Registered Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Assistant

Position Summary:

Provides high-quality, low-stress, compassionate medical and surgical care to Joybound shelter guests and to animals belonging to members of the public through multiple programs. Working under the supervision of a veterinarian, this role supports high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter surgery (mobile and onsite), non-spay/neuter surgery, examinations, and medical procedures and treatments, and creates and maintains accurate medical records. The position is filled at two levels, Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and Veterinary Assistant (VA). Both levels share the core responsibilities below; certain anesthesia, dental, and euthanasia duties differ by level as permitted by California law and are listed separately.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interact and communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a manner that advances a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound.

Shared Responsibilities (RVT and VA)

• Under the supervision of a veterinarian, provide preventive and basic nursing care, follow treatment protocols, and assist in managing treatment of more urgent medical conditions for shelter guests and client-owned animals.

• Monitor and recover patients under anesthesia for spay/neuter and other surgeries, using high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter techniques and standards.

• Perform diagnostic testing, including imaging, laboratory tests, and in-house diagnostics, on shelter guests and client-owned animals.

• Assist in managing the overall health of the shelter guest population through daily rounds, preventive care, protocols, and general monitoring, and communicate any need for intervention in a timely manner.

• Assist veterinarians in examining, handling, and treating shelter guests and client-owned animals across programs.

• Perform medical intake assessments on shelter guests transferred in for adoption, with direct and indirect veterinary supervision; identify, document, and communicate abnormalities as outlined by protocols or directly to a veterinarian as needed.

• Handle all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion, including animals that are sick, injured, or have behavioral concerns.

• Maintain detailed and accurate patient records across multiple cloud-based software systems, including treatments, protocol implementation, medications, and histories; interpret and summarize medical records to support treatment and preventive care decisions.

• Lead and assist in the admission, assessment, treatment, and release of client-owned animals at the Joybound Veterinary Clinic in a responsive, courteous, and tactful manner; inform clients of pertinent medical information, including proper administration of medications; assist with invoicing and record sharing, and provide medical records to clients’ regular veterinarians as requested.

• Record, fill, and document medications for shelter guests and client-owned animals as prescribed by a veterinarian, and ensure administration instructions are clearly communicated.

• Assist as needed in the maintenance and inventory of the Joybound Veterinary Clinic’s pharmacy, equipment, and supplies.

• Assist Joybound personnel as needed to ensure smooth, courteous handling of the public and their pets.

• Help maintain healthy, safe, sanitary, and clean facilities, both mobile and onsite, for clients, team members, and animals in Joybound’s care.

• Treat people and animals with respect, contribute to effective teamwork, and promote communication and cooperation within the department and across Joybound.

• Maintain the confidentiality of all information.

• Comply with all federal, state, and local safety regulations and laws, as well as Joybound policies and guidelines; follow established safe work practices and perform duties in a manner that ensures the safety of oneself and others.

• Drive Joybound vehicles as assigned by supervisor, following safe driving practices and obeying all traffic laws when driving for Joybound business purposes.

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Responsibilities

In addition to the shared responsibilities above, and under the supervision of a veterinarian as permitted by California law, RVTs will:

• Induce, intubate, monitor, and recover shelter guests and client-owned animals for spay/neuter and other surgeries.

• Lead or assist with dental procedures for shelter guests and client-owned animals, including performing dental extractions and anesthetic monitoring.

• Perform or assist in the compassionate euthanasia of shelter guests who do not meet Joybound’s medical or behavioral adoption criteria according to established matrices, at the direction of the veterinarian, and of client-owned animals as requested.

• Lead the management of treatment for more urgent medical conditions, as directed by the veterinarian.

Veterinary Assistant (VA) Responsibilities

In addition to the shared responsibilities above, and under the supervision of a veterinarian as permitted by California law, VAs will:

• Intubate, monitor, and recover shelter guests and client-owned animals for spay/neuter and other surgeries (anesthetic induction is performed by an RVT or veterinarian).

• Assist with anesthetic monitoring of dental procedures for shelter guests and client-owned animals (dental extractions are performed by an RVT or veterinarian).

• With verifiable euthanasia certification, perform or assist in the compassionate euthanasia of shelter guests who do not meet Joybound’s medical or behavioral adoption criteria according to established matrices, at the direction of the veterinarian, and of client-owned animals as requested.

• Handle controlled substances only as authorized under a valid Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP).

All Positions

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficiency in preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic veterinary treatments of cats and dogs, including but not limited to medical triage, intubation, venipuncture, medication administration, injections (IV, SQ, IM), IV catheter placement, dentals, medication handling, and drug and fluid calculations.

• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn and adhere to, contemporary shelter medicine standards, maintenance techniques, and accepted sanitary practices.

• Knowledge of various breeds and their characteristics, and familiarity with symptoms of diseases common to dogs and cats.

• Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers, and co-workers in a courteous, kind, and tactful manner, and to provide leadership and direction to volunteers with varying levels of experience.

• Well organized, with a strong sense of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to perform duties independently with minimal direct supervision.

• Ability to follow established safe work practices, including wearing protective clothing and/or equipment when necessary; attendance at all designated safety trainings is required.

• Demonstrated good judgment and a professional manner.

• Comfortable and skilled working with diverse staff, volunteers, and community members.

• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.

• Pre-employment background screening required.

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years and must be insured.

• In maintaining a drug-free workplace, Joybound may from time to time ask employees to participate in voluntary drug testing.

Education and Experience:

• RVT: Current California Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license required.

• VA: Current Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP), or the ability to obtain one, required. Current euthanasia certification required to perform euthanasia.

• Both: Associate in Science degree.

• Both: Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in the veterinary field. Experience in an animal shelter and in a high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter surgical department preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Specific physical abilities required by this job include:

• Push/pull moderately heavy objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

• Lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 40 pounds for short distances, and humanely restrain animals when necessary; lift and move objects and animals weighing over 40 pounds for short distances with assistance.

• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift.

• Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.

• Dexterity to handle animals and small objects.

• Assess medical and behavioral changes in animals using a variety of techniques, including but not limited to visual and auditory observation.

• Sit for long and short periods of time while using a computer.

• Must be comfortable and able to complete assigned duties that may involve potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal allergens, cleaning/disinfectant products, constant loud noises, and bites or scratches during the normal course of work.