Veterinary Assistant

Hollymead Veterinary Hospital; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Hollymead Veterinary Hospital in Charlottesville, VA is hiring a Veterinary Assistant to join a team delivering compassionate care to companion animals. You will assist veterinarians during exams, treatments, and procedures, while communicating effectively with clients and maintaining accurate medical records.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, basic computer skills, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and handle animals up to 130 pounds.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Basic computer skills including practice management software and Microsoft Office.
• Previous experience with animals is preferred; veterinary or animal care background valued.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and safely handle animals up to 130 pounds.
• Comfort with standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Provides compassionate, professional care to patients and clients at all times.
• Communicates clearly with clients, doctors, and team members, including answering phones and routing inquiries.
• Assists the veterinarian during exams, diagnostics, treatments, and surgical procedures.
• Safely restrains animals using low-stress handling techniques.
• Creates and maintains treatment records in the medical system.
• Educates clients on vaccines, medications, and care plans.

Skills

Compassionate care

Communication

Teamwork

Customer service

Punctuality

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Hollymead Veterinary Hospital offers General Practice and Urgent Care services to companion animals in Charlottesville, Virginia. Formerly known as VETSS (Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialty Services), our hospital has provided emergency services to the Charlottesville community for over 30 years. In 2018, as the landscape of veterinary care evolved, we began shifting towards urgent care and general practice services.

Our team is dedicated to both pets and their owners, and we pride ourselves on delivering medical excellence and patient-centered care in a comforting environment. We have several team members that are Fear-Free certified, led by a people-focused Practice Manager!

Veterinary Assistant

Love Animals? Love Being Part of a Team? We Want to Meet You!

Are you the person who can’t walk past a puppy without saying hello, thinks cleaning up after pets is just part of the job, and genuinely enjoys making a difference in the lives of animals and their people? Then you might be exactly who we’re looking for!

Hollymead Veterinary Hospital is looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate Veterinary Assistant to join our team! If you’re dependable, eager to learn, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and want to be part of a team that truly cares about our patients, clients, and each other—we’d love to hear from you!

Position Summary:

The Veterinary Assistant provides essential support to the veterinarian during outpatient exams and throughout the diagnosis and treatment of patients. They care forall patients,assistwith medical procedures, and help ensure each patient receives high-quality, compassionate care. In this role, the Veterinary Assistant also serves as a key connection between the veterinarian and clients. Through exceptional service and communication, the Veterinary Assistant helps build trust and foster lasting relationships with clients and their pets.

PrimaryResponsibilities:

• Provides compassionate, professional care to patients and clients at all times.
• Communicates clearly and respectfully with clients, doctors, and team members, including answering phones and routing inquiries as needed.
• Handles sensitive client situations with empathy and discretion, escalating medical questions appropriately.
• Assists the veterinarian during exams, diagnostics, treatments, and surgical procedures.
• Safely restrains animals of varying sizes and temperaments using low-stress handling techniques.
• Administers medications, draws up vaccines, collects lab samples, and performs basic lab tests as directed.
• Creates, reviews, and enters treatment plans accurately in the medical record system.
• Educates clients on common vaccinations, medications, and treatment protocols to ensure understanding of care plans and follow-up recommendations.
• Accurately records patient information and maintains organized, up-to-date medical records.
• Enters charges accurately and assists with the client check-out process, including processing payments when needed.
• Ensures exam rooms, treatment areas, and hospital spaces are clean, stocked, and well maintained.
• Demonstrates consistent reliability, punctuality, and commitment to supporting patients, clients, and hospital operations.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalentrequired.
• Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to use practice management software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Previousexperience working with animals preferred; veterinary or animal care background strongly valued.
• Able to work safely around cleaning chemicals, anesthetic gases, radiation, zoonotic diseases, and animal bodily fluids.
• Maintains composure and professionalism in emotionally challenging or high-stresssituations.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and safely handle animals up to 130 pounds.
• Comfortable sitting, standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods throughout the workday.
• Professional, neat appearance consistent with hospital standards.

Hours:

• Must be able toworka flexible schedule and be available for scheduling during all hours the practice is open to support hospital operations.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $17-20/hour, commensurate with licensure and experience

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. In addition, employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays and access to employee assistance program.

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

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.

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 who 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.