Veterinary Assistant (Floater)

Auburn University; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine seeks a Veterinary Assistant (Floater) to support patient care in the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital, with flexibility to assist Medicine and Surgery services and other areas based on patient demand.

The role involves direct contact with animals and requires adherence to CDC rabies vaccination guidelines; Auburn will cover vaccination series and titer checks as needed.

Qualifications

• Level II requires a high school diploma plus 2 years of professional experience in the care and comfort of animals.
• Level III requires a high school diploma plus 4 years of professional experience in the care and comfort of animals; experience must include at least 2 years at the preceding level or equivalent.
• Substitutions allowed for Education: related work experience may be accepted in lieu of education (2 years of experience for each year of required education).
• Substitutions allowed for Experience: degrees may be accepted in lieu of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional care to patients and compassion to clients of the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
• Work efficiently both individually and with team-members in a fast-paced environment.
• Support multiple specialty services and assist with inpatient and emergency services as needed.
• Obtain thorough patient histories from clients and relay information to clinicians; record in the EMR.
• Proficiency in small animal restraint techniques and venipuncture; assist with sedation plans and recovery.
• Assist senior veterinary students with specialized tasks and training.
• Operate and maintain equipment; inventory, ordering, stocking; clean and disinfect clinic areas; handle waste properly.
• Administer IV, subcutaneous, and oral medications per protocols.
• Assist in billing or related tasks as needed.

Education

High School diploma + 2 years professional experience in care and comfort of animals

High School diploma + 4 years professional experience in care and comfort of animals

Job description

Overview

The College of Veterinary Medicine seeks a Veterinary Assistant (Floater) that will assist with patient care within the Medicine and Surgery sections in the Small Animal Hospital. In addition, the individual selected for this position will assist other services as needed based on patient demands, and float in the Medicine/Surgery service area to assist with patient care and client needs.

Learn more about VET MED and take a campus tour here: https://www.auburnvetmed.com/

This position involves direct contact with animals susceptible to rabies. Employees in this role must complete a rabies pre-exposure vaccination series and maintain adequate rabies antibody titer (≥0.5 IU/mL) as recommended by CDC guidelines. Auburn University will cover the cost of the rabies vaccination series, periodic titer checks, and any necessary boosters.

Responsibilities

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Providing exceptional care to patients and compassion to clients of the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively individually as well as with team-members in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment
• Support multiple specialty services and may be called upon to assist with inpatient and emergency services as needed
• Communicating with clients to obtain thorough patient histories; providing accurate and relevant information about patients to attending clinicians and veterinary students; recording important information into patient’s electronic medical record
• Proficiency in small animal restraint techniques to promote the safety of patients and personnel; obtaining laboratory samples via phlebotomy, fine needle aspiration, or other methods; implementation, monitoring, and recovery of patients prescribed sedation plans
• Teaching, coaching, and assisting senior veterinary students with specialized technical tasks
• Operating and maintaining equipment; inventorying, ordering, and stocking supplies; cleaning and disinfecting clinic area according to hospital protocols and standards; appropriate handling of medical/biological/infectious/hazardous waste
• Administering intravenous, subcutaneous, and oral medications to patients via prescribed protocols
• May be responsible for, or assist in, billing clients, inputting charges, and/or similar tasks

Qualifications

Depending upon the combination of education and experience, the qualified candidate will be selected as Veterinary Assistant and assigned Levels II or III.

Level II: Requires a high school diploma plus 2 years of professional experience in the care and comfort of animals.

Level III: Requires a high school diploma plus 4 years of professional experience in the care and comfort of animals. Experience must include at least 2 years at the preceding level or equivalent.

Substitutions allowed for Education: Related work experience may be accepted in lieu of education (2 years of experience for each year of required education).

Substitutions allowed for Experience: Degrees may be accepted in lieu of experience.

Contract Type

Continuing

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Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.

Posted Date

8/13/2026