Veterinary Assistant III

Humane Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with matching

Flexible spending accounts

Life and short-term disability

Paid Time Off

Paid sick time

Sabbatical

Holiday pay

Employee discounts

Discounted pet insurance

Job summary

AWAC in Denver, CO, seeks a Veterinary Assistant III to support veterinarians in urgent care, surgery, vaccines, and wellness services. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, train staff, and contribute to patient safety and efficient operations in a fast-paced, community-focused setting.

The role emphasizes advanced clinical skills, compassionate client service, and leadership in daily clinical workflow while adhering to protocols and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Advanced veterinary patient care and anesthesia monitoring knowledge.
• Ability to safely and consistently perform clinical skills.
• Strong communication with clients and staff.
• Ability to train and mentor others.
• Commitment to serving communities with barriers to care.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for surgery and maintain anesthesia under vet direction.
• Administer vaccines, medications, and fluids as prescribed.
• Maintain records and logs for anesthesia and medications.
• Support daily clinical workflow and patient safety.
• Provide first-line client service from check-in to discharge.
• Assist with inventory management and equipment upkeep.

Skills

Veterinary care experience

Surgical anesthesia monitoring

Education

Associate's degree in veterinary technology

Job description

Purpose of Position

The Veterinary Assistant III is an advanced, highly skilled member of the veterinary medical team who performs technician-level patient care based on demonstrated training and competency but does not hold an active veterinary technician credential. This position supports veterinarians in delivering high-quality, accessible, and affordable care through urgent care, surgery, dentistry, vaccine, and wellness services.

Working directly with community members and their pets, Veterinary Assistant III combines strong clinical judgment, technical skill, compassionate client communication, and efficient workflow coordination. This role serves as a hands-on clinical resource for the team, helps train and mentor staff and volunteers, and contributes to continuous improvement in patient safety, quality, and operations. All duties are performed at the direction of a veterinarian, within the employee’s demonstrated competencies, and in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and protocols.

Responsibilities include

Surgery & Anesthesia

• Prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures, including pre-operative assessment support, catheter placement, medication administration as directed, clipping, scrubbing, positioning, and equipment setup.
• Induce and maintain anesthesia, intubate patients, monitor physiologic parameters, and document anesthesia and recovery information under veterinarian direction and within demonstrated competency.
• Recognize changes in patient status, respond according to established protocols, and promptly communicate concerns or complications to the veterinarian.
• Provide appropriate post-operative monitoring and nursing care through recovery and discharge.
• Assist veterinarians with high-volume spay/neuter, dentistry, urgent and non-elective procedures, and other medical or surgical services.
• Maintain accurate surgery logs, anesthesia records, controlled-drug documentation, and other required medical records.
• Safely operate, troubleshoot, clean, and maintain anesthesia machines, monitoring equipment, dental equipment, surgical instruments, and other medical equipment.
• Help coordinate daily surgical workflow to support efficiency while maintaining high standards of patient care and safety.
• Ensure surgery, dentistry, treatment, recovery, and instrument areas are appropriately prepared, stocked, cleaned, and maintained.

Clinical Patient Care

• Perform medical treatments, diagnostics, sample collection, and other clinical procedures at the direction of the veterinarian and within demonstrated competency.
• Administer medications, vaccines, fluids, treatments, and other therapies as prescribed or directed by the veterinarian.
• Use appropriate animal handling and restraint techniques to protect the safety and well-being of patients, clients, and staff.
• Accurately fill prescriptions, maintain required medication and drug logs, and review administration instructions with clients as directed.
• Maintain complete, timely, and accurate client and patient records in the hospital software system.
• Perform patient call-backs and communicate follow-up information according to veterinarian instructions and hospital protocols.
• Clean, disinfect, and maintain treatment, surgery, dentistry, kennel, and other clinical areas according to established infection-control and safety protocols.
• Assist with inventory management by stocking supplies, rotating products, monitoring inventory levels, and identifying expired or soon-to-expire items.
• Maintain working knowledge of current veterinary practices, equipment, medications, protocols, and safety procedures.
• Cross-train across Community Veterinary Services and provide clinical support in urgent care, surgery, dentistry, vaccine, wellness, and other programs as assigned.

