Lead Veterinary Technician

Maple Tree Veterinary Hospital; Waynesville (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Maple Tree Veterinary Hospital is seeking a Lead Veterinary Technician to guide our technical team and keep the treatment floor running smoothly. You'll lead daily operations, assist anesthesia and surgery, and mentor technicians while staying hands-on with clinical care.

You’ll set standards, coordinate workflow with doctors, train staff, and help maintain equipment and records. Strong leadership and communication are essential in our fast-paced practice in North Carolina.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of clinical experience as a veterinary technician in a small animal practice.
• Proficiency in anesthesia monitoring, surgical assisting, dentistry, radiology, and in-house lab work.
• Demonstrated leadership, training, or mentoring experience.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to stay calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills with doctors, staff, and clients.
• Ability to pass a background check (controlled substance handling).

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the technical team during daily operations, assigning patients and tasks to keep appointments, surgeries, and treatments on schedule.
• Serve as the go-to resource for technicians and assistants on clinical questions, procedures, and hospital protocols.
• Train, onboard, and mentor new technical staff; support ongoing skill development and continuing education for the team.
• Develop, update, and enforce standard operating procedures for treatment, surgery, anesthesia, and patient care.
• Perform advanced technical duties, including anesthesia induction and monitoring, surgical assisting, dental prophylaxis and radiographs, IV catheter placement, venipuncture, and critical patient care.
• Act as the communication link between veterinarians and the technical team, making sure treatment plans are understood and carried out accurately.
• Oversee medical equipment maintenance, treatment area organization, and supply levels in partnership with inventory staff.
• Ensure controlled substance logs, medical records, and safety protocols meet state and federal requirements.
• Help build technician schedules and cover shifts as needed to keep the hospital fully staffed.
• Address team concerns, give constructive feedback, and collaborate with management on performance reviews and hiring.
• Model compassionate, professional client communication and step in to handle difficult client conversations when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Anesthesia monitoring

Surgical assisting

Radiology

Training/mentoring

Client communication

Tools

EzyVet

Job description

About the Role

Maple Tree Veterinary Hospital is seeking a Lead Veterinary Technician to guide our technical team and keep the treatment floor running smoothly. This position is ideal for an experienced technician who loves hands‑on patient care and enjoys helping others grow. You'll set the standard for technical excellence, coordinate daily workflow between doctors and staff, and train and mentor our technicians and assistants. While leadership is your primary focus, you'll stay deeply involved in clinical care: anesthesia, surgery, diagnostics, and nursing, so your skills stay sharp and your team sees you leading by example.

What You'll Do

• Lead and coordinate the technical team during daily operations, assigning patients and tasks to keep appointments, surgeries, and treatments on schedule
• Serve as the go‑to resource for technicians and assistants on clinical questions, procedures, and hospital protocols
• Train, onboard, and mentor new technical staff; support ongoing skill development and continuing education for the team
• Develop, update, and enforce standard operating procedures for treatment, surgery, anesthesia, and patient care
• Perform advanced technical duties, including anesthesia induction and monitoring, surgical assisting, dental prophylaxis and radiographs, IV catheter placement, venipuncture, and critical patient care
• Act as the communication link between veterinarians and the technical team, making sure treatment plans are understood and carried out accurately
• Oversee medical equipment maintenance, treatment area organization, and supply levels in partnership with inventory staff
• Ensure controlled substance logs, medical records, and safety protocols meet state and federal requirements
• Help build technician schedules and cover shifts as needed to keep the hospital fully staffed
• Address team concerns, give constructive feedback, and collaborate with management on performance reviews and hiring
• Model compassionate, professional client communication and step in to handle difficult client conversations when needed

Requirements

• 3+ years of clinical experience as a veterinary technician in a small animal practice
• Proficiency in anesthesia monitoring, surgical assisting, dentistry, radiology, and in-house lab work
• Demonstrated leadership, training, or mentoring experience
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to stay calm and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment
• Excellent communication skills with doctors, staff, and clients
• Ability to pass a background check (controlled substance handling)

Preferred

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in North Carolina, or eligible for NC registration (graduate of an AVMA‑accredited program with a passing VTNE score). RVT credentials are not required but are highly recommended
• Prior experience as a lead technician, shift lead, or supervisor
• Experience with EzyVet
• Fear Free certification or low‑stress handling training
• Interest in pursuing a VTS specialty or advanced certification