Veterinary Assistant -Shift Lead, Daytime, ER

Animal Emergency of South Orange County; Mission Viejo (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Animal Emergency of South Orange County is seeking an experienced Shift Lead (Veterinary ER) to join our 24/7 emergency team. The role combines advanced ER skills with frontline shift leadership to guide hospital flow and ensure top-quality patient care during emergencies.

Ideal candidates have ER/urgent care experience, a California RVT license (a plus), and a proven ability to mentor others while driving hospital improvements.

Qualifications

• Active California RVT license a plus.
• Minimum 2+ years veterinary ER/urgent care experience.
• Prior leadership, mentorship, or charge experience preferred.
• Must demonstrate strong triage awareness and emergency workflow.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary shift lead and key holder.
• Manage hospital flow during high-volume emergencies.
• Mentor technicians and assistants on shift.
• Prioritize incoming emergencies and patient care.
• Maintain accurate treatment records.
• Support protocols and hospital improvements.
• Collaborate with veterinarians during procedures.
• Ensure patient safety and quality care overnight.

Skills

Leadership

Triage & ER workflow

Communication

Mentorship

Team leadership

ER veterinary experience

Medical math

Overnight work

Education

Certified RVT

Tools

IV catheter placement

In-house diagnostics

Radiographs support

Emergency monitoring equipment

Job description

Description

Shift Lead(Veterinary ER)

Animal Emergency of South Orange County

(Previously Animal Urgent Care of South Orange County)

Animal EmergencyofSouth Orange County is a fully equipped 24/7 emergency and urgent care hospital, open nights, weekends, and holidays to provide critical carewhen it’sneeded most. We treat dogs, cats, and provide supportive care to exotics, andwe’reproud to partner with local Animal Services toassistin the care of local wildlife in need of medical attention.

We are offering up to a $2,500 Sign-On Bonus for qualified RVT candidates.

Shifts needed*:

Shifts: 3x13 (2x30 min lunches)

Thursday & Friday 7a - 8p

Saturday 9a to 10p

Job Description:

Va/RVT Shift Lead (Veterinary ER)

Animal Emergency of South Orange County (Previously Animal Urgent Care of South Orange County)

Who We Are

As part of the Thrive Pet Healthcare network,we’rebacked by a national community that values continuous learning, medical excellence, and career growth.

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all team members, pet parents, and pets. We strive to create a diverse,equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members belong and feel empowered.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Veterinary assistant or RVT (Veterinary ER)ShiftLeadto join our 24/7 emergency team.This role combines advanced ER technical skills with frontline shift leadership responsibilities.

The Shift Lead serves as the primary key holder and support leader for the shift, helping guide hospital flow, support team communication, andmaintainhigh standardsof patient care during emergency operations. This role is ideal for an experienced Va or RVT who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates strong leadership qualities, and is passionate about mentoring others and improving hospital operations.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary shift lead and key holder during assigned shifts
• Help navigate hospital and treatment floor flow during high-volume and critical cases
• Support team coordination, communication, and task delegation throughout the shift
• Assist with real-time prioritization of incoming emergencies and hospitalized patients
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to technicians and assistants on shift
• Escalate operational concerns appropriately and communicate updates to leadership
• Promote a positive, accountable, and team-focused culture overnight
• Attend monthly Shift Lead meetings focused on hospital improvement, workflow development, communication initiatives, and team growth
• Support implementation of hospital protocols, training initiatives, and workflow improvements

Technical Responsibilities

• Support triage, patient flow, and treatment prioritization
• Assist veterinarians in emergency procedures, diagnostics, surgery, and stabilization
• Manage hospitalized patient care including IV fluids, medication administration, CRI setup, and monitoring
• Recognize abnormal patient trends and elevate appropriately
• Assist and monitor during procedures, surgery, and endoscopy
• Perform IV catheter placement, blood draws, diagnostic sampling, and in-house lab testing
• Obtain and monitor vitals including blood pressure and anesthesia monitoring
• Maintain accurate treatment sheets and medical records
• Maintain clean, organized treatment and hospital areas
• Maintain professionalism and composure during high-volume emergency situations

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Active California RVT license a plus
• Minimum2+ years veterinary experience (ER/Urgent Care strongly preferred)
• Prior leadership, mentorship, or charge/lead experience preferred
• Must function at a DarkBlue Badge to Maroon Badge competency level(Testing provided), including:

• Strong triage awareness and emergency workflow understanding
• Advanced IV catheter placement and fluid therapy management
• Accurate medical math and drug calculations
• Monitoring critical patients and identifying subtle changes
• Running in-house diagnostics and supporting radiographs
• Advanced restraint and strong technical confidence
• RECOVER CPR knowledge preferred (certification a plus)
• Strong communicationskills, professionalism, leadership presence, and team-first mindset
• Candidates passionate about mentorship, hospital growth, and leadership development are strongly encouraged to apply

Compensation & Differentials

Pay is based on experience and competency level:

$30–$45/hour

Compensation isdeterminedby badge placement testing, completed on-site during the second interview.

Differentials While on Shift

• Overnight Differential: +$2/hr(10pm–8am)
• Weekend Differential: +$3/hr(Fri 6pm–Mon 8am)
• Differentials stack

Sign-On Bonus

Up to $2,500 for qualified candidates.