JOB TITLE: VeterinaryAssistant 

FUNCTION, FAMILY: ServiceOperations (Pet), Hospital Operations (Pet) 

REPORTS TO:Practice Manager 

SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE AND FUNCTION 

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS 

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team. 

• Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's and veterinary technician’s productivity. Communicate withveterinarians, veterinarytechniciansand all other associates tomaintainthe flow of patients. 

• Provide professional,efficient,and exceptional service at all times.This includes performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technicianassistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, andmonitoringhospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts. 

• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospitalservicesand other issues. 

• Obtain relevant information and history from clients andmaintainproper and complete medical charts. 

• Ensure the safety of pets,clientsand associates byutilizingsafe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, andmaintainingclean,sterileand organized treatment areas, examroomsand labs. 

• Assistwith surgery as applicable. 

• Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties. 

• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital. 

• Other job duties as assigned. 

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES 

• Quality-The consumer is ourboss;quality is our work and value for money is our goal. 

• Responsibility - Asindividuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others. 

• Mutuality - A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure. 

• Efficiency - We use resources to thefullest, waste nothing and do only what we can do best. 

• Freedom - We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free. 

HIRING QUALIFICATIONS COMPETENCIES 

Leadership 

• Action Oriented  Customer Focus 

• Listening 

• Peer Relationships 

• Personal Learning 

Functional 

• Ensure medical quality 

• Effective communication 

• Drive for results 

• Functional Skills 

• Priority Setting 

CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE (CAN DO) 

• Ability to multi-task- Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration. 

• Communication skills - Reads,writesand speaks fluent English, usingappropriate grammar,styleand vocabulary. Correctly spells commonly used English words and job specific terms. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Organizational ability – Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments.Isvery orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order. 

• Problem solving skills -Demonstratesa strong ability toidentify,analyze,and solve problems. Translates problems into practical solutions. 

• Client service skills - Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive,courteousand informative service. Gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service. 

• Intellectual ability - Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. Can provide directions. 

• Mathematical ability - Ability to add, subtract,multiplyand divide, andcomputerate,ratioandpercentage; ability to convert units of measurement. 

• Computer skills - Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized medical software, as well as Microsoft Outlook,Wordand Excel. 

ATTITUDES (WILL DO) 

• Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to takeappropriate stepsin finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes onadditionalresponsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done. 

• Integrity – Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment. 

• Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptlysharingrelevant information with others. 

• Flexibility – Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned. 

• Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision asappropriate. 

• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – Maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, andmaintainscomposure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations. 

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS 

• Ability to work at a computer forlong periodsof time. 

• Ability to be confident around pets (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.) 

• Clientneeds and work volume may often require more than40 hoursper week to completethe essentialduties of this job. This position requires special hours including working weekends and evenings. 

• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently. 

• The noise level in the work environment is moderately high. 

• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while atthe hospital.

• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds. 

• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard andoperateequipment. 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

• Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biologicalhazardsand medication/controlled substances. 

 EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING 

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. High School Diploma or equivalent preferred. 

• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level in which to aid in the efficiency of the practice.

• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances. 

• One-yearrelated experiencerequiredwith customer service preferred. 

• Salary range $19.00 - $21.00 based on experience. Ability to receive bi-annual increases for the first 2 years of employment through Banfield's training and development program.

WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Company Policy, Federal and State Laws Forbid Discrimination Because of Age, Color, Race, Religion, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation or National Origin.