Large Animal Care Assistant

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 22,041 - 26,174; Part time

Job summary

Virginia Tech’s Large Animal Clinic seeks an assistant to provide basic and intensive nursing care to admitted patients across services. You will assist clinical faculty, residents, interns, and senior veterinary students with patient care, animal handling, and the use of specialized diagnostic and medical equipment.

The role is on an as-needed basis with varying shifts, including weekends and holidays. The successful candidate will join a busy teaching hospital environment, contributing to

Qualifications

• Follow written and verbal instructions for patient care.
• Ability to recognize needs and set priorities for quality care.
• Ability to make sound emergency decisions for humans and animals.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing basic and intensive nursing care to all patients in the Large Animal Clinic.
• Support clinical faculty, residents, interns, and senior veterinary students in patient care and handling.
• Assist with the use of specialized diagnostic and medical equipment.
• Work on an as-needed basis with shifts including days, weekends, and holidays.

Job description

Job Description

Assists in providing basic and intensive nursing care to all patients of all services admitted for treatment to the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Provides assistance to clinical faculty, residents, interns, and senior veterinary students concerning all aspects of patient care, animal handling and the application and use of specialized diagnostic and medical equipment. Will work on an as needed basis. Subject to work varying shifts, days of the week, weekends and holidays. Assist in other areas as directed by supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Must be able to follow and comprehend written and verbal instructions concerning all aspects of patient care.
• Must be able to recognize needs and establish priorities in order to ensure quality patient care.
• Must have the ability to make sound emergency decisions concerning the health and safety of both humans and animals.
• Ability to administer drugs and pharmaceuticals by all acceptable routes of administration.
• Ability to safely work with and proficiency at handling and restraining all species and breeds of large animals required.
• Must be able to safely move and handle items weighing up to 75 lbs.
• Ability to work for long periods of time, standing, sitting, walking, reaching, bending and pushing/pulling.
• Ability to tolerate Rabies prophylaxis (provided by employer) is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in veterinary care of large animals.
• Experience in various animal restraint methods.
• Experience with specialized related equipment.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Able to maintain a clean work environment following bio-security protocols.

Schedule and Pay

• Pay Band: 3
• Overtime Status: Non-Exempt – Eligible for overtime
• Appointment Type: Restricted
• Salary Information: starting at $16.26/hour
• Hours per week: Up to 29
• Review Date: 07/20/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Carrie Nowlin at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.