Lead Surgical Veterinary Technician
About The Position
This role is for a Lead Surgical Veterinary Technician who will integrate the hospital's core values of delivering exceptional service with compassion and hospitality, making positive assumptions, building trust with transparency, and seeking improvement with a growth mindset. The position requires strong leadership, clinical mentorship, surgical workflow management, client communication, technical proficiency, team collaboration, organization, time management, a commitment to growth, and safety compliance. The Lead Surgical LVT will also identify training gaps and work proactively with employees and leadership to develop action plans that improve performance and confidence.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Degree from an accredited veterinary technology program or alternative certification route.
- Valid Washington State Veterinary Technician License, current and in good standing.
- Meets and maintains all qualifications required for LVT Levels 1, 2, and 3.
- Recover CPR (BLS and ALS) certification.
Nice To Haves
- Minimum five years of veterinary technician experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience mentoring and training veterinary staff preferred.
Responsibilities
- Meets and maintains all competencies, expectations, responsibilities, and performance standards outlined in the LVT Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 job descriptions.
- Lead and coordinate the daily surgery and dentistry schedule.
- Ensure efficient patient flow from admission through recovery and discharge.
- Coordinate daily surgical caseloads while maintaining patient safety and workflow efficiency.
- Lead daily surgery rounds and team huddles.
- Serve as the primary mentor for newly licensed LVTs and developing technicians.
- Assist Veterinary Assistants pursuing licensure with skill development and competency progression.
- Develop, implement, and document individualized training plans and conduct competency evaluations.
- Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and support to improve individual and team performance.
- Monitor anesthesia, surgical nursing, pain management, and patient recovery standards.
- Review medical records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
- Identify workflow challenges and recommend practical solutions that improve patient care, efficiency, and team communication.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the surgical department and hospital leadership, communicating departmental needs, progress, and operational concerns.
- Promote compliance with hospital protocols and best medical practices.
- Monitor surgical, anesthesia, and dental inventory and communicate supply needs.
- Ensure surgical instruments and equipment are maintained, sterilized, and operational.
- Assist with equipment maintenance scheduling and troubleshooting.
- Model professionalism, accountability, and the hospital's Core Values at all times.
- Assist with departmental initiatives, special projects, and operational improvements as assigned.
- Oversees advanced anesthesia protocols and surgical nursing practices.
- Leads the development of clinical knowledge, technical skills, and professional growth of LVTs and support staff through mentoring, coaching, and competency assessment.
- Conducts and documents competency evaluations.
- Develops training materials and skill progression pathways.
- Leads departmental quality assurance initiatives.
- Identifies and implements workflow improvements.
- Ensures new policies, protocols, and workflow changes are communicated, implemented, and consistently followed within the surgical department.
- Oversees surgical equipment readiness and inventory management.
- Demonstrates sound clinical judgment while supporting DVMs during advanced procedures.
- Acts as a role model and leader for all hospital staff.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