Client and Community Care

• Provide first-line, exceptional service to clients and community members from check-in through discharge.
• Communicate medical consents, treatment plans, preventive care recommendations, discharge instructions, medications, and follow-up needs clearly and compassionately, as directed by the veterinarian.
• Recognize that clients may face financial, logistical, language, or other barriers to veterinary care and approach each interaction with empathy, respect, and without judgment.
• Maintain a calm, professional, and courteous demeanor in challenging, emotional, or fast-paced situations.
• Collaborate with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, client service representatives, volunteers, and other organizational partners to create a coordinated client and patient experience.

Leadership and Training

• Serve as an advanced clinical resource and model safe, efficient, compassionate patient care.
• Help lead daily clinical workflow, anticipate team and patient needs, and identify barriers that may affect quality, safety, or efficiency.
• Assist with onboarding, hands‑on training, competency development, and mentoring of veterinary assistants, volunteers, students, and other team members.
• Share clinical knowledge, best practices, and problem‑solving strategies while appropriately escalating medical decisions to a veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician.
• Contribute to and lead initiatives that improve clinical processes, patient safety, client experience, team communication, and operational efficiency.
• Support a positive, collaborative, accountable, and learning-focused team environment.

Colorado State University (CSU) Spur Education and On‑View Responsibilities

• Communicate accurately and professionally with varied audiences about veterinary work being performed in real time within an on‑view educational environment.
• Partner with CSU Spur education facilitators to support accurate, engaging educational content and positive visitor experiences.
• Support the technical equipment used for the CSU Spur educational partnership and promptly alert management to operational concerns.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Job Knowledge
• Excellence
• Adapting to Change / Agility
• Dependability
• People Care

Position Core Competencies

• Advanced Clinical Skill and Judgment
• Attention to Detail
• Planning and Prioritization
• Problem Solving
• Communication and Influence
• Accountability
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Continuous Learning and Professional Development
• Compassionate Client Service

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

No direct employee supervision. May provide day-to-day guidance, training, and task coordination for veterinary assistants, volunteers, students, and other team members as assigned.

Travel

This position may require travel to different work sites

Shift Details

Four 10-hour shifts, weekend day (Saturday) may be required

Full-Time Benefits

Full-Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical
• Holiday Pay
• Employee discounts
• Discounted Pet Insurance
• and more!

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care. Frequent lifting of animals and objects up to 40 pounds with reasonable accommodation.

Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.

Requirements:

Position Qualifications

Advanced working knowledge of veterinary patient care, anesthesia monitoring, surgery, dentistry, clinical treatments, equipment, medications, and medical documentation.

Demonstrated ability to safely and consistently perform assigned clinical skills based on training and documented competency.

Ability to recognize changes in patient condition, respond within established protocols, and promptly elevate medical concerns.

Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Demonstrated success providing compassionate customer service in challenging or emotionally charged situations.

Ability to organize and prioritize work in a fast-paced, high-volume clinical environment while maintaining attention to detail.

Ability to train, mentor, and support the development of others without exceeding the authority of the role.

Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative veterinary team.

Strong commitment to serving communities experiencing barriers to veterinary care with respect, empathy, and compassion.

Required

• Education: Associate’s degree in veterinary technology or equivalent experience
• Work Experience: Completion of a veterinary technician internship or comparable experience

Desired

• Experience in high-volume spay/neuter, anesthesia, dentistry, urgent care, wellness, or community veterinary medicine.
• Experience training or mentoring veterinary assistants, volunteers, or students.
• Experience working with diverse communities or clients experiencing barriers to care.
• Experience with veterinary practice management software.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.

Compensation: $25.47 – $27.38 per hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)