Registered Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Assistant

Joybound People & Pets•Walnut Creek, CA

4d•$52,000 - $79,040•Onsite

About The Position

Provides high-quality, low-stress, compassionate medical and surgical care to Joybound shelter guests and animals belonging to members of the public through multiple programs. Under veterinarian supervision, the role supports high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgery (mobile and onsite), other surgeries, examinations, medical procedures, and treatments, and maintains accurate medical records. The position is filled at two levels—Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and Veterinary Assistant (VA)—with shared core responsibilities and additional duties that differ by level as permitted by California law. The RVT may induce, intubate, monitor, and recover patients for surgery; lead or assist with dental procedures, including extractions; perform or assist with euthanasia at a veterinarian’s direction; and lead treatment management for more urgent medical conditions as directed. The VA may intubate, monitor, and recover patients for surgery, assist with dental anesthetic monitoring, and perform or assist with euthanasia if currently certified, at a veterinarian’s direction. A VA may handle controlled substances only when authorized under a valid Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit. This is a full-time, non-exempt position with 10-hour shifts, up to four shifts per week. Work includes weekend and/or holiday hours, and weekend work is required. Daily reporting hours and days may vary with department needs. The role may involve outdoor work in varied weather, driving a large vehicle, and exposure to animals, allergens, cleaning products, loud noises, zoonotic diseases, bites, and scratches. Required safety protocols and PPE must be followed.

Requirements

Proficiency in preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic veterinary treatments for cats and dogs, including medical triage, intubation, venipuncture, medication administration, IV/SQ/IM injections, IV catheter placement, dentals, medication handling, and drug and fluid calculations.
Knowledge of, or willingness to learn and follow, contemporary shelter medicine standards, maintenance techniques, and accepted sanitary practices.
Knowledge of various breeds and their characteristics, and familiarity with symptoms of diseases common to dogs and cats.
Ability to communicate courteously, kindly, and tactfully with the public, volunteers, and coworkers, and to provide leadership and direction to volunteers with varying experience.
Strong organization, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision.
Ability to follow safe work practices, wear protective clothing or equipment when necessary, and attend designated safety trainings.
Good judgment and a professional manner.
Ability to work comfortably and effectively with diverse staff, volunteers, and community members.
Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
Pre-employment background screening is required.
Valid California Driver’s License, insurance, no more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period, and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years.
RVT: Current California Registered Veterinary Technician license required.
VA: Current Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit, or ability to obtain one, required.
Current euthanasia certification is required to perform euthanasia.
Associate in Science degree required for both levels.
At least three years of experience working in the veterinary field required for both levels.
Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived.
Must be able to complete duties that may involve exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal allergens, cleaning and disinfectant products, loud noises, and bites or scratches.
Must adhere to department and organizational policies, procedures, safety protocols, and required PPE use.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an animal shelter.
Experience in a high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgical department.

Responsibilities

Communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a way that supports positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence.
Under veterinarian supervision, provide preventive and basic nursing care, follow treatment protocols, and assist in treating more urgent medical conditions.
Monitor and recover patients under anesthesia for spay/neuter and other surgeries, using high-volume, high-quality techniques and standards.
Perform diagnostic testing, including imaging, laboratory tests, and in-house diagnostics.
Help manage shelter guest population health through daily rounds, preventive care, protocols, and general monitoring, and promptly communicate when intervention is needed.
Assist veterinarians with examining, handling, and treating shelter guests and client-owned animals.
Perform medical intake assessments for shelter guests transferred in for adoption, identify and document abnormalities, and communicate them according to protocols or directly to a veterinarian.
Handle animals humanely and compassionately, including animals that are sick, injured, or have behavioral concerns.
Maintain detailed, accurate patient records across cloud-based systems, including treatments, protocols, medications, and histories; interpret and summarize records to support treatment and preventive care decisions.
Lead or assist with admission, assessment, treatment, and release of client-owned animals at the Joybound Veterinary Clinic; communicate pertinent medical information and medication instructions, assist with invoicing and record sharing, and provide records to clients’ regular veterinarians as requested.
Record, fill, and document medications as prescribed by a veterinarian and ensure administration instructions are clearly communicated.
Assist with maintenance and inventory of the clinic’s pharmacy, equipment, and supplies.
Assist Joybound personnel with courteous handling of the public and their pets.
Help maintain healthy, safe, sanitary, and clean mobile and onsite facilities.
Treat people and animals respectfully, contribute to teamwork, and promote communication and cooperation within the department and across Joybound.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable safety regulations, laws, Joybound policies, guidelines, and safe work practices.
Drive Joybound vehicles as assigned, following safe driving practices and traffic laws.
RVT: Induce, intubate, monitor, and recover animals for spay/neuter and other surgeries, as permitted by California law and under veterinarian supervision.
RVT: Lead or assist with dental procedures, including dental extractions and anesthetic monitoring.
RVT: Perform or assist with compassionate euthanasia of shelter guests who do not meet adoption criteria and of client-owned animals as requested, at the veterinarian’s direction.
RVT: Lead management of more urgent medical conditions as directed by a veterinarian.
VA: Intubate, monitor, and recover animals for surgery; anesthetic induction is performed by an RVT or veterinarian.
VA: Assist with dental anesthetic monitoring; dental extractions are performed by an RVT or veterinarian.
VA: With verifiable euthanasia certification, perform or assist with compassionate euthanasia at a veterinarian’s direction.
VA: Handle controlled substances only as authorized under a valid Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit.
Perform other duties as assigned.