Job Description
Job Type
Full-time
Description
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking aVeterinary Assistant to join our team. This is a full-time, FLSA nonexempt opportunity.
Since 1897, The Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) has been caring for the animals of Southwest Washington and the surrounding area. We are a donor-supported non-profit with public contracts. Our mission is to rescue, return, restore, rehome, and reconnect one animal at a time. We also own and operate ReTails Thrift Store - the premiere Southwest Washington thrifting experience. Proceeds from ReTails support animal care and shelter operations.
Path Forward 2025 is an exciting and ambitious strategic plan focused on five strategic pillars: lifesaving pathways for animals, keeping people and pets together, thriving workforce, mission expansion and leveraging technology. Through these efforts we will build a community low-cost veterinary clinic, behavior and education center and improve animal spaces. We will expand programs and resources for the community allowing people and pets to stay together. People bring our mission to life each day. We are committed to a diverse, healthy, and engaged team of employees and volunteers who strive for excellence, treat one another with kindness, and provide quality and compassionate care for the pets and people we serve.
Veterinary Assistant (Levels 1, 2, & 3)
The mission of the Veterinary Assistant is to have the greatest positive impact on the continuity of care an animal receives during its stay at HSSW through daily monitoring and by treatment of health conditions and surgical procedures that keep in alignment with HSSW's vision, mission, values, and standard operating procedures. The Veterinary Assistant is responsible for monitoring and treating all animals under veterinary care and assisting the Surgery Team with providing excellent quality, high volume spay/neuter surgery.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
VA Level 1 - Basic Entry Level tasks
Assist with daily pre- and post-op care of surgical patients and disease control protocols.
Maintains a clean, sterile, and functioning prep and surgery room.
Cleans and maintains surgical instruments; prepares surgical packs.
Restrains animals for exams and anesthetic induction; assists in surgical prep.
Assists Licensed Veterinary Technician and Surgeons.
Enters surgery records into database; maintains paperwork.
Cleans and disinfects tables, floors, cages, and surgery equipment.
Monitors, treats, and medicates all animals under veterinary care.
Assists Veterinarian in examinations, treatments, diagnostics, and other duties.
Input data into Shelter Buddy regarding exams, medications, and treatments.
Demonstrates and teaches technical skills and proper sanitation protocols and procedures to other staff members of HSSW who participate in animal care.
Cleans and maintains areas of shelter clinic.
Assists with inventory and orders supplies.
Promotes a safe working environment and follows safety protocols.
Maintains equipment in good working condition.
Educates clients on pre- and post-surgical care of their animals.
Integrates with volunteers and workforce partners, taking an active role in their training, safety, performance, and job satisfaction.
Responds to inquiries and concerns from Foster Care providers and volunteers, schedules, and assists with appointments.
Attends continuing education and performs other duties and special projects.
VA Level 2 - adding these tasks...
Provides training to staff/volunteers on disease control standards, shelter medicine protocols, and foster care guidelines.
Provides advice and resources on HSSW programs and other animal welfare-related topics.
Provides orientation and training to veterinary students, veterinary assistants, and interns.
Proficient in lab work and radiology
High level of skill in Shelter Buddy, able to run reports and complete data entry.
Fill prescriptions.
Make decisions and solve problems independently.
VA Level 3 - adding these tasks...
Dentistry skills
CPR trained.
Able to become Registered Medication Clerk (requires High School diploma or GED)
Perform euthanasia of selected animals with compassion and participate in Euthanasia Technician training.
Qualifications
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Licenses, and Credentials
High School Diploma or GED.
Competent in monitoring anesthesia and assisting surgeon.
Effective organization skills
Excellent customer service skills
Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively as a team.
Ability to manage multiple tasks in a demanding environment.
Display compassion and confidence when communicating with the public, staff, and volunteers.
Meticulous with the ability to maintain and organize written and computerized records.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous work experience in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic
Possession of valid driver's license and insurable driving record in accordance with HSSW policy.
General Expectations
Promote, and follow safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment.
Display initiative and exercise good judgment.
Exercise good judgment when working with the public, volunteers, workforce partners and staff.
Committed to maintaining the integrity of the HSSW's mission and adoption program and the importance of Spay/Neuter to end pet overpopulation.
Adheres to agency policies and procedures, providing a positive example/role model for other employees.
Maintains a positive and respectful attitude, displaying excellent people skills and high degree of emotional intelligence.
Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position.
Meets department productivity standards.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The Veterinary Assistant must be able to safely work with a variety of animals. In addition, they must be able to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear, stoop, bend, squat, kneel, stretch, grasp, and grip, put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level and lift, push, pull , lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds of weight, repetitively use hands to operate computers, flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.
Work is performed in an animal shelter veterinary clinic environment, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals. Primary workplace is at an animal shelter that operates 7 days per week with potential exposure to fractious animals; high noise levels; zoonotic diseases; animal bites and scratches; cleaning chemicals and allergens. Potential exposure of infectious diseases to owned animals.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship. HSSW participates in E-Verify.
Compensation
The hourly pay range for this position is $17.72 to $20.11 per hour. The starting pay within that range is dependent upon experience.
Full Time Employee Benefits
In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose; full-time employees currently enjoy the following benefits and employee perks.
Health, dental, and vision insurance benefits that become effective the first of the month after hire.
Matching percentage 401 (k) retirement plan that begins the first month after hire, has a 3-year graded vestment schedule and a ROTH contribution option.
Employee assistance program for all household member access.
Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.
Access to affordable life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
As a 501c3 non-profit organization, full-time employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness with the potential to eliminate student loans within 10 years!
Organizational Culture
Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.
Mission: Rescue: Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time.
Core Values
Compassion: the desire to take action to relieve suffering.
Collaboration: working with others to produce, create or achieve a common goal.
Excellence: the quality of being outstanding.
Service: helping or doing work for others; providing aid.
Integrity: being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided
Paid Time Off (PTO)
This position accrues PTO at a rate of 1.6 hours for every 40 hours worked. Additional Paid time includes:
Floating Holidays.
Bereavement leave.
Pet bereavement leave.
Jury duty pay.
The ability to build a long-term sick-leave bank.
Culture
Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.
Mission: Rescue. Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time
Values: Compassion. Collaboration. Excellence. Service. Integrity.
The ultimate team player:
Displays interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for working with people.
Demonstrates an attitude in being of-service, using good judgment, maintaining a positive outlook, and ideally, a sense of humor.
Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration with a sincere interest in helping others succeed.
Is committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
Exhibits adaptability, curiosity, flexibility to change, open to new ideas, and encourages others to recognize changes in work tasks, situations, and environment as an opportunity for transformation.
Is committed to personal and professional development through life-long learning.
How to Apply
If HSSW and this job sound like the right place for you, you feel a dedication to HSSW's mission, vision, and values, and you meet the qualifications for this position, click the Apply button to begin your journey today.
HSSW participates in E-Verify.
For more information visit
Application Deadline: Open until filled.
Salary Description
$17.72 to $20.11 per hour depending on skill level Humane Society for Southwest Washington
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Work experience placement, Flexible hours,