Senior Veterinary Assistant (New York)

Summary :

Who we are - Community Medicine, Mobile Veterinary Services :

Have you ever wondered what happens to cats and dogs whose owners are unable to afford veterinary care? We did. The ASPCA's Community Medicine (CM) team provides expert veterinary care to support the welfare of animals and their people through our stationary and mobile veterinary clinics, serving the most underserved communities in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. We help pet owners overcome barriers to care, bringing quality services directly to the communities that need us most and partially or fully subsidizing the cost of basic and preventive care. CM treats people and pets with dignity and respect, assisting pet owners in making informed decisions about their pets' health and wellbeing regardless of their financial circumstances. When you come to work at the ASPCA, you join a team of over 1,000 dedicated colleagues with deep knowledge, skills, and passion for the animals we serve.

What you'll do :

The Senior Veterinary Assistant (SVA) - Mobile Veterinary Services (MVS) is a vital member of our veterinary medical team. The SVA supports two program functions - mobile spay / neuter surgery and mobile primary pet care - for pet cats and dogs at various locations across the five boroughs of New York City. The SVA drives the mobile clinic to each clinic location to meet the rest of the medical team. Throughout the day, SVAs are responsible for client communication, assisting the veterinarian and / or veterinary technician, animal handling, preparing animals for surgery, entering medical records, and monitoring patients while they are under anesthesia. After discharge, the SVA and veterinary technician clean and restock the mobile clinic and the SVA drives it back so it is ready to go the following day.

What you'll get :

Work / life balance :

paid vacation time to relax

paid sick time to heal

ten paid holidays to observe

plus - paid personal time to celebrate what and when you like

Terrific benefits package : medical, dental, and vision insurance, pre-tax dependent care and health flexible spending accounts (FSAs), 401(k) with generous employer contributions beginning after one year of service, employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance and more (note that benefits are subject to change annually)

Room to grow : the ASPCA has robust professional development programs to help you grow as a medical professional and a person

Support : we are one of the largest and most impactful animal welfare organizations in the world, so you will always have a strong team to lean on and cheer you on

Work Schedule and Location

This is a full-time position, approximately 10 hours a day (including driving time), 4 days a week between Monday through Friday with flexibility to work occasionally beyond the scheduled workday and Saturdays approximately once per quarter may be required. This position is primarily based at the ASPCA Spay / Neuter Mobile Clinics throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Occasional flexibility in reporting to other ASPCA locations is required based on operational needs.

Compensation and Benefits :

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for this role is$25.00 - $26.44per hour

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

Responsibilities :

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

Medical (60%)

Care for up to 25-30 cats and dogs per day in spay / neuter surgery

Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques during various procedures (examples : exams, treatments, injections, venipuncture, intubation)

Monitor vital signs of sedated and anesthetized patients in pre-operative, operative, and post-operative phases

Take direction regarding medical protocols and animal care from the clinic veterinarian or veterinary technician

Organize and maintain pre-operative area and operating room for patient anesthesia, surgical preparation and sterilization

Ensure anesthesia machines, pulse oximeters, scales, and other equipment are functional and report equipment that is not working properly

Clean, sonicate, pack, and sterilize surgical instruments and endotracheal tubes

Work with coworkers to clean and disinfect animal areas and facility while utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment

Assist with patient exams, take medical history, perform diagnostic testing, and prepare medications to go home with the client / patient

Provide support and medical services in special cases as needed, including evaluation of animals living in hoarding situations

Fill in to perform SVA duties at stationary clinics as needed

Customer Service (30%)

Communicate with all clients in a non-judgmental, effective and professional manner

Greet clients and assist with the intake process, including assisting clients in filling out intake and service documents, flag relevant medical history

Communicate basic veterinary medical concepts to clients, including, but not limited to vaccine protocols and anesthetic risks

Explain information provided by the veterinarian about an animal's condition to clients

Other (10%)

Safely drive and park mobile clinics to and from various locations in New York City

Operate and troubleshoot mobile clinic generators

Enter medical information into digital data bases as appropriate

Represent ASPCA in a professional and courteous manner

Provide medical information and representation to other ASPCA departments

Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Transportation (DOT)

Follow all written and verbally communicated CM Standard Operating Procedures

Collaborate and foster good communication with ASPCA colleagues

Participate in veterinary / medical training of CM staff, ASPCA staff and veterinary and technical students by coaching, discussion, and demonstration

Attend staff meetings and training sessions

Exemplifies the ASPCA's Core Values :

Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

Believes in Team - that we are stronger together

Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

Focuses on Impact , specifically making change for animals

Qualifications :

Experience using a computer and navigating software applications

Ability to lift and carry 40-plus pounds repeatedly throughout day with assistance

Ability to work standing for 10 or more hours

Fear Free Veterinary certification is required within 60 days of hire

Must have a Commercial Driver's License, or the ability to obtain one within the first six months of hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history. As part of the driving requirements of this role, must also pass a Department of Transportation Medical Exam and required Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Must be willing and comfortable learning to drive Mobile Clinics, which are up to 37 feet long, through city street traffic (training provided by ASPCA)

Excellent customer service skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Ability to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions

Must maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols

Excellent animal handling skills (cats, dogs)

Strong interest in animal welfare and serving underserved communities

Education and Work Experience :

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent professional experience required

Minimum 1 year animal handling in a professional setting required

Veterinary medical experience preferred

Language : English (Required)

Bilingual (Spanish) Strongly Preferred

Stay Connected - Join Our Talent Community :

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications :

See above for qualifications details.

Language : English (Required)