Veterinary Technician - Specialty Surgical Lead

COVE Animal Health; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive paid time off & holidays

Career Growth & Training Opportunities

Comprehensive medical, dental, and.##

Job summary

Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center in Middletown, CT is seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician to serve as Surgery Department Lead. This clinical shift leader role combines advanced anesthesia expertise with operational mentorship to guide daily surgical workflow and peri-anesthetic care.

You will collaborate with surgeons and anesthesiologists, mentor junior staff, reinforce SOPs, coordinate case flow, and help ensure the highest standard of patient care in a busy specialty hospital.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a veterinary surgery unit and staff.
• Strong knowledge of anesthesia protocols and analgesia.
• Ability to mentor junior technicians and support teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily surgical workflow and peri-anesthetic care.
• Collaborate with board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists.
• Mentor technicians; uphold SOPs and case flow.
• Ensure patient safety and high-quality care.

Skills

Leadership

Veterinary Tech

Anesthesia

Pain management

Mentorship

Communication

Education

Veterinary Technician degree

Job description

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Veterinary Technician - Specialty Surgical Lead

Description:
Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center located in Middletown, CT, a VECCS Level 1 Certified Hospital is seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician – Specialty Surgical Lead to lead our Surgery Department in a fast-paced specialty hospital environment.

We are looking for a proven leader with a strong background in specialty medicine, excels under pressure, and is passionate about advancing patient safety, pain management, and team excellence through evidence-based anesthesia protocols and compassionate, accountable leadership

Our vision is simple, we aspire to create a healthier, happier community for both the animals we care for and the people who love them. If you have a background in veterinary medicine and possess the leadership skills to guide and support a growing, dedicated hospital team, we would love to hear from you!

What to Expect:

• Commitment to Continuing Education: We want to retain and develop our talent to the best of our ability. You can expect numerous in-house CE opportunities, and any mentoring available to support and achieve your career goals!
• Career Advancement: We pride ourselves on recognizing top talent and strong work ethic and if you demonstrate those things, you can expect to be promoted.
• Environment of Belonging: With so many specialties at your fingertips, it's easy to find where you fit. We also promote an environment of inclusivity so that everyone feels welcome.
• Environment of Collaboration: Our VECCS Level 1 Certified Hospital includes specialists in Emergency & Critical Care, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Oncology, Surgery, and Exotics and a full staff of experienced Emergency and Primary Care Veterinarians. With the support of their technicians, assistants, and liaisons the hospital teams work closely together to deliver the highest quality of care.

About you:

We are seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician to serve as our Surgery Department Lead, a clinical shift leader who combines advanced expertise in specialty anesthesia and multimodal analgesia with strong operational and mentorship responsibilities. In this role, you will lead daily surgical workflow while personally managing the peri-anesthetic care of complex patients—including pre-operative risk stratification, advanced patient monitoring (capnography, invasive blood pressure, ECG, and pulse oximetry), precise drug calculation and administration, and the execution of epidurals, regional nerve blocks, and constant rate infusions (CRIs) to optimize pain control.

You will collaborate with board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists to anticipate complications, troubleshoot equipment, and adjust anesthetic plans in real-time, while simultaneously mentoring and developing junior technicians and assistants, reinforcing SOPs, coordinating case flow, and ensuring operational readiness across the surgery service.

• Accountability and integrity
• Professionalism and respect
• Effective communication
• Clinical excellence
• Adaptability and sound judgment
• Commitment to exceptional patient and client care

Team Leadership and Staff Development:

• Providing day-to-day guidance and mentorship.
• Communicating expectations clearly and consistently.
• Supporting onboarding, competency training, and technical development.
• Assisting with interviews, working interviews, hiring recommendations, onboarding, and orientation of new employees.
• Assisting with introductory evaluations, performance documentation, and annual review input in collaboration with the Surgery Supervisor.
• Reinforce SOPs and hospital policies.
• Escalate performance concerns to the Supervisor.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and professionalism

Anticipated Schedule:
This is a full-time position:
4- or 5-day schedule with a rotating Saturday shift:
Tuesday-Friday - 10-hour shifts
Tuesday - Saturday - 8-hour shifts
Holidays are required.

Compensation:
$25.50-$31.00 an hour depending on experience and education.

What's in it for you?

• Supportive culture with social events & team building
• Competitive paid time off & holidays
• Career Growth & Training Opportunities
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Mental Health Focused Services
• A Safe Harbor 401K with up to a 4% match and immediate vesting
• A generous employee pet care discount
• Annual uniform allowance

We know it's not always easy to make a move. We treat all interviews as confidential and if a casual chat is more your style, we can do that too! We genuinely love what we do and the people we work with!

Requirements:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and leadership experience may be considered.
• Previous leadership experience preferred.
• Veterinary hospital experience is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities as operational needs require.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Veterinary technical proficiency.
• Ability to coach others professionally.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Computer proficiency.
• Commitment to compassionate patient and client care.