Animal Care Assistant

Western University of Health Sciences; California (MO); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player in veterinary education is seeking an Animal Care Assistant to support veterinarians and technicians in providing quality care for pets. This role involves multitasking, excellent communication, and customer service skills to ensure a safe and effective hospital environment. You will be part of a team that values humanism and collaboration, making a significant impact on the lives of animals and their owners. If you are passionate about animal care and eager to learn in a dynamic setting, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off

Insurance Plans

Retirement Benefits

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old for radiography duties.
• One year related experience required, customer service preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians and technicians to ensure quality pet care.
• Maintain proper medical charts and ensure safety protocols.

Skills

Multi-tasking

Communication Skills

Organization Skills

Problem-solving Skills

Customer Service Skills

Computer Skills

Mathematical Ability

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Job description

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Position Title

Animal Care Assistant

Position Control Number

998972

Type of Position

Staff

Position Status

Part-time

Campus

Western University Campus-Pomona, CA

Position Location

California

Department

1701-College of Veterinary Medicine

Job Summary

The Animal Care Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Individuals must possess the knowledge, as well as the following skills and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

1. Must have the ability to multi-task, have good communication skills, organization skills, and problem-solving skills.
2. Excellent customer service skills.
3. Some computer skills and mathematical ability required.

Required Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent required.
2. Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
3. One year related experience required with customer service preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

1. Act as the extra eyes, ears, and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian’s and veterinary technician’s productivity. Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians, and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.
2. Provide professional, efficient, and exceptional service at all times. This includes performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice act.
3. Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
4. Ensure the safety of pets, clients, and employees by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile, and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, animal housings and labs.
5. Assist with surgery as applicable.
6. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule

Hours may vary Monday – Saturday.

Benefits

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.

We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits.

Expected Pay Scale

Minimum: $17.50 Hourly
Maximum: $18.51 Hourly

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to operate a PC in the performance of job duties, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to sit, and reach with hands and arms, and occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, and smell. This position requires lifting up to 50 pounds. This may include lifting animals, bags of dog food, boxes, etc. This may also include pulling animals up to 100 pounds by a leash. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.

Describe Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties of the Animal Care Assistant are normally performed in a typical clinic setting. The employee is also exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in this setting is usually moderate due to animals, telephone calls, office equipment, and normal student traffic. There are animals of varying sizes and tempers moving around who may bark loudly or potentially bite.

Posting Information

Posting Number: S01607

Posting Date: 04/21/2025

Close Date: Open Until Filled

Conditions of Employment - Background Check

To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position.

Pay Transparency Act

Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO)

It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time.

Required Documents

• Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter
• Letter of Recommendation #1
• Letter of Recommendation #2
• Letter of Recommendation #3
• Additional Applicant Document

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Please provide the name of the website, individual, or organization.

  (Open Ended Question)