Veterinary Technician - Surgery

Veterinary-Care-and-Specialty-Group; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pet care discount

Employee assistance program

Shift differentials for nights/weekend

Job summary

Veterinary Care & Specialty Group in Chattanooga seeks an experienced Veterinary Technician for our Surgical Team. You’ll support surgeons and specialists, monitor patients during procedures, and assist with sample handling while educating families who love their pets.

The ideal candidate has orthopedic/soft tissue surgery knowledge, strong aseptic skills, and is comfortable in a fast-paced, high‑stress environment. This role offers a collaborative hospital setting with growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery specific knowledge.
• Proficiency in anesthesia and aseptic techniques.
• Familiarity with setting up operating rooms and procedure specific equipment.
• Skilled in identifying, cleaning, sterilization, and organization of surgical instruments.
• Strong understanding of sterile techniques and sample handling for cultures, biopsy's, cytology's, etc
• Proficient in identifying anesthetic problems before they become critical/emergent
• Venipuncture and IV catheter placement
• Anesthesia and sedation monitoring
• Medication calculations and administration (IV, IM, SQ, oral)
• Safe handling and restraint of dogs and cats, including fractious patients
• Excellent communication skills with clients, team members, and veterinarians
• Calm, organized, and proactive in a fast‑paced, high‑stress environment
• Demonstrates strong critical thinking and problem‑solving abilities
• Dependable with excellent‑follow through on cases, attention to detail
• Team oriented - willing to help across other departments

Responsibilities

• Support surgeons, boarded specialists, and technicians to provide the highest standard of care.
• Handle safe patient monitoring during hospital stays, sedations, and anesthesia.
• Assist with obtaining samples for advanced diagnostics and maintaining equipment.
• Educate families and provide compassionate client communication across shifts.

Skills

Surgical anesthesia

Orthopedic/soft tissue surgery

Aseptic technique

Operating room setup

Surgical instruments care

Sterile sample handling

Anesthetic monitoring

Venipuncture/IV catheter

Pain management dosing

Client communication

Calm under pressure

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Credentialed veterinary technician

Job description

Veterinary Care & Specialty Group (VCSG) is Chattanooga’s largest multi-specialty and emergency hospital, where compassionate care meets cutting-edge medicine. At VCSG, we are committed to providing exceptional specialty and emergency care while fostering a supportive and collaborative team environment. We believe that excellence in patient care starts with a workplace where professionals feel valued, empowered, and inspired to grow—because when our team thrives, so do our patients.

Position Description

We are looking for an experienced Veterinary Technician to join our Surgical Team.

We’re looking for someone who loves educating clients and providing compassionate care as much as they love the operating room. Our ideal candidate is knowledgeable about veterinary surgical procedures, organized, attentive to detail and is enthusiastic to be a team player not only with within the surgery department, but with other specialties across the hospital.

As we grow, we’re seeking top-tier technicians who want to make a real impact.

What You Can Expect To Do

As a technician on the Surgery team, you’ll be supporting our surgeons, other boarded specialists, and technicians to provide the highest standard of care to our patients while educating and assisting the families who love them. This is a hands‑on position where you’ll be responsible for safe patient handling, patient monitoring while in hospital and during sedated and anesthetic procedures, obtaining and handling samples for advanced diagnostics, and maintaining specialized equipment.

What You Have

Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery specific knowledge

• Proficiency in anesthesia and aseptic techniques
• Familiarity with setting up operating rooms and procedure specific equipment
• Skilled in identifying, cleaning, sterilization, and organization of surgical instruments
• Strong understanding of sterile techniques and sample handling for cultures, biopsy's, cytology's, etc
• Proficient in identifying anesthetic problems before they become critical/emergent
• Venipuncture and IV catheter placement
• Anesthesia and sedation monitoring
• Medication calculations and administration (IV, IM, SQ, oral)
• Safe handling and restraint of dogs and cats, including fractious patients
• Excellent communication skills with clients, team members, and veterinarians
• Calm, organized, and proactive in a fast‑paced, high‑stress environment
• Demonstrates strong critical thinking and problem‑solving abilities
• Dependable with excellent‑follow through on cases, attention to detail
• Team oriented - willing to help across other departments

Position Requirements

• Credentialed veterinary technicians preferred
• 2-3 years of veterinary technician experience (specialty experience strongly preferred)
• Some holidays and weekends are required for this position.
• Availability for scheduled on‑call shifts

Why You Should Choose Us

Great Location:

Located in the up-and‑coming Southside Neighborhood in Chattanooga at the base of Lookout Mountain. Our hospital is located perfectly next to the beautiful Tennessee River Park and the new baseball stadium opening soon and close to various restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues.

Take the next step in your veterinary career:

We are committed to training and growth, providing you with in‑person didactic, hands on, and virtual learning.

Provide exceptional patient care:

Our hospital was built from the ground up with the highest level of care in mind. You will be using the latest equipment and technology alongside board‑certified specialists across multiple disciplines.

Work in a diverse and supportive environment:

We offer a supportive environment that fosters personal and professional development, along with benefits that prioritize wellness and growth.

• Generous employee pet care discount
• Free Employee Assistance Program with mental health & financial wellness resources
• Competitive hourly pay and shift differentials for nights and weekends
• 120 hours annual paid time off and floating holiday time

Ready to Apply?

Submit your application and cover letter today to join our mission of delivering compassionate, cutting‑edge veterinary care.

VCSG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.