Lead Veterinary Technician/Assistant

Petco•Shrewsbury, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Veterinary Technician/Assistant, referred to in the posting as the Hospital Leader On Duty (HLOD), provides veterinary care to patients at Petco’s full-service hospital and customer care to their owners. The HLOD represents Petco’s mission and values, sets the tone for technical and customer support partners, and fosters team cohesion and motivation. The position oversees hospital operations and has immediate daily supervisory duties over paraprofessional staff. Patient-care activities are performed under the supervision of a veterinarian and/or credentialed Veterinary Technician, while the position takes direct supervision in patient- and client-care activities from the Area Operations Manager. The role includes assisting with appointments, surgery, dentistry, euthanasia, anesthesia, in-hospital treatments, patient monitoring and discharge; maintaining patient records; supporting client communications and scheduling; training staff; and keeping the hospital clean and orderly. The position is primarily based in a veterinary hospital and involves frequent direct contact with clients and pets. It requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing for long periods.

Requirements

Preferred: at least one year of previous experience working in a veterinary practice, or sufficient experience to ensure excellent performance of the listed skills.
Leadership capabilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Compassionate and sympathetic demeanor, with the ability to remain professional during emotional and stressful situations.
Telephone and computer skills.
Ability to work as a team player, learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of previous veterinary-practice experience is preferred; sufficient experience to perform the listed skills may also qualify.

Responsibilities

Greet clients and patients, escort them to exam rooms, obtain weights and vital signs, collect patient histories, and document visits in electronic medical records.
Assist veterinarians with routine and emergency appointments, surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia under appropriate supervision.
Restrain patients, collect and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications as directed by the veterinarian, and maintain electronic medical records.
Monitor telephone lines, route calls, schedule appointments, educate clients, relay test results, and maintain and update client and patient records.
Prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures and assist with anesthetizing patients.
Under veterinarian or veterinary technician supervision, monitor patients under anesthesia and during recovery, and prepare them for discharge or transfer to an overnight care facility.
Under supervision, provide in-hospital treatments, including injectable and oral medications and intravenous fluid therapy; keep patients clean, watered, and fed as directed; and walk canine patients for elimination when necessary.
Train new staff members and share knowledge as required.
Keep the hospital neat and clean, performing regular cleaning based on need and a predetermined maintenance schedule.
Take responsibility for an assigned hospital task, such as inventory ordering or scheduling.
Monitor and answer practice phone calls, route calls, and schedule appointments as needed.
Monitor wait times and make accommodations during busy periods or emergencies.
Uphold and enforce Petco and Vetco Total Care policies.
Oversee hospital operations and supervise paraprofessional staff.