Veterinary Assistant

Medical Management International, Inc.; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 25,347 - 32,387; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Continuing Education Allowance

Job summary

VCA Inc. is seeking a Veterinary Assistant in Herndon, Virginia. The role involves supporting veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality care for pets, educating clients about pet health, and maintaining a safe hospital environment.

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and problem-solving skills, along with a certificate from an accredited veterinary assistant program. Comprehensive benefits and competitive hourly pay are offered, ranging from $18.40 to $23.51 based on experience.

Qualifications

• One year related experience required; customer service preferred.
• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs.
• Must be at least 18 years old for duties involving radiography.

Responsibilities

• Support veterinarians and technicians in providing quality pet care.
• Educate clients on pet health and hospital services.
• Maintain safety and cleanliness of treatment areas.

Skills

Multi-tasking

Communication skills

Organizational ability

Problem solving skills

Client service skills

Education

Certificate from NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Medical software

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Summary

The Veterinary Assistant supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's and veterinary technician’s productivity.
• Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.
• Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times; perform or prepare procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, complete preparatory work for other procedures, ensure clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts.
• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues.
• Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensure safety of pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs.
• Assist with surgery as applicable.
• Utilize technical skills within state practice acts and the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Other job duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

• Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility – As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications / Competencies

Leadership

• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Listening
• Peer Relationships
• Personal Learning

Functional

• Ensure medical quality
• Effective communication
• Drive for results

Functional Skills

• Priority Setting

Capabilities and Experience (Can Do)

• Ability to multi‑task: manage multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shift attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills: reads, writes and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary; demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability: systematic approach in carrying out assignments; is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem solving skills: identify, analyze and solve problems; translate problems into practical solutions.
• Client service skills: consistently ensures team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service; gains personal satisfaction from delivering great service.
• Intellectual ability: accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered orally, in writing or diagram format.
• Mathematical ability: add, subtract, multiply, divide, compute rate, ratio and percent; convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills: confidently uses a computer and specialized medical software, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.

Attitudes (Will Do)

• Initiative – willingness and aptitude to find solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance processes.
• Integrity – adheres to values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital; exhibits honesty, discretion, sound judgment.
• Cooperativeness – willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising; shares relevant information promptly.
• Flexibility – open to changing situations and willing to perform all assigned tasks.
• Independence – able and willing to perform tasks without supervision when appropriate.
• Tolerance for stress / resiliency – maintains positive outlook, rebounds from frustrations, remains composed and friendly in stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods.
• Confidence around pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• Client needs and work volume may require more than 40 hours per week.
• Requires special hours including weekends and evenings.
• Requires mental processes for reasoning, memory, mathematics, language (reading, writing, speaking English).
• Noisy environment moderately high.
• Requires ambulatory skills to perform duties while at hospital.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb; manipulate up to 50 pounds.
• Good hand‑eye coordination, arm‑hand‑finger dexterity, visual acuity.
• Specific vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, ability to adjust focus.
• Exposure to pets that may bite or scratch, occasional exposure to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and/or Training

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level to aid in the efficiency of the practice.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x‑ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
• One year related experience required; customer service preferred.

Pay

Hourly range: $18.40 – $23.51. The rate is based on candidate’s experience, skill level, and education and may vary depending on location or minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match.
• Best-in-Class Student Debt Relief Program for Full‑Time DVMs.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources including free coaching and counseling sessions.
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) & supplemental life insurance.
• Company‑Paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing Education Allowance for eligible positions.
• Backup Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources.
• Fertility and Family Building Support.
• Digital Exercise Therapy program.
• Voluntary Protection Benefits.
• Legal Plan coverage for a range of legal needs.
• Identity Protection.
• Commuter Benefits.
• Three free Optimum Wellness Plans for pets.
• Exclusive Discounts on products and services.

Full‑time associates are eligible for all benefit programs (Student Debt Program available for FT DVMs only); part‑time associates are eligible for benefits with an asterisk (*).