Rural Veterinary Practice Assistant

OSU Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 27,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University’s Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Corvallis is hiring two full-time Rural Veterinary Practice Assistants. You will support ambulatory service on farm calls and hospital appointments, caring for large animals and assisting students and clinicians with cases.

The role requires experience handling horses and livestock, attention to detail, and teamwork in a fast-paced teaching hospital environment. A commitment to safety and customer service is essential.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in large and/or small animal handling and restraint.
• At least one year of knowledge or training in a large and/or small animal facility.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work productively in teams and provide excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• Driving a truck to appointments
• Large animal patient handling
• Stocking and cleaning the RVP vehicles
• Assisting students and clinicians with appointments

Skills

Large animal handling

Animal restraint techniques

Teamwork

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Job description

Job Summary

Job Summary: This recruitment will be used to hire 2 full-time Rural Veterinary Practice Assistants for the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital within the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. Oregon State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital is adding talented veterinary assistants to the Large Animal Rural Veterinary Service. You will be assisting our ambulatory service on farm calls and hospital appointments. The appointments can range from visiting a dairy to working up an equine lameness. We are looking for self-motivated people with a passion for teaching. It is a fast paced, team-oriented hospital that focuses on an optimal level of patient care while providing supportive instruction to our students, and excellent customer service to our clients. Applicants should have a solid background working with horses and livestock and show a sincere interest in veterinary medicine. We recognize that people are our most valuable asset and are grateful to the employees who choose to be a part of this hospital.

Key Responsibilities

• Driving a truck to appointments


• Large animal patient handling


• Stocking and cleaning the RVP vehicles


• Assisting students and clinicians with appointments

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated experience in large and/or small animal handling and restraint AND one year of knowledge and experience or training in a large and/or small animal facility. Demonstrated knowledge of: drugs and medications typically used in veterinary care patient preparation, medical procedure assistance; medical terminology; animal anatomy; veterinary care procedures; basic mathematics (add, subtract, multiply, divide); Demonstrated high level of attention to detail. animal restraint technique and devices. Demonstrated ability to work productively and cooperatively in teams, and to contribute to an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming team culture where individuals with a range of different backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and/or life experiences feel valued and respected. Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate professionally with a variety of students, faculty, staff, and clients. This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months. This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: At least 1 year of experience providing medical care for equines and other large animal species in a veterinary teaching hospital or veterinary clinic. Extensive knowledge and experience working with large animals in all aspects of veterinary assistance. Demonstrated ability to effectively instruct others in veterinary techniques.

Working Conditions / Schedule

Working Conditions/Work Schedule: • The VTH is a seven day per week, 24 hour per day hospital; therefore, weekend and holiday work may be required. Shift assignment may change based on operational needs and/or to maintain appropriate staffing levels. • This is a float position and work schedule will typically include at least one weekend day. • This position is located in an extremely busy Veterinary Teaching Hospital and works primarily with large animals. • This position may be exposed to noxious odors, infectious diseases, chemicals, gas anesthetics, radiation, loud noises, wet and slippery floors and machinery. • This position has access to controlled substances, is responsible for maintaining controlled drug logs, and witnessing the dispensing of drugs out of the cubex machine. • This position will often be required to move, which may include lifting and/or carrying, up to 50 pounds, as well as pushing or pulling objects weighing up to 200 pounds. • This position requires walking, standing, running, stooping, bending, squatting, kneeling, and crawling on hard or uneven surfaces as necessary to provide care to animals. • Working with and around large animals has certain inherent risks. Animal handling and restraining can lead to injury. To minimize risk to the employee in this positions, Oregon State University offers a rabies vaccination at the employer's expense (acceptance/declination at the discretion of the appointee) • Overtime, evening, on-call, and/or weekend hours required. • This position is deemed essential. The employee in this position may be expected to report to work during inclement weather, emergency, and other University work curtailments or closures.

Salary Range

Min $19.36 - Max$28.75

Anticipated Dates

Anticipated Start Date: 2026-10-19

Anticipated End Date: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status. OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire. OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job‑related pre‑employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre‑employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [e-mail].

Additional Statements

Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job! Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don't wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep‑rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. At Oregon State University, no qualified person shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the University. If requested, OSU will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in order to provide access to the application, interviewing and selection process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application to receive an accommodation. Please request any reasonable accommodations for disability as early as possible in the application and search process. Requests may be directed to the hiring unit, or to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. See Request an Accommodation Procedures for the OSU policy. Oregon State University, in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including Title IX and its regulations, does not unlawfully discriminate and prohibits discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, including in academic admissions and employment. The university prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin (including ancestry and ethnicity), citizenship, marital or family status, pregnancy or related conditions, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status / service in the uniformed service, or any other status protected by law or OSU policy. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to OSU’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (link to https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr), or both. OSU’s Title IX Coordinator is the Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (EOA). For information on OSU’s nondiscrimination policy and procedures, including how to report information about conduct that may constitute discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, contact EOA by phone: [phone], email: [e-mail], mail/location: 330 Snell Hall, Corvallis OR 97331, or visit EOA’s website: eoa.oregonstate.edu. Know Your Rights Oregon Family Leave Act: Department of Labor Family and Medical Leave Act.