Job Description

Description

Position at Kensington Veterinary Hospital

Kensington Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner, is hiring an experienced Vet Assistant!   

At Kensington Veterinary Hospital, we offer primary care for dogs and cats in Kensington, Albany, El Cerrito, and Berkeley. We also offer urgent care during our regular business hours and welcome same-day, walk-in appointments.    

We are looking for an experienced (at least two years working as a Veterinary Assistant) to join our team full time.  This is a 40 hour per week position.  The team member needs to exhibit a high degree of personal integrity, serves as a positive role model in demonstrating excellent client service, is dependable and is punctual and regular in attendance. In addition, has the natural ability to communicate with ease and always speaks in a positive tone.          

Day to Day Job Functions: Cleaning, stocking, organizing, animal handlingand restraint, basic supervised patient care and other activities as directed. 

Clinical Skills:

• Set up cages/runs for incoming patients
• Clean/disinfectcages/runsfor outgoing patients
• Clean, maintain, and organize facility and equipment
• Stock supplies
• Appropriate sharps and hazardous waste disposal
• Answer phonesand client communication
• Assist in laboratory procedures as directed by the veterinary medical team
• Process laundry
• Properly clean instruments
• Perform safe, low stress (Fear Free) patient handling and restraint
• Safely transport patients
• Walk and exercise patientsas needed
• Assist in ensuring patients are clean, dry, comfortable, fed, and watered as directed
• Obtain patient body weight
• Free catch urine and fecal sample collection
• Assist the veterinary medical healthcare team as needed/directed

VAs may not induce anesthesia, apply casts and splints, perform dental extractions, suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingiva and oral mucous membranes (CA), administer rabies vaccination, implant ID chips, or perform other activity where prohibited by a practice, state, and national regulations and laws.

Medical Knowledge:

• Basic veterinary terminology, verbal and written
• Equipment identification and knowledge of its use in the practice
• Recognition of potential safety hazards, proper use of personal protection equipment(PPE)
• Basic medical math and computer skills

Communication Skills:

• Direct, clear, courteous, professional communication
• Notify veterinary medical team of any change in patient condition, problems or concerns
• Clearly and effectively communicate patient information with members of the healthcare team
• Observe patient/client privacylaws in all networks, including all social media networks.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of client communication and education
• Always represent yourself and your practice in a professional manner
• Maintain healthy working relationships, support and respect of others through conflict competence and emotional intelligence
• Sensitive to the timing of asking questionsandproviding comments, especially in urgent and emergency situations.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Preferred: prior experience working in a veterinary setting
• Availability to workall shift, including nights and weekends
• Ability to meet essential job functionalattributes including:
  • Ability to routinely lift 40+ pounds; 50 pounds with assistance
  • Frequent/extended standing, kneeling, bending, crouching, reaching
  • Exposure to all types of hazard situations/chemicals, including chemotherapeutic agents, anesthetic and sterilant gases, radiant energy, infectious diseases, potentially irritant cleaning solutions, potentially aggressive animals

Benefits – our care in action

We provide benefits spread comprehensively across your mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing designed to meet your needs as a unique individual. Some key benefits include:

• ​​​​​​Paid time offincluding 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions 

• Top quality medical, dental, and vision insuranceplus health savings account and flexible spending account ​​​​​​​ 
• Pet perksincluding free exams, discounts on products and services, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations 
• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care supportfor children, adults, and pets 
• Mental health benefitsincluding coaching and therapy sessions 
• 401k with employer contributionand no waiting period 
• Continuing education and development supportthrough our library of free CE coursesand paid time off to complete 
• Scholarship opportunitiesand student loan supportprogram  and so much more!

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with an hourly pay rate starting at $20.75 - $22.00 / hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. 

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all of our team members, pet parents, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members belong and feel empowered. 

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