emergency support, ensuring you are constantly exposed to diverse, high-caliber small animal caseloads that will continuously push your clinical skills forward. Hardin Valley Animal Hospital is perfectly situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. This location offers a strong community deeply invested in the health of their companions, proven by the overwhelming client satisfaction and our robust 4.8-star Google rating. Working in Knoxville provides access to a growing, supportive population, making it an ideal environment to establish a long and rewarding veterinary career.

Your Impact as a Lead Customer Service Representative

As a Lead Customer Service Representative (Lead CSR), you are a working leader who sets the tone for the hospital's first impression. You support daily front desk operations while providing essential guidance, coaching, and support to the CSR team. In this role, you are responsible for maintaining exceptional client experiences, reinforcing service standards, and serving as the primary point of escalation for client and workflow issues. You partner closely with hospital leadership to ensure smooth operations, team alignment, and a positive, collaborative culture.

Your Impact Will Include:

• Leading by Example: You will serve as a role model for service excellence, professionalism, and teamwork, performing all core CSR duties including scheduling, check-ins, and financial transactions.
• Mentoring the Team: You will support the onboarding and training of new CSRs, providing real-time coaching, feedback, and development planning to help your teammates succeed.
• Solving Problems: You will act as the first point of escalation for client concerns and service recovery, using sound judgment to resolve issues and identifying workflow gaps to suggest improvements.
• Driving Communication: You will build strong relationships across departments (technicians, veterinarians, leadership) and handle sensitive or escalated client conversations with confidence and care.
• Managing Operations: You will support daily front desk coverage, monitor client experience, and ensure the accuracy of scheduling, records, and reporting.
• Championing Culture: You will lead with integrity and empathy, maintaining a calm, supportive presence during high-volume situations and reinforcing hospital values.

What You'll Bring to the Team

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Minimum of 2 years of customer service experience is required.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with scheduling systems and POS platforms.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, empathetically, and professionally.
• Prior lead, senior, or mentoring experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience in veterinary, healthcare, or multi-location service environments is preferred.

Responsibilities and Benefits

How You're Supported

As part of the Mission Pet Health family, you get the stability of a local practice backed by the comprehensive benefits and resources of a larger network. The focus is on investing in you, so you can focus on what you love. Note: Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you at every stage. Eligibility for specific benefits varies based on your role and hours worked.

Competitive Compensation

A competitive hourly rate based on your experience and leadership role.

Total Wellbeing

Comprehensive coverage including Health, Dental, and Vision insurance, plus access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Financial Health

Plan for your future with a 401k retirement plan, plus Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability options.

Commitment to Growth

We support your career goals with opportunities for professional development and training.

The Power of a Network

Join a nationwide community of over 20,000 veterinary professionals who share a passion for collaboration and career growth.

Valuable Perks

Enjoy paid time off, discounted veterinary care for your own pets, and free 24/7 access to doctors through Teladoc.

About Mission Pet Health

Mission Pet Health was founded by veterinarians on the belief that local practices thrive with clinical autonomy, collaboration, and medical excellence. The organization provides world-class support to its 850+ hospital teams on a hyper-local basis so they can focus on what matters most: the medicine, their patients, and their team culture. Learn more at missionpethealth.com.

Driving the award-winning culture are the WAG values Work Together, Amaze, and Grow . Mission Pet Health is veterinarian-led, people-focused, and on a mission to be the best place to work in veterinary medicine. We are proud to be recognized as a 2025 "Most Loved Workplace," ranked #2 in America's Top 100 and #1 in veterinary care.

Physical Requirements: Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods. Manual dexterity to operate computers and office equipment. Ability to communicate clearly with clients and team members. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. Please contact View email address on click.appcast.io with your request and contact information.

EEO Statement: Mission Pet Health is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.