Licensed Veterinary Technician-Specialty Department Manager

Brief Media, Inc.; Lynnwood (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation $38-42/hr

Paid time off including parental leave

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Health savings account & flexible-spd

Pet perks

Backup and ongoing care support

Mental health benefits

401k

Continuing education and free CE

Job summary

The Veterinary Specialty Center Seattle in Lynnwood, WA is seeking a Licensed Veterinary Technician to lead our Specialty Department teams. This full-time role oversees all technical staff across Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Oncology, and Cardiology, ensuring high-quality patient care and smooth daily operations.

The Specialty Department Manager partners with hospital leadership, mentors staff, manages scheduling, and fosters a culture of accountability and

Qualifications

• Licensed Veterinary Technician in Washington State with 4+ years of Specialty medicine experience.
• Strong leadership ability with experience coaching, supporting, and motivating teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and adapt to changing demands.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialty department teams including Licensed Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, Referral Coordinators, and Kennel Assistants.
• Oversee staffing, workflow optimization, and performance across Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Oncology, and Cardiology.
• Collaborate with Hospital Staff Manager and leadership to ensure high-quality patient care and staff engagement.
• Provide direction, mentorship, and accountability to the specialty technical teams.
• Maintain schedule flexibility to meet departmental needs.

Skills

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Specialty medicine experience

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Conflict resolution

HR familiarity

Team motivation

Job description

Licensed Veterinary Technician - Specialty Department Manager

Veterinary Specialty Center Seattle

Lynnwood, WA

Full time

The Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle, a Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner, is a 24-hour Emergency and Critical Care and Specialty hospital. We offer a collaborative approach to veterinary medicine. We support Emergency and Critical Care, Neurology, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Oncology and Radiology, all in one hospital. We pride ourselves on providing compassionate medical care and exceptional client service.

We are a diverse group of assistants, licensed veterinarian technicians and doctors ranging from residents in training to board certified. We are committed to providing excellent care for our patients and clients and find this is best accomplished in an environment where we foster learning, teamwork while still encouraging autonomy, accountability, and a little bit of laughter daily.

Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle is looking for a Licensed Veterinary Technician to lead our Specialty Department teams.

Job Overview

The Specialty Department Manager is a full‑time leadership role responsible for overseeing all Specialty technical support staff, including Licensed Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, Referral Coordinators, and Kennel Assistants. The specific specialty departments include Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Oncology, and Cardiology. This position is one of two Specialty Manager roles, jointly responsible for the management, staffing, workflow optimization, and performance of the departments. This role reports directly to the Hospital Staff Manager and works closely with hospital leadership to ensure high‑quality patient care, operational consistency, and a highly engaged technical team.

In this role, the Specialty Manager cultivates and motivates a high‑performing, highly communicative team culture in alignment with VSCS Core Values, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth while providing clear direction and support to the specialty technical teams.

This position requires schedule flexibility to meet departmental scheduling needs.

Qualifications

• Licensed Veterinary Technician in Washington State with 4+ years of Specialty medicine experience
• Strong clinical skills, including anesthesia, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, central line placement, and critical thinking
• Demonstrated leadership ability with experience coaching, supporting, and motivating teams
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict‑resolution skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and adapt to changing demands
• Sound judgment, problem‑solving capability, and familiarity with HR best practices
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds unassisted and more with assistance
• Willingness to work uncommon hours or overtime when necessary to support staff management

Benefits – our care in action

We provide benefits spread comprehensively across your mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing designed to meet your needs as a unique individual. Some key benefits include:

• Competitive compensation--$38-42/hr -Thrive reviews performance and compensation as part of its approach to recognizing contributions and supporting competitive growth
• Paid time off including 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions
• Top quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account
• Pet perks including free exams, discounts on products and services, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations
• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care support for children, adults, and pets
• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions
• 401k program
• Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and 3 days PTO to complete

Compensation is negotiable based on credentials and experience. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Why VSCS?

Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle is built on collaboration, trust, and shared accountability. We value leaders who show up for their teams, invest in people development, and model the standards they expect from others. If you’re looking for a role where your leadership directly shapes culture, care delivery, and team success, this is a place where your work truly matters. Ready to lead with purpose in emergency veterinary medicine?

Thrive Pet Healthcare is one of the first veterinary services offering a comprehensive continuum of care for pets’ primary, specialty, and acute needs. Through a nationwide community of over 360 veterinary providers, and an industry‑leading membership program, Thrive Pet Healthcare provides personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pet’s life and health. Founded by veterinarians, the organization provides industry‑first benefits for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs of care providers and professional collaboration, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the well‑being of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence.