Locum Veterinary Technician (relief)

Vicar Operating, Inc. dba VCA; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 71,635,000 - 97,424,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CE reimbursements

Pet discounts

Flexible schedules

Training program

Job summary

VCA California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad is seeking a Locum (Relief) Veterinary Technician to join our team and provide urgent care in a busy hospital setting.

As a Credentialed Veterinary Technician, you will support anesthesia, surgical procedures, and diagnostic imaging, while collaborating with veterinarians and staff to deliver compassionate patient care and educate pet owners. This role offers flexible scheduling and access to extensive resources within the VCA network.

Qualifications

• Credentialed Veterinary Technician (LVT/RVT/CVT) in California or equivalent experience.
• Emergency and specialty veterinary experience preferred.
• Proficient in anesthesia and surgical assistance.
• Excellent communication and client education skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment with compassion.

Responsibilities

• Perform and assist with advanced veterinary procedures, including anesthesia and surgery.
• Monitor critically ill and injured patients under veterinary supervision.
• Obtain histories, triage, and interpret diagnostic results.
• Administer medications and document all care.
• Educate owners on treatment plans and at-home care.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in a high-pressure setting.

Skills

Credentialed Veterinary Technician (LV

Job description

We are seeking an Locum (Relief) Veterinary Technician to join our team at VCA California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad.

Why we love VCA CVS Carlsbad:

• Small hospital feel with big company support
• Competitive compensation ($25-$34, hourly)
• Generous employee pet discounts
• Generous Continuing Education reimbursements, including paid "CE" days
• Flexible Schedules
• Supportive, multi-faceted, educational training program
• We are focused on your career growth; we empower you with all the knowledge and skill you need to be successful
• Great coastal community location close to the beach, food options, fitness centers and shopping
• Monthly hospital-wide activities & games, raffles, with awesome prizes
• Access to Perkspot- receive coupons and discounts for anything you can imagine
• We value your voice and regularly implement suggested changes from our suggestion box
• Join various hospital committees or VCA Diversity Resource Groups to further enrich your experience and involvement in the hospital & company
• In-hospital, fresh food micro-market always stocked with ever-changing array of food and drink options
• Sweet & Savory Stop - get your fix with international snacks and treats
• Referral rewards - tell your friends why they should come work for here too and if they do, receive a referral bonus
• Opportunities to get out into the community and participate in local events
• Something new every day - you'll never be bored

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform and assist with a range of advanced veterinary procedures, including anesthesia, surgery, and diagnostic imaging.
• Monitor and manage critically ill and injured patients, providing support and care under the supervision of veterinarians.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, including obtaining patient histories, performing triage and TPR, and understanding diagnostic results.
• Administer medications, treatments, and therapies as prescribed, and document all care provided.
• Utilize and maintain medical equipment and instruments, ensuring adherence to sterilization and safety protocols.
• Provide compassionate care and communicate effectively with pet owners, educating them on treatment plans, procedures, and at-home care.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to manage complex cases and prioritize patient needs in a high-stress environment.

Qualifications:

• Credentialed as a Veterinary Technician (LVT, RVT, or CVT) in California (or equivalent experience).
• Proven experience in emergency and specialty veterinary settings is preferred.
• Strong clinical skills with proficiency in anesthesia, surgical assistance, and critical or specialty care is preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with team members and pet owners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining a high level of professionalism and compassion.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, potentially including nights, weekends, and holidays as required.

Benefits:

• At VCA, your passion for medicine and compassion for pets and people is matched with a commitment to your professional growth.
• You will enjoy exposure to a diverse and stimulating caseload, employ the most advanced imaging and monitoring tools, and tap into the expertise of more than 4,500+ doctors, including 600+ boarded specialists.
• You will sharpen your skills - and even learn some new techniques - and explore career options that only VCA can offer, such as continuing education, transfer, specialization, and leadership opportunities.

VCA Animal Hospitals offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for Full-Time employees including Medical/Dental/Vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, pet care discounts, paid vacation, holidays and sick days, health and well-being programs that provide resources and training.

Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials.

The pay range for this position is $25.00-$34.00 per hour.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development).

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com.

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.