Pharmacy Assistant - Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists

PetVet Care Centers; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid Parental Leave

401(k) with discretionary contribution

Team Member Pet Discounts

Emotional wellbeing support

Job summary

PetVet Care Centers' Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists is seeking a Pharmacy Assistant to join our team in Santa Cruz, California. The role supports medical teams, maintains medication inventory, and assists with dispensing workflows under supervision.

The ideal candidate has veterinary experience, strong communication skills, and comfort with phones/computers. Schedule includes shifts with weekends and some holidays; full-time presence is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Previous veterinary experience is preferred.
• Strong communication skills are essential.
• Comfortable with phone and computer applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients.
• Greet patients and owners, guide to examining room, record weight and vital signs.
• Triage patients and assist with exams and treatments under supervision.
• Fill prescriptions and assist with medication administration and documentation.
• Maintain medication inventory and organize supplies; ensure proper handling of drugs.
• Maintain hospital cleanliness and safety of equipment, kennels, and facilities.

Skills

Good communication skills

Phone and computer applications

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

PetVet Care Centers' Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists is currently seeking a Pharmacy Assistant to join our team!

At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter.

Because life is better with pets.

We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience — every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve.

With more than 400 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

Our Pharmacy Assistants play an important role in supporting the medical teams and ensuring our hospital has the medications and supplies needed to provide excellent patient care.

At Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists in Santa Cruz, California, our team shares a passion for exceptional patient care and a deep sense of teamwork. We work closely across departments to ensure every pet receives the highest quality of care and every client feels supported. Our culture is built on collaboration, respect, and learning. Team members are encouraged to grow their skills through mentorship, continuing education, and hands-on experience in a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

This position is much more than filling medication requests. Pharmacy Assistants help maintain medication inventory, organize and stock supplies, assist with medication preparation and dispensing workflows under appropriate supervision, monitor expiration dates, and help ensure medications are readily available when our patients need them.

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and their owners as they arrive and show them to an examining room, taking the patient's weight and other vital signs upon arrival
• Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).
• Calm and soothe anxious patients
• Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and machines, etc.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors
• Communicate in a positive manner with clients and ensure that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
• Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medicinal plans
• Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry
• Bath and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
• Adhere to hospital's safety and wellness regulations
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Maintain accurate medical records
• Show up for work regularly; full-time presence at work is essential for every shift
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization
• Respond respectfully with urgency to directions given by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT).
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager; may have other assigned duties if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)

Qualifications (Required)

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, dependable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced medical environment. They understand the importance of accuracy, medication safety, communication, and teamwork. They take pride in maintaining an organized pharmacy and recognize that even the smallest details can make a significant difference in patient care.

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Previous Veterinary Experience
• Good communication skills, comfortable relaying information to clients even if it is not what they were hoping to hear.
• Comfortable with phone and computer applications.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Pharmacology Experience
• Handling and going over medications with clients

Schedule

• Eight 5-hour shifts or 4 ten-hour shifts.
• Must be able to work 1 weekend shift a week and some holidays

What We Offer

We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources

Pay Range

$20.25 — $24 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 400 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.

You care for pets. We care for you.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

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