Registered Veterinary Technician

County of Santa Barbara; California (MO); On-site; USD 63,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Barbara is seeking a Registered Veterinary Technician for their Animal Services program. This full-time position requires duties across several shelter locations, making a direct impact on community animal welfare. Ideal candidates have strong animal care expertise, compassion, and attention to detail to support both the animal population and the team effectively.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Retirement reciprocity for public sector employees

Qualifications

• Experience providing medical care across multiple animal species.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs examinations of animals and records findings.
• Treats animals under veterinary supervision and monitors health.
• Manages inventory of medical supplies and controlled substances.

Skills

Animal Care Expertise

Compassionate Handling

Attention to Detail

Effective Communication

Adaptability

Education

Current registration as a Veterinary Technician

Job description

Notice of Change: This recruitment will be posted continuously until position is filled.

SALARY
$30.38 - $36.12 Hourly
$63,196.64 - $75,535.20 Annually

We invite passionate individuals committed to animal welfare and veterinary care to apply for the position of Registered Veterinary Technicianwithin the Animal Services program at the County of Santa Barbara Health! If you are enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact on the well-being of animals and the community, we encourage you to consider joining our dedicated team.

We are actively accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Registered Veterinary Technician that will be homebased in Santa Maria for County Health.

The primary location is based in Santa Maria; however, the incumbent will need to travel throughout the County as this position requires responsibilities at all three shelter locations in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Please select “ALL LOCATIONS” on the job application as areas you are willing to accept work to be considered for the current vacancy.

We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list for future Full-Time, Part-Time, Extra Help and *1414 vacancies for Registered Veterinary Technicianjob classification vacancies. Please select the location(s) on your job application where you are willing to accept work for current and future vacancies.

NOTE: This position requires rotating between shelter locations throughout the County and may include overnight on-call, weekend, and holidays shifts.

*Civil Service Rule 1414. Appointment to Fill Vacancy During Leave of Absence.1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or CLICK HERE to view more information.

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

1. Retirement reciprocity
2. Time and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rate

IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The ideal candidate for the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) position will have:

• Strong Animal Care Expertise – Experience providing medical care to a variety of animals, including administering treatments, assisting with surgical procedures, and monitoring post-operative recovery.
• Compassion and Skilled Handling – Ability to humanely restrain animals for examinations and procedures while recognizing signs of illness, injury, and behavioral concerns.
• Attention to Detail – Proficiency in maintaining accurate medical records, inventorying controlled substances, and ensuring compliance with veterinary protocols.
• Effective Communication – Strong interpersonal skills to educate and collaborate with staff, volunteers, fosters, and the public while adapting communication for clarity and reassurance. Bilingual skills in Spanish are preferred.
• Adaptability and Teamwork – Ability to work independently and as part of a team, handling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, including weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Performs physical examinations of animals and records findings; examines animals to determine breed and approximate age; evaluates health of animals and determines which animals have priority for medical care; recommends further evaluation such as x-ray and skin scraping.
2. Receives reports from shelter staff regarding health status of animals and follows up with examinations; treats animals and administers vaccinations under the supervision of a veterinarian; monitors health of animals in quarantine; records all treatment and vaccinations on paperwork and in the computer record for each animal.
3. Orders and maintains inventory of controlled substances, medical supplies, and medications; performs research on vendors to obtain best pricing; confers with staff and veterinarians regarding supply needs; distributes and monitors usage of controlled substances; reconciles logs of controlled substances at all shelters; oversees proper use of euthanasia solution and pre-anesthetics; provides training and euthanasia certification for staff as needed.
4. Assists veterinarian with examinations; restrains animals during examinations; makes observations on the health of sheltered animals and reports to veterinarians; communicates medical information to staff, volunteers, and clients; generates list of animals to be seen by veterinarian; schedules animals for spay or neuter surgery; obtains cost estimates for outside treatment.
5. Supports successful surgical outcomes by maintaining surgical flow, ensuring patient safety, properly handling surgical tools, and providing skilled, compassionate care.
6. Obtains and prepares laboratory specimens for rabies testing; ensures that rabies specimens are handled, transported, and disposed of in accordance with all applicable procedures and protocols in order to protect public safety.

1. Assists in the determination of adoptability; recommends animals for foster care as appropriate; prepares or has input on the selection of animals for euthanasia; assists with feeding, watering, cleaning, and disinfecting of animals in the shelter.
2. Administers injections, provides training in and supervision of, and is responsible for humanely euthanizing animals in accordance with California State Law and Department guidelines and policies.

1. Communicates clearly and empathetically with fosters, volunteers and other members of the public while actively listening to concerns and adapting language for clarity and reassurance.

Possession of the following:

• Current registration as a Veterinary Technician with the State of California.

Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid CA Class C driver's license may be required.

Knowledge of: methods, techniques, and medication used in the care and treatment of animals; physical and behavioral characteristics of common domestic animals and livestock; characteristics of common diseases; spay and neuter surgical procedures and techniques; proper techniques for preparation, handling, and disposal of rabies specimen test samples; proper euthanasia procedures; basic animal care and nutritional needs; standard office computer software; English grammar and usage.

Ability to: handle animals properly and perform work in a humane manner; perform euthanasia of animals by injection; recognize symptoms of rabies and other common diseases and injuries in animals; keep accurate records of treatment; Lift, carry, and move animals or objects weighing up to 75 pounds without assistance and over 75 pounds with assistance.; perform extensive stooping, bending, and carrying; learn specialized computer applications; exercise tact and independent judgment; maintain effective working relationships with shelter staff, volunteers, clients, and veterinarians.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaireto determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking.Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and auto-scored. Candidates’ final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

Veteran’s Points: Veteran’s preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans’ hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability. To receive veteran’s preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran’s Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the closing date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider, or learning institution.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Conditional Job Offer:Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee will also be subject to a post-offer medical examination. Appointee must satisfactorily complete a (12) twelve-month probationary period.

The County of Santa Barbara Health Department (“County Health”) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the County Health Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations. A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: This recruitment will be posted continuously until position is filled. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Farrah Medrano, Talent Acquisition Lead
County Health Department, [e-mail]