Veterinary Assistant, Radiation Oncology, Western Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Centre

MARS Veterinary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching program

Paid time off for CE

Annual CE Allowance

Uniform allowance

Mental health resources

Job summary

Western Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Centre in Calgary, AB, part of VCA Canada, is seeking a Radiation Oncology Veterinary Assistant to join its fast-paced 24-hour emergency and referral team. You will support radiation oncology procedures, assist with CT planning, and communicate with clients throughout their pet's care journey.

Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, adaptable, and eager to learn new skills, providing compassionate support to pets and pet owners while ensuring seamless

Qualifications

• Must be highly detail-oriented and organized.
• Able to adapt to changing daily department needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills with empathetic client interactions.
• Motivated to learn new procedures and take on new responsibilities.
• Excellent communication with clients and team members.

Responsibilities

• Handle patient intake and discharge with attention to medical directions.
• Assist with patient restraint for exams, blood draws, and catheter placement.
• Perform basic patient husbandry duties (walking, feeding, comforting anxious pets).
• Operate lab equipment used in sample collection and analysis.
• Assist with CT and treatment patient positioning and setup.
• Communicate with clients via daily updates and arrange pick-up times.
• Collect required forms and intake documents ahead of visits.
• Manage service email account and respond to routine inquiries.
• Assist with machine warm-up and QA checks for treatment plans.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Adaptable

People skills

Eager to learn

Communication

Lab equipment handling

Tools

Lab equipment

Job description

Veterinary Assistant Department: Radiation Oncology Location: Calgary, AB Western Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Centre is welcoming a Radiation Oncology Veterinary Assistant. We are a fast-paced 24-hour emergency and referral centre with specialists in the following areas: Surgery, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Radiology and Medical Oncology. Our Radiation Oncology Department is looking to add a team member!

Qualities and attributes

• Highly detail-oriented with good organizational skills
• Adaptable to changing needs of the department from day to day
• Personable/upbeat/empathetic
• Motivated to learn new things
• Comfortable taking the extra time that may be needed while interacting with exacting clients

Daily tasks

• Patient intake and discharge (including asking general info questions at intake and reviewing discharge/medication directions at discharge)
• Patient restraint for examinations, catheter placement, blood draws, etc.
• Basic patient husbandry (walks, feeding, snuggling the anxious ones)
• Using lab equipment
• Assistance with patient positioning in CT and treatment
• Client communication (daily update phone calls, arranging pickup times)
• Helping with collecting required forms and intake documents ahead of time
• Service email account management
• Assisting with machine warm-up and plan quality assurance checks

What We Can Offer You

Competitive compensation that reflects your skills, experience, and the role. RRSP Employer Group Match Program (5%) to help you save for the future. Paid time off for continuing education, vacation, sick days, and personal wellness days. Annual CE Allowance.

Benefits

• Minimum 24 hours per week for eligibility, with flexible options.
• Paid annual certification memberships and uniform allowance.
• Mental health support tools and resources: Virtual health care (telemedicine), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and digital wellness tools supporting mindfulness, sleep, and physical fitness.
• Various career development pathways.
• Generous personal pet care discounts and lifestyle perks, including exclusive shopping discounts and access to a wellness app

Our Story

VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighbourhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy. In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, solidifying an even stronger commitment to ensuring the strength and stability of the veterinary profession and our commitment to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers. Most recently, we received 2026 Great Place to Work® Certification™ Canada.

A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people and our communities. From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands. Join us.