Surgery & Anesthesia Department Manager - Veterinary Referral Associates

PetVet Care Centers; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $2,500

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid Parental Leave

401(k) with discretionary contribution

Team Member Pet Discounts

Emotional wellbeing support (Calm app)

Job summary

PetVet Care Centers (Surgery & Anesthesia Department) is seeking a Department Manager to lead technicians and support staff in a busy referral hospital setting in Gaithersburg, MD. The role includes clinical leadership, scheduling, and ensuring high standards of anesthesia and surgical care.

The ideal candidate has a veterinary technician license, 2+ years of leadership experience, and a passion for mentoring teams.

Qualifications

• Active veterinary technician license (RVT, LVT, CVT, or equivalent) with eligibility for Maryland licensure.
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a credentialed veterinary technician in a progressive practice.
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience in a veterinary setting.
• Proven track record of team development and mentorship.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and develop technicians and medical support staff through regular performance evaluations, ongoing training, and constructive feedback.
• Participate in hiring decisions and performance management, including disciplinary actions when necessary.
• Communicate and enforce hospital policies while introducing new practices and protocols to the team.
• Foster a culture of professional growth, accountability, and clinical excellence.
• Create and manage staff schedules to ensure optimal department coverage and patient care capacity.
• Administer on‑call rotations and monitor overtime to maintain work‑life balance and budget compliance.
• Oversee department inventory, equipment maintenance, and facility cleanliness standards.
• Coordinate with other departments and leadership to ensure seamless patient care and hospital operations.
• Perform technician duties as scheduled, maintaining hands‑on involvement in patient care.
• Establish and uphold departmental standards for anesthesia and surgical patient management.
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for complex cases and advanced procedures.
• Conduct patient assessments and ensure proper monitoring protocols are followed.
• Act as liaison between the surgery/anesthesia team and hospital leadership.
• Address staff concerns and operational challenges proactively and confidentially.
• Keep management informed of issues affecting operations, safety, or team morale.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to implement solutions and process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Scheduling

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Veterinary technician license (RVT/LVT/CVT or equivalent)

Maryland licensure eligibility

Tools

Advanced anesthesia monitoring

Venipuncture

Radiographic positioning

CRI/TIVA protocols

Fluoroscopy

Job description

Bring your skills to PetVet and earn a sign‑on bonus of up to $2,500 based on your experience as a credentialed veterinary technician!

PetVet Care Centers' Veterinary Referral Associates

Surgery & Anesthesia Department Manager

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.

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

Position Overview

Join our team as a Surgery & Anesthesia Department Manager who performs the duties of medical technical staff (e.g., technicians and assistants) as well as scheduling and supervising the staff of the assigned department. Expedites the care and efficiency of the department. In charge of patient care standards for the department. Must lead the team by example, demonstrating organizational skills, following company policies, and maintaining a professional attitude.

Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, MD has earned national recognition as one of the most established and respected specialty veterinary and emergency hospitals in the country — seeing cases from across Maryland and as far as Pennsylvania, with 24/7 emergency care available without an appointment every day of the year including holidays. The hospital is AAHA-accredited and offers an extraordinary breadth of specialty services including dermatology, internal medicine, oncology, surgery, diagnostic imaging, feline radioactive iodine hyperthyroid therapy, and a board-certified veterinary criticalist for life‑threatening conditions.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership & Staff Management

• Supervise, mentor, and develop technicians and medical support staff through regular performance evaluations, ongoing training, and constructive feedback
• Participate in hiring decisions and performance management, including disciplinary actions when necessary
• Communicate and enforce hospital policies while introducing new practices and protocols to the team
• Foster a culture of professional growth, accountability, and clinical excellence

Operations & Scheduling

• Create and manage staff schedules to ensure optimal department coverage and patient care capacity
• Administer on‑call rotations and monitor overtime to maintain work‑life balance and budget compliance
• Oversee department inventory, equipment maintenance, and facility cleanliness standards
• Coordinate with other departments and leadership to ensure seamless patient care and hospital operations

Clinical Care

• Perform technician duties as scheduled, maintaining hands‑on involvement in patient care
• Establish and uphold departmental standards for anesthesia and surgical patient management
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for complex cases and advanced procedures
• Conduct patient assessments and ensure proper monitoring protocols are followed

Communication & Problem Resolution

• Act as liaison between the surgery/anesthesia team and hospital leadership
• Address staff concerns and operational challenges proactively and confidentially
• Keep management informed of issues affecting operations, safety, or team morale
• Collaborate with the leadership team to implement solutions and process improvements

Required Qualifications

Licensure & Experience

• Active veterinary technician license (RVT, LVT, CVT, or equivalent) with eligibility for Maryland licensure
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a credentialed veterinary technician in a progressive practice
• Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience in a veterinary setting
• Proven track record of team development and mentorship
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position.

Core Technical Skills

• Proficiency in advanced anesthesia monitoring and management
• Expertise in venipuncture, arterial and central line catheter placement
• Competency in radiographic positioning, imaging techniques, and fluoroscopy
• Strong foundation in medication calculations, CRI administration, and TIVA protocols
• Excellent animal restraint and patient assessment abilities

Professional Competencies

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational abilities with excellent time management and prioritization
• Effective problem-solving with a proactive, solutions‑oriented approach
• Ability to maintain composure and make sound decisions in high‑pressure situations
• Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical practice

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Specialty experience in emergency, critical care, or specialty surgery settings
• Advanced anesthesia expertise including arterial blood pressure monitoring, TIVA, and complex CRI protocols
• Operational leadership with demonstrated success in schedule management and workflow optimization
• Process improvement experience developing and implementing SOPs and quality initiatives
• Collaborative mindset with a passion for creating positive, high‑performing team environments
• Client‑centered approach with exceptional communication and service skills
• Technical excellence including fluoroscopy experience and advanced monitoring techniques

Schedule

This position is full‑time hourly with an anticipated schedule to include 40 hours and 4-5 shifts per week. There will be an initial 90‑day training period of various shift rotations which may include mornings, evenings, and weekends.

On-Call Requirement: Full‑time employees are required to sign up for 24 hours per month of hospital on‑call coverage following 90 days of employment. Anesthesia technicians and assistants will transition to the Anesthesia on‑call calendar after the Medical Director and Anesthesiologist's approval.

Candidate must be willing to work varying shifts in order to regularly touch base with all staff working in the Surgery & Anesthesia Department.

What We Offer

• 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: $33—$38 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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