Veterinary Assistant

NVA General Practice; Los Altos (CA); On-site; USD 68,880,000 - 121,228,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental and vision

401k benefits

Discounted services

Employee Assistance Program

Continuing education

Job summary

Adobe Animal Hospitals is seeking a Veterinary Technician to join a fast-paced, open-hospital team in California. You will support RVTs, assistants, and doctors across outpatient care, routine surgeries, and critical care, while mentoring newer staff as needed.

The role emphasizes teamwork, clear client communication, and high patient-care standards. Weekend and holiday shifts are required; base wage ranges with skill/differentials drive compensation.

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Technician or field-trained assistant with 1–2+ years of experience.
• RVT license preferred but not required with extensive prior experience.
• Offer genuine client service and maintain a professional, courteous attitude.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and high attention to detail.
• Must make independent thoughtful decisions in fast-paced environments.
• Strong teamwork and communication under stress; focus on patients and clients.
• Must be able to lift or move 40 lbs; 18+ years old; weekends/holidays as needed.

Responsibilities

• Direct workflow and advise owners in person or by phone on appointments and care.
• Perform veterinary technical skills efficiently with little supervision.
• Assess patient status, review plans, and document treatments.
• Explain treatments, medications, and disease processes to clients.
• Give IM, IV, and SQ injections; obtain blood samples; place IV catheters.
• Monitor vital parameters and report abnormalities to the doctor.
• Handle radiographs, in-house labs, and basic diagnostic tests.
• Maintain clean, organized department spaces and equipment.

Skills

Client service

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork under stress

Independent decision making

Willingness to learn

Education

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

Position Title: Veterinary Technician

Job Type: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Varies based on hospital

Hourly Rate: Varies based on hospital and experience

Are you looking for an environment to expand your veterinary nursing skills while working with a supportive team of RVT’s, Veterinary Assistants and Doctors? Adobe is unlike any other hospital for many reasons, and one of them is our Open Hospital policy. Our Open Hospital allows our clients to stay with their pet throughout their visit and provides a unique learning experience that enhances technician skills as well as client interaction and education.

Our hospital is fast‑paced, handling a mix of scheduled appointments, elective soft‑tissue surgeries, dental procedures and critical care. Outpatient Team Members are responsible for all outpatient care and procedures. The technician will manage scheduled, wellness and urgent care appointments and any associated care, requiring experience and excellent critical thinking.

Position requires a detail‑oriented person who can make good decisions, respond calmly to crises and maintain high patient‑care standards. Clear communication with veterinarians, staff and clients is essential. Enjoy working with people and animals.

This position requires at least one weekend shift (Saturday or Sunday) per week and two holiday shifts per year.

Shifts: Day

Position Location: Los Gatos home base; travel to Los Altos Hospital when needed

Veterinary Nursing Responsibilities

• Able to direct workflow and provide advice to owners in person or over the phone, relay phone messages to doctors and clients of scheduled, technician and urgent care appointments, and any patient care needed.
• Able to perform veterinary technical skills efficiently, accurately, and with little supervision.
• Assess patient care status, review patient plan, perform treatments according to the veterinarian’s orders and document as necessary.
• Interact with clients and patients, take an efficient and accurate history, obtain patient vitals, explain treatments, procedures, medications, and disease processes.
• Give IM, IV, and SQ injections; obtain blood samples from multiple sites.
• Place IV catheter.
• Understand vital parameters (HR, RR, MM/CRT), accurately obtain them, and know when abnormalities need reporting to the doctor.
• Understand common disease processes and use appropriate medical terminology.
• Familiarity with common medications, their applications, standard doses, contraindications, accurately calculate dosages, and administer medications.
• Monitor, assess, and treat critical care patients; update the doctor and client on patient status; place IV catheters.
• Perform radiographs and evaluate proper positioning and exposure; adhere to all safety standards.
• Monitor sedated or anesthetized patients.
• Use common diagnostic equipment and perform in‑house lab tests including blood smears, PCV/TP, BG, skin/ear cytology, and ELISA snap tests.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization through the department including rooms, treatment area, cages and runs.

Learning & Leadership

• Assist in training new technicians as needed.
• Provide staff leadership for tasks in a professional and personable way.
• Promote a positive attitude and demonstrate a commitment to the mission/vision.
• Willingness to train and share skills and knowledge.
• A thirst for knowledge obtained formally and informally.
• Strong work ethic, flexible, and demonstrates high integrity.
• Initiative: assess and initiate action to resolve or improve a situation independently.
• Make suggestions for how to improve practice protocols.

Essential Qualifications

• A Registered Veterinary Technician or field‑trained assistant with 1‑2 years or more of experience (RVT license preferred but not required with extensive prior experience).
• Offer genuine client service and maintain a professional, courteous, and helpful attitude.
• Strong dedication and commitment to quality care.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills (written and oral) and incredible attention to detail.
• Must be able to make independent thoughtful decisions and solve complex problems.
• Ability to maintain excellent teamwork and communication skills under stressful situations, working toward a common goal of helping patients and clients.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
• A willingness and ability to proactively jump in wherever help is needed and an interest in innovative ideas to improve things for the team, clients, and patients.
• High school diploma or equivalent and 18 years of age or older.
• Must be able to lift or move 40 lbs independently.
• Ability to walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, and feel using hands and arms on a regular and consistent basis, sitting and standing for extended periods of time.
• Must be available to work weekends and holidays as needed.
• Open to working at Los Altos Animal Hospital when needed.
• Background check when hired.

Wages & Differentials

Base Wage: $24–$42, dependent on experience.

• Base wages are determined by the skills you know on the Adobe competency skills list.
• During the interview process we will ask you to review our competency list and complete a self‑evaluation to assess your current Veterinary Technician skill level.
• Differentials — additional pay that can be added onto your base wage for specific skills, projects, or shifts.
• 40‑Hour Work Week: $2.25 per hour.
• Weekend: $3 per hour.
• RVT License: $6 per hour.
• VTS Certification: $10 per hour.

Benefits

• Health benefits, dental, vision & more.
• Paid sick, vacation & holiday time.
• 401k benefits.
• Discounted veterinary services.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Continuing education for professional development.

It is the policy of Adobe Animal Hospitals to afford equal opportunities for all qualified persons, regardless of their actual or perceived: race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and expression), age (40 and over), sexual orientation, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, and any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law (sometimes referred to, collectively, as “protected characteristics”).