Veterinary Assistant, Surgery

Ethos Veterinary Health; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

CE allowance

VetBloom access

Career development

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health is seeking a Surgical Veterinary Assistant in Santa Barbara, CA to support surgical preparation, patient care, sterilization, and post-operative recovery on a fast-paced team. You will work alongside board-certified surgeons and RVTs, contributing to high-quality care in a specialty hospital setting.

The ideal candidate has at least one year of clinical veterinary experience, strong animal handling and communication skills, and a commitment to teamwork.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of clinical veterinary experience; surgery or specialty hospital exposure preferred.
• Strong animal handling and patient care skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, and teamwork.
• California VACSP permit due within 60 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide pre- and post-operative patient care under RVT or veterinarian supervision.
• Prepare patients, surgical suites, and recovery areas per hospital protocols.
• Sterilize, wrap, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
• Maintain clean, stocked surgical and patient care areas.
• Collaborate with surgeons, RVTs, assistants to maintain efficient surgical workflow.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

California VACSP permit within 60 days

Job description

Surgical Veterinary Assistant

Up to $26.00/hour (DOE)
Up to $1,000 Sign-On Bonus
$4.00/hr differential for any hours worked between 6pm-6am
$2.00/hr weekend differential
Full-time opportunity in Santa Barbara, California
Schedule: Full-time | Weekend & holiday flexibility required

Build your career in specialty veterinary medicine with the Surgery team at Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS). As a Surgical Veterinary Assistant, you'll work alongside board-certified veterinary surgeons, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), and experienced veterinary professionals supporting surgical preparation, patient care, sterilization, and post-operative recovery.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Veterinary Assistant looking to develop their surgical and specialty medicine skills in a collaborative, fast-paced veterinary hospital.

Why Join Advanced Veterinary Specialists

Advanced Veterinary Specialists is home to board-certified specialists in Surgery, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Dentistry, alongside a highly skilled Emergency & Critical Care team.

AVS is accredited by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) as a Level II Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Facility—one of only two in California to hold this distinction.

You'll gain hands-on experience with specialty surgery while working in an environment focused on mentorship, continuing education, teamwork, and career development.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Provide compassionate pre-operative and post-operative patient care, including handling, restraint, positioning, transport, and monitoring under the direction of an RVT or veterinarian.
• Prepare patients, surgical suites, and recovery areas, including shaving, scrubbing, and surgical preparation according to hospital protocols.
• Clean, wrap, sterilize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment using autoclaves and gas sterilizers.
• Maintain clean, organized, and well-stocked surgical, prep, and patient care areas.
• Manage proper labeling, storage, and inventory of surgical instruments, equipment, and medical supplies.
• Collaborate with veterinary surgeons, RVTs, Veterinary Assistants, and support teams to maintain efficient surgical workflow and exceptional patient care.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of clinical veterinary experience; veterinary surgery or specialty hospital experience preferred.
• Strong animal handling, patient restraint, and veterinary patient care skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, attention to detail, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and work efficiently in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• California Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP) required within 60 days of hire.

Perks & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 401(k), and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Three weeks of accrued paid time off and uniforms
• Annual Veterinary Assistant and RVT Continuing Education (CE) allowance
• VetBloom access with RACE-approved continuing education, training, and curriculum
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities within Ethos Veterinary Health

Location Highlight

Build your veterinary career in beautiful Santa Barbara, with access to beaches, mountains, hiking, dining, and year-round outdoor recreation. AVS is accessible to veterinary professionals throughout Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland, Ventura, Oxnard, and surrounding Central Coast 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 more than 140 specialty and emergency veterinary 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.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and help advance veterinary medicine—together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.