Veterinary Assistant

We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our Foundational Principles on our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our mission, vision and values.

The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application.

If you are up for the challenge and would like to be considered for this position, we would like to hear from you. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is looking to fill the following career opportunity:

POSITION: Veterinary Assistant

STATUS: Permanent; Full-Time with benefits

SHIFT: Various Shifts

LOCATION: Penticton Veterinary Hospital in Penticton, BC

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

WAGE: Hourly

CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

About the Position

The duties of the Veterinary Assistant position will be variable, depending on clinic needs and qualifications of the successful applicant. This position will assist regular staff and be available for vacation/sick relief.

Some specific duties

• Assisting the full time AHT with all aspects of anesthesia including restraint, monitoring, recovery, etc.
• Surgical preparation of patients including nail trims, shaving, tattooing, etc.
• General patient care, clean up
• Cleaning surgical instruments and preparing surgical packs
• Assisting veterinarian in surgery if necessary
• Re-stocking of supplies in cabinets, drawers, etc.
• Assisting to maintain cleanliness of clinic as needed
• Doing laundry
• Washing/wiping down countertops
• Sweeping & mopping floors
• Cleaning kennels
• Daily clean up duties
• Assisting with discharge of surgical patients
• Reception duties, such as booking appointments, answering phones, patient check in/out, accepting payments
• Ordering supplies
• Other duties as necessary to ensure clinic functions

Qualifications you need to have

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Completion of Veterinary Office Assistant program or comparable veterinary assistant experience
• A sound knowledge of animals, their breeds, characteristics and common diseases
• Experience handling dogs & cats in a professional setting an asset
• Position is physically demanding and includes heavy lifting, pushing and pulling which requires an individual with the ability to maintain a level of fitness and endurance to fulfill the required duties
• Strong computer skills (i.e. MS Office Suite) sufficient to deal effectively with the responsibilities and functions of the position
• Must possess excellent verbal, written and organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task
• Demonstrated excellent telephone and customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to adapt easily to situations at hand
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Philosophical harmony with the vision, mission, and strategic directions of the BC SPCA.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining our team and are legally entitled to work in Canada, we would like to hear from you. Click on apply now or use the link to apply

We are committed to a transparent, human-led hiring process. While we use technology to support application management, applications are not screened, scored, or ranked by AI systems. All hiring decisions are made by human hiring managers based on skills, experience, and alignment with the organizational values.

We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No emails or telephone calls, please.

The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001