Veterinary Assistant, Surgery, Vancouver Animal Emergency & Referral Centre

AVC Clinics (British Columbia) Ltd.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP Employer 5 % Match

Wellness and appreciation culture

Competitive wages and benefits

Uniform allowance

Career development opportunities

Referral bonus rewards

Pet care discounts

Community involvement

Job summary

VCA Canada in Vancouver is seeking a dependable Veterinary Assistant to join our Surgery team on a full-time basis. The role supports orthopedic, soft tissue and emergency surgeries and emphasizes compassionate patient care.

You will help with instrument reprocessing, maintaining sterile rooms, and assisting nurses and veterinarians. Previous veterinary experience is beneficial; certificate in VA or VOA is a plus; focus on customer service and office procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience in a veterinary setting is beneficial but not required.
• Completion of a Veterinary Assistant program is preferred.
• Strong customer service and client communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Assist the veterinary staff with various tasks and treatments.
• Maintain a warm, low-stress environment for patients and clients.
• Be able to lift up to 20 kg and assist with anesthesia as needed.
• Reprocess instruments and ensure sterile operating rooms.
• Assist with daily housekeeping in reception and patient areas.

Skills

Customer service

Animal handling

Sterile processing

Medical terminology

Instrument reprocessing

Team collaboration

Education

Veterinary Assistant certificate/VOAVA program

Tools

Sterilization equipment

Surgical instruments

Job description

Veterinary Assistant Department: Surgery Compensation: $19.00 to $25.00 per hour, depending on experience Vancouver Animal Emergency and Referral Centre welcomes a dependable and caring Veterinary Assistant to join our team full-time. This is an exceptional opportunity for an organized, motivated, and empathetic individual to join us in an important support role for the entire hospital.

The veterinary assistants in our Surgery department play an important role in keeping the service running smoothly and performing a wide range of tasks while assisting with orthopedic, soft tissue, and emergency surgeries.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the veterinary staff with various tasks and treatments
• Create a warm and welcoming environment for our pet parents
• Create a positive, low-stress atmosphere for our patients and adapt to changing situations
• Take initiative and work independently
• General housekeeping duties; cleanliness of reception area, pet holding areas, and common areas
• Willingness to learn more regarding veterinary services, updated medical office procedures
• Compassion and a nurturing attitude
• Veterinary Assistant (VA) or Veterinary Office Assistant (VOA) program certificate is an asset

Schedule

Hours of work will generally be Monday to Wednesday (9 am - 7 pm). Candidates should have some flexibility if coverage is needed in other areas of the hospital on various days.

VTA Duties and Responsibilities

• High standard of instrument reprocessing and sterilization, striving to ensure fully stocked operating rooms in an efficient manner
• Maintenance of equipment and supplies used in our three state-of-the-art surgical units
• Assembling and providing surgical supply sets and carts as ordered for scheduled and emergency surgeries
• Inventory monitoring, ordering, replenishing and rotating supplies in your work area.
• Safe animal restraint and handling of dogs and cats.
• Must be able to lift up to 20kg patients
• Assisting the surgery team with various animal nursing tasks
• Above average knowledge on sterile preparation of patients for various surgical procedures, including orthopedic & soft tissue procedures.
• Ability to scrub in to assist the surgeon is also an asset if needed.
• Ability to assist technologists with anesthesia induction of patients for various surgical procedures.
• General cleaning duties; cleanliness of operating rooms, sterilization area, pet holding areas, and common areas.
• Maintaining continuous surgical laundry flow.
• Preparing and submitting lab samples to various outside laboratories
• Attend staff meetings
• Assisting the Board-Certified Specialist and Registered Veterinary Technologists in any other appropriate capacity as requested

Skills and Knowledge

• Previous experience in a veterinary setting is beneficial, it is not a requirement.
• Completion of a Medical Device Reprocessing course or familiarity with instrumentation and various types of instrument sterilizers (steam/chemical).
• Candidates with previous experience in medical device reprocessing in a human medical facility will also be considered.
• Recent program graduates who are motivated and confident in their abilities and possess above-average skills are also encouraged to apply.
• Superior customer service and outstanding client communication skills
• Keen interest in improving and learning new skills with a sense of curiosity
• Exceptional organizational skills and a detail-oriented work style
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Willingness to learn more regarding veterinary services, updated medical office procedures
• Knowledge of the use, care, and storage of veterinary instruments, materials, and equipment.
• Awareness of the hospital's policies and procedures
• Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations
• Have physical strength and the ability to stand for an entire shift when needed & lift to 20kg

What VCA Canada Offers

• RRSP Employer 5 % Match Program – saving for your future just got easier!
• A caring culture of Wellness and Appreciation!
• Competitive wages and benefits!
• Opportunity to apply for a Veterinary Technician/Technologist scholarship (annual process)
• Annual uniform allowance
• Exceptional career development: there is room to grow here!
• Referral Bonus Rewards
• Opportunities to give back to your community through VCA initiatives
• Generous personal pet care discounts
• And extra perks like shopping discounts and cool wellness apps!

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. VCA Canada is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. If you require any assistance, please let us know. 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.