Veterinary Medical Assistant/Technician

Paycom - ATS; Encinitas (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Rancho Coastal Humane Society is seeking a hands-on Veterinary Medical Assistant to support daily medical operations, animal handling, treatment preparation, and documentation in a busy shelter setting. The role requires reliable team collaboration and the ability to switch between clinical tasks and routine animal care as priorities change.

Strong candidates have experience in veterinary or shelter environments; RVT credentials are preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Experience in veterinary hospital, animal shelter, kennel, or hands-on animal-care environment.
• Ability to follow protocols, maintain records, and communicate clearly in a team setting.
• Commitment to humane treatment, safety, and the mission of the shelter.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinary and medical team with examinations, treatments, and surgery preparation.
• Provide daily animal care including handling, feeding, cleaning, and enrichment.
• Prepare, clean, restock, and organize treatment, surgery, recovery, kennel areas.
• Monitor animals and report changes in condition or recovery to the clinical team.
• Complete opening/closing tasks and ensure proper care before leaving.
• Maintain accurate records and follow medication, safety, and infection-control procedures.
• Coordinate with Medical, Animal Care, Adoption, and other shelter teams.

Skills

Animal handling

Clinical support

Documentation

Communication

Surgery preparation

Safety awareness

Education

RVT license

Job description

The Veterinary Medical Assistant supports the daily operation of Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s Medical department by helping animals receive timely, consistent, and compassionate care. This is a hands-on shelter medicine role for someone who understands that excellent medical support includes animal handling, treatment and surgical preparation, cleaning, feeding, stocking, documentation, communication, and dependable follow-through.The strongest candidate will be comfortable moving between clinical support and essential animal-care tasks as priorities change throughout the day. Registered Veterinary Technician credentials are strongly preferred but are not required. Relevant veterinary assistant, EMT, kennel, shelter, or high-volume animal-care experience will be considered.ResponsibilitiesAssist the veterinary and medical team with examinations, treatments, procedures, surgery preparation, recovery, and other duties within the employee’s training and legal scope of practice.Provide daily animal care, including safe handling, feeding, cleaning, sanitation, comfort, observation, and enrichment as assigned.Prepare, clean, disinfect, organize, and restock treatment, surgery, recovery, kennel, and shared work areas.Monitor animals and promptly communicate changes in condition, behavior, appetite, comfort, or recovery to the appropriate clinical team member.Complete assigned opening, closing, and daily task lists and confirm that animals and work areas are appropriately cared for before leaving.Maintain accurate, timely records and follow medication, treatment, controlled-substance, safety, and infection-control procedures.Coordinate respectfully with Medical, Animal Care, Adoption, and other shelter teams to prevent missed or duplicated work.Support changing daily priorities, including high-volume periods, urgent cases, and routine work between procedures.Perform other related duties that support animal health, welfare, and effective department operations.Work environmentThis position works in an active animal shelter and medical environment with regular exposure to animals, cleaning and disinfecting products, animal waste, odors, noise, allergens, and the possibility of bites or scratches. The employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, bend, reach, kneel, perform repetitive cleaning and animal-care tasks, and safely handle or assist with animals and equipment.Experience in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, kennel, emergency-response setting, or comparable hands-on care environment.RVT license strongly preferred; candidates with veterinary assistant, EMT, shelter, or substantial kennel experience are encouraged to apply.Understanding of professional boundaries and ability to work within the scope permitted by training, supervision, and applicable law.Reliable attendance, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to complete both clinical-support and routine animal-care work.Clear, direct, and respectful communication in a busy team environment.Ability to follow written protocols, recognize concerns, ask questions, and escalate appropriately.Commitment to humane treatment, teamwork, safety, and the mission of Rancho Coastal Humane Society.