Veterinary Assistant, Surgery

Ethos Veterinary Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health’s SAGE San Francisco hospital is seeking a Senior Veterinary Assistant to join the Surgery team. Work alongside board-certified surgeons, RVTs, and specialists to provide advanced perioperative care in a high-level specialty setting.

You will support anesthesia monitoring, surgical prep, and patient care across complex cases, with opportunities to grow skills in sterile technique, postoperative recovery, and client communication in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous hands-on veterinary clinical experience; veterinary surgery or specialty hospital experience highly preferred.
• Strong veterinary anesthesia monitoring skills and understanding of anesthetic patient safety.
• Strong technical skills and experience supporting surgical and hospitalized patients.
• Ability to accurately perform medication, fluid, invoice, and treatment-estimate calculations.
• Excellent communication, organization, critical-thinking, and client service skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients, surgical suites, equipment, and instruments for specialty surgical procedures.
• Assist with surgical prep, sterile technique, and procedures while maintaining a safe surgical environment.
• Monitor anesthesia and patient vital signs throughout procedures and recovery.
• Perform technical skills including patient restraint, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, fluid therapy, and medication administration within the scope of the role.
• Monitor hospitalized and post-operative patients and promptly communicate changes in patient status.
• Assist with outpatient diagnostics and obtain thorough patient histories.
• Maintain accurate treatment sheets, anesthesia records, and electronic medical records.
• Clean, sterilize, organize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
• Provide compassionate client communication, discharge education, and post-operative care instructions.

Skills

Anesthesia monitoring

Surgical assisting

Technical skills

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Senior Veterinary Assistant – Surgery

Up to $37/hr (DOE) + $6,000 Sign-On Bonus
$5.50/hour Shift Differential for hours worked between 6:00 PM–6:00 AM
Full-time opportunity in San Francisco, California
Schedule: Four 10-hour shifts | Schedule flexibility required

Advance your surgical veterinary career at SAGE San Francisco. We are seeking an experienced Senior Veterinary Assistant to join our Surgery team, working alongside board-certified veterinary surgeons, Registered Veterinary Technicians, and specialty professionals to provide advanced surgical and perioperative patient care.

This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned Veterinary Assistant with strong anesthesia, surgical assisting, and technical skills who wants to continue growing within specialty veterinary medicine.

Why Join SAGE San Francisco

SAGE San Francisco is a premier specialty and emergency veterinary hospital providing advanced patient care through a collaborative team of board-certified specialists, emergency veterinarians, RVTs, Veterinary Assistants, and support professionals.

As part of our Surgery team, you'll gain hands-on experience with complex surgical cases while strengthening your skills in anesthesia monitoring, surgical preparation, sterile technique, hospitalized patient care, and post-operative recovery.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Prepare patients, surgical suites, equipment, and instruments for specialty surgical procedures.
• Assist with surgical prep, sterile technique, and procedures while maintaining a safe surgical environment.
• Monitor anesthesia and patient vital signs throughout procedures and recovery.
• Perform technical skills including patient restraint, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, fluid therapy, and medication administration within the scope of the role.
• Monitor hospitalized and post-operative patients and promptly communicate changes in patient status.
• Assist with outpatient diagnostics and obtain thorough patient histories.
• Maintain accurate treatment sheets, anesthesia records, and electronic medical records.
• Clean, sterilize, organize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
• Provide compassionate client communication, discharge education, and post-operative care instructions.
• Collaborate with surgeons, RVTs, Veterinary Assistants, and other specialty teams to maintain efficient patient and surgical workflow.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous hands-on veterinary clinical experience; veterinary surgery or specialty hospital experience highly preferred.
• Strong veterinary anesthesia monitoring skills and understanding of anesthetic patient safety.
• Strong technical skills and experience supporting surgical and hospitalized patients.
• Ability to accurately perform medication, fluid, invoice, and treatment-estimate calculations.
• Excellent communication, organization, critical-thinking, and client service skills.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and attention to detail in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• Collaborative mindset with a commitment to exceptional patient care and continued professional development.

Compensation & Schedule

• Up to $37.00/hour, based on experience and technical skill set
• $6,000 Sign-On Bonus
• $5.50/hour shift differential for eligible hours worked between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM
• Full-time, four 10-hour shifts
• Schedule flexibility required

Perks & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and 401(k)
• Vacation and sick time accrual
• Competitive annual Continuing Education (CE) allowance
• VetBloom access with RACE-approved continuing education and training
• Eligible continuing education and coursework reimbursement
• Career milestone bonuses for earning your RVT or Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) credential
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Uniforms provided
• Career growth and advancement opportunities throughout Ethos Veterinary Health

Location Highlight

Located in San Francisco, SAGE offers the opportunity to build your specialty veterinary career in one of Northern California's leading veterinary markets. Our hospital is accessible to candidates commuting from Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica, San Mateo, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and surrounding Bay Area communities.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class veterinary medicine and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary professionals in hospitals designed for learning, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow clinically, professionally, and personally.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.