Surgery Client and Patient Liaison - Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists

Pacificsantacruzvet; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid parental leave

401(k)

Job summary

Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists seeks a Surgery Client and Patient Liaison to support veterinarians and staff in daily tasks, attend to patients, and assist with client communications throughout the surgical process.

The role focuses on preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining patients, and providing exceptional service to clients before discharge and during follow-up care. Collaborative, client‑centered care is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and able to work in a veterinary setting.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous veterinary assistant experience.
• Comfortable restraining animals during examinations.
• Ability to obtain and document TPRs and patient histories.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients.
• Greet clients and owners and take patient weight and vitals on arrival.
• Assist doctors and technicians with medications and restraints.
• Perform lab tests and take radiographs as directed.
• Maintain medical records and proper documentation.

Skills

Vet assistant experience

Animal restraint

Client communication

History taking (TPR)

Tools

Cornerstone

Instinct

Job description

Surgery Client and Patient Liaison - Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists

PetVet Care Centers' Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists is currently seeking a Surgery Client and Patient Liaison to join our team!

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.

With more than 400 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

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

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

Join our team as a Surgery Client and Patient Liaison who supports the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service.

At Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists in Santa Cruz, California, our team shares a passion for exceptional patient care and a deep sense of teamwork. We work closely across departments to ensure every pet receives the highest quality of care and every client feels supported. Our culture is built on collaboration, respect, and learning. Team members are encouraged to grow their skills through mentorship, continuing education, and hands‑on experience in a supportive environment.

Why Join Us:

• Do you enjoy the medical side of veterinary medicine just as much as helping clients feel informed, supported, and confident in their pet's care? Our Surgery Client & Patient Liaison plays an important role in guiding clients and patients through the surgical experience, from the initial consultation to discharge and follow‑up.
• Working closely with our Surgery team, you will welcome clients, obtain patient histories, assist with examinations and treatments, and help educate owners about recommended procedures, what to expect, and at‑home care. You will also review estimates, enter charges, coordinate discharges, explain medications and home‑care instructions, and make follow‑up calls to check on patients and answer questions or connect clients with their doctor.
• This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong foundation in veterinary medicine who enjoys client communication, wants to expand their knowledge of surgical procedures, and is interested in being involved in patient care in a different capacity. You will learn about the variety of procedures performed by our Surgery team and gain a deeper understanding of the surgical process while helping create a positive, organized, and supportive experience for our clients and their pets

Key Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and their owners as they arrive and show them to an examining room, taking the patient's weight and other vital signs upon arrival
• Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).
• Calm and soothe anxious patients
• Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and machines, etc.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors
• Communicate in a positive manner with clients and ensure that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
• Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medicinal plans
• Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels, and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry
• Bath and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
• Adhere to the hospital's safety and wellness regulations
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Maintain accurate medical records
• Show up for work regularly; full‑time presence at work is essential for every shift
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization
• Respond respectfully with urgency to directions given by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT).
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager; may have other assigned duties if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)

Qualifications (Required)

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Previous veterinary assistant experience.
• Comfortable safely restraining animals during examinations.
• Ability to obtain and record TPRs (temperature, pulse, and respiration).
• Ability to collect and document patient medical histories.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience assisting with sedations.
• Experience taking radiographs (X-rays).
• Knowledge of veterinary pharmacology.
• Familiarity with Cornerstone or Instinct veterinary software.

Schedule:

• Monday - Thursday, 4 ten‑hour shifts, must be able to work some holidays.
• Start time is between 8AM-9AM

What We Offer
We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• 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

$22.50 — $26 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to aCulture 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

PetVet respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Please see our privacy notice for additional information about our data practices.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in PetVet Care Centers’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Race

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or which but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

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Why Consider Our Santa Cruz Hospital?

At Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, our team members all share the same passion for making and keeping animals healthy.

Our hospital truly is an excellent place to work, with a highly skilled team focused on 'best in practice' veterinary care.

We are very supportive of individuals looking to grow their veterinary careers and look forward to hearing from you.

We invite you to explore your veterinary career options with Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, where you'll be a respected member of a team that loves animals and values the contributions from every individual on the team.

• We invite you to explore your veterinary career options with Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, where you'll be a respected member of a team that loves animals and values the contributions from every individual on the team. - Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists Team