Pet Care Assistant

Medical Management International, Inc.; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 20,664 - 22,647; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Generous Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Job summary

VCA Inc. in Nashville is looking for a Pet Care Assistant to support the veterinary medical team in providing exceptional care for pets. Responsibilities include preparing treatment areas, assisting in medical procedures, and maintaining a clean environment.

The ideal candidate should have strong multi-tasking abilities and a background in client services. Pay ranges from $15.00 to $16.44 per hour, depending on experience and skills.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate fluently in English, with strong written and verbal skills.
• Must be at least 18 years old for certain duties.
• One year of related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare treatment rooms and medical supplies for pets.
• Assist the veterinary team in examinations and treatments.
• Maintain cleanliness of the hospital and surgical suite.

Skills

Multi-tasking

Client service

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Job Purpose and Function

The Pet Care Assistant works with the veterinary medical team to provide and prepare for the best medical care of pets.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Prepare the treatment room for examination of pets and all necessary medical items and supplies (e.g. vaccinations, fecal loops, slides, etc.) for the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician.
• Set up fecals, smears, and skin scrapings as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Serve as support to the Client Services Coordinator, Veterinary Assistant, and Veterinary Technician.
• Hold or restrain pets during examination, treatment, or inoculation.
• Prepare routine in‑house laboratory tests (e.g. canine heartworm, feline leukemia, FIV, and canine parvovirus) as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Monitor the comfort of hospitalized patients, ensuring comfort by walking, exercising, feeding, and cleaning cages and pets when approved by the veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Bathe and dip pets when necessary to treat dermatological conditions, as advised by veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Clean the surgical suite and instruments.
• Ensure cleanliness of the hospital, including housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, mopping, cage cleaning, trash collection and removal, and instrument cleaning as outlined by hospital protocols.
• Other job duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

• Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility – As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications and Competencies

Leadership

• Leadership
• Customer Focus
• Peer Relationships
• Integrity & Trust
• Action Oriented
• Listening

Position Description Functional

• Preventative care and OWPs
• Communication Skills
• Client Service Skills
• Priority Setting
• Time Management

Capabilities and Experience (Can Do)

• Ability to multi‑task – Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills – Reads, writes, and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. Correctly spells commonly used English words and job specific terms. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability – Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments. Is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem solving skills – Demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems. Unusually decisive in handling difficult problems. Translates problems into practical solutions.
• Client service skills – Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service. Gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability – Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. Can provide directions.
• Mathematical ability – Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to compute rate, ratio and percent; ability to convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills – Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.

Attitudes (Will Do)

• Initiative – Shows willingness and aptitude to use own discretion in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.
• Integrity – Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospitals. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.
• Flexibility – Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
• Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision.
• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – Maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to be confident around pets (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• Client needs and work volume may require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job. This position requires special hours including working weekends and evenings.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while at hospital.

Position Description

• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand‑eye coordination, arm‑hand‑finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and/or Training

• High School Diploma preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x‑ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
• One year related experience required with customer service preferred.

Pay Range

The pay range for this role is $15.00 – $16.44 hourly. The pay range listed reflects a general hiring range for the area, with the specific rate determined based on the candidate’s experience, skill level, and education, and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Best‑in‑Class Student Debt Relief Program for Full‑Time DVMs.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources, including free coaching and counseling.
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) and Supplemental Life Insurance option.
• Company‑Paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing Education Allowance for eligible positions.
• Back‑Up Child and Elder Care and Family Support Resources.
• Fertility and Family Building Support.
• Digital Exercise Therapy program.
• Voluntary Protection Benefits coverage.
• Legal Plan coverage for wide range of legal needs.
• Identity Protection coverage.
• Commuter Benefits.
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets.
• Exclusive Discounts on products and services.