Specialty Surgery Veterinary Assistant - Puget Sound Veterinary Specialty + Emergency

Lakefield Veterinary Group; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Continuing Education (CE) sponsorship

Annual scrub allowance

Paid Time Off (PTO)

6 Paid Holidays

Personal pet discount

Job summary

Puget Sound Veterinary Specialty & Emergency (PSVSE) in Gig Harbor, WA is seeking a Surgery Veterinary Assistant to support a fast-paced surgical team. You will assist a board-certified surgeon and skilled LVTs, helping to prepare the OR, scrub in, and monitor patients across a range of advanced cases.

The role is ideal for someone with 1 year of veterinary assisting experience or a strong desire to learn surgical skills in a collaborative specialty setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of veterinary assistant experience.
• Surgical experience preferred OR a strong desire to learn and grow in surgery.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols.

Responsibilities

• Prepare operating room and instrument setup; ensure OR readiness.
• Scrub in and assist during surgical procedures.
• Maintain surgical suite cleanliness, organization, and sterility.
• Support LVTs and surgeons throughout procedures to maintain efficient OR flow.
• Assist with patient monitoring and recovery support as directed.
• Prepare and maintain surgical packs and equipment; ensure proper turnover between cases.

Skills

Surgical assistance

Veterinary experience

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Job description

Surgery Veterinary Assistant

Puget Sound Veterinary Specialty & Emergency (PSVSE) | Gig Harbor, WA

If you’re someone who loves hands‑on work, thrives in a fast‑paced environment, and is either experienced in surgery or eager to learn and grow into it; this is your opportunity.

At Puget Sound Veterinary Specialty & Emergency (PSVSE), our surgery department is fast‑paced, highly collaborative, and centered around delivering gold standard patient care. As a Surgery Veterinary Assistant, you’ll work alongside our extremely talented board‑certified surgeon and skilled LVTs to help drive surgical flow and support a wide range of advanced cases.

Our mission is to deliver exceptional emergency and specialty veterinary care with compassion, innovation, and accountability at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to gold standard medicine while fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and continuous learning.

We grow together by asking questions, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another. Every patient, client, and team interaction is an opportunity to educate, uplift, and provide care with integrity and excellence. Together, we strive to set the standard in veterinary care—every day, for every life we touch.

Schedule

• Surgery schedule aligned with service needs (typically Sunday–Tuesday)
• Combination of appointment and surgical case days
• Flexibility required based on caseload

Position Summary

As a Surgery Veterinary Assistant, you will play a key role in ensuring surgical cases run smoothly and efficiently. From preparing the operating room to assisting during procedures, you will be an essential part of the surgical team.

This role is ideal for someone who is either already experienced in surgery or highly motivated to learn. We are committed to training the right individual who demonstrates strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a passion for patient care.

This position reflects our core values in action; leading with compassion, supporting an inclusive team environment, taking accountability in a high-acuity setting, embracing innovation in workflow, and contributing to gold standard patient care.

What You’ll Do

• Assist with surgical case setup, including instrument preparation and OR readiness
• Maintain surgical suite cleanliness, organization, and sterility
• Assist in patient preparation for surgery (restraint, positioning, clipping, and cleaning)
• Scrub in and assist during surgical procedures
• Support LVTs and surgeons throughout procedures to maintain efficient OR flow
• Assist with patient monitoring and recovery support as directed
• Prepare and maintain surgical packs and equipment
• Ensure proper turnover between cases to keep the schedule running smoothly
• Collaborate closely with the surgery, ER, and specialty teams
• Maintain accurate records and support overall department organization

Case Variety & Experience

You’ll gain exposure to a wide range of advanced procedures, including:

• Orthopedic surgeries (TPLO, fracture repair, arthroscopy)
• Soft tissue procedures (foreign body removals, mass removals, wound repairs)
• Advanced surgeries (exploratory procedures, splenectomies, liver lobectomies)
• Emergency surgical cases

What We’re Looking For

• Minimum of 1 year of veterinary assistant experience required
• Surgical experience preferred OR a strong desire to learn and grow in surgery
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols
• Team-oriented mindset with strong communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to take feedback and training
• A commitment to our core values:
• Compassion – caring deeply for patients, clients, and each other
• Inclusion – valuing every voice and supporting one another
• Accountability – taking ownership and striving to improve
• Innovation – looking for ways to improve workflow and care
• Gold Standard Patient Care – treating every patient as if they were your own

Benefits & Perks

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Continuing Education (CE) opportunities
• Annual scrub allowance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 6 Paid Holidays
• Personal pet discount

Why PSVSE

This is more than an assistant role; it’s a chance to build real surgical skills, be part of a highly skilled team, and grow within a specialty environment.

If you’re ready to learn, work hard, and be part of something meaningful; we’d love to meet you.

Compensation Range: $23 USD - $28 USD