Registered Veterinary Technician - Lead

AAVMP; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

401(k) with employer match

Mental health resources (Lyra Health)

Paid parental leave

Purr-ental leave for pet adoption

Subsidized backup childcare and elder?

Job summary

San Jose Animal Hospital is seeking a Lead Registered Veterinary Technician to act as the clinical lead for the veterinary support team in our San Jose, CA facility. You will mentor RVTs and assistants, ensure adherence to SOPs, and support efficient patient flow and hospital operations.

The ideal candidate will have California RVT licensure, at least 3 years of veterinary tech experience, and strong skills in surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry.

Qualifications

• Active California RVT license required.
• Minimum 3 years of veterinary technician experience.
• Strong surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry experience required.
• Previous leadership, training, mentoring, or coaching experience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for team development, client education, and patient advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the clinical lead for the veterinary support team, helping maintain efficient workflow, patient flow, and daily hospital operations.
• Coach, mentor, and develop RVTs and veterinary assistants through hands-on training, accountability, and ongoing skill development.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members and foster consistent application of hospital protocols and SOPs.
• Reinforce hospital protocols, SOPs, and best practices to promote consistency, efficiency, and high-quality patient care.
• Partner with hospital leadership to identify workflow opportunities, improve communication, and support team performance.
• Lead daily patient flow and support staff workflow, helping ensure appointments, treatments, procedures, and client communications are completed efficiently and on time.
• Oversee compliance with controlled substance handling, inventory management, treatment documentation, and medical record standards.
• Serve as a technical resource for the team and assist with challenging cases, procedures, and patient care needs.
• Perform RVT duties as needed, including anesthesia monitoring, dental procedures, surgical support, patient nursing care, laboratory diagnostics, radiology, venipuncture, catheter placement, and endotracheal intubation.
• Assist throughout the hospital as needed to support patient care, client service, and operational efficiency

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Coaching

Communication

Education

California RVT license

3+ years veterinary technician experience

Job description

Lead Registered Veterinary Technicain

San Jose Animal Hospital

San Jose, CA

Schedule: 32-40 hours/week | Monday-Friday | No weekends or overnights

Compensation is negotiable based on experience and credentials, with an expected starting range of $32 - $38/ hour. The final pay will carefully consider a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced RVT who leads by example and enjoys mentoring others as much as practicing medicine. The ideal candidate is a strong technician, effective coach, and collaborative team player who supports consistent workflows, follows hospital standards and SOPs, and helps create a positive, productive environment for patients, clients, and team members.

Your Experience & Skills

Qualifications

• Active California RVT license required


• Minimum 3 years of veterinary technician experience


• Strong surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry experience required


• Previous leadership, training, mentoring, or coaching experience


• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment


• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills


• Passion for team development, client education, and patient advocacy

What you’ll do:

• Serve as the clinical lead for the veterinary support team, helping maintain efficient workflow, patient flow, and daily hospital operations


• Coach, mentor, and develop RVTs and veterinary assistants through hands-on training, accountability, and ongoing skill development


• Support onboarding and training of new team members and foster consistent application of hospital protocols and SOPs


• Reinforce hospital protocols, SOPs, and best practices to promote consistency, efficiency, and high-quality patient care


• Partner with hospital leadership to identify workflow opportunities, improve communication, and support team performance


• Lead daily patient flow and support staff workflow, helping ensure appointments, treatments, procedures, and client communications are completed efficiently and on time


• Oversee compliance with controlled substance handling, inventory management, treatment documentation, and medical record standards


• Serve as a technical resource for the team and assist with challenging cases, procedures, and patient care needs


• Perform RVT duties as needed, including anesthesia monitoring, dental procedures, surgical support, patient nursing care, laboratory diagnostics, radiology, venipuncture, catheter placement, and endotracheal intubation


• Assist throughout the hospital as needed to support patient care, client service, and operational efficiency

You’ll Grow with Us

Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU


• Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills


• A program designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital

Benefits - our care in action

Thrive offers a suite of benefits to support team members’ emotional, physical, professional, and financial wellbeing. In addition to our health and life insurance, and short- and long- term disability plans, we offer eligible team members:

• Competitive pay


• 401(k) with employer match


• Mental health resources, including easy access to therapy through Lyra Health


• Paid parental leave


• Purr-ental leave for when you adopt a pet


• Subsidized backup childcare and elder care


• Expert advice, support and network discounts for fertility and family planning


• FREE CE courses


• Pet perks and veterinary service discounts


• Student loan support tools and assistance

*Some benefits shown are only for full-time team members who work 30 hours or more per week. Certain Benefits may be subject to waiting periods or length of service requirements.

About the Hospital

San Jose Animal Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, provides primary and urgent care for cats and dogs in the San Jose area. Our hospital is known for high-quality medicine, a clean and modern environment, and a friendly, professional team. As a feline-friendly and Fear Free certified hospital, we are committed to delivering compassionate care and an exceptional experience for both pets and the people who love them.

About Thrive

Thrive Pet Healthcare creates the future of pet well-being through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community of teams and partners. Today, its network of 360+ primary, emergency, and specialty hospitals across the U.S. cares for pets of all ages and health needs, while portfolio companies provide tools and technology that help veterinary teams work smarter and deliver better care. Thrive invests in its people-through mentorship, leadership programs, continuing education, and well-being initiatives-so teams can grow and feel supported. For pet owners, convenient solutions such as a mobile app, digital booking, Thrive PlusTM membership, HereFurYou Helpline, an online pharmacy and flexible financial options* make accessing quality care simpler- giving families the peace of mind their pets deserve. Learn more at thrivepetcare.com.

We welcome you to join our story and join where #WeThriveTogether.