Veterinary Assistant - Surgery

Surgical Veterinary Assistant

Up to $26.00/hour (DOE)
Up to $1,000 Sign-On Bonus
$4.00/hr differential for any hours worked between 6pm-6am
$2.00/hr weekend differential
Full-time opportunity in Santa Barbara, California
Schedule: Full-time | Weekend & holiday flexibility required

Build your career in specialty veterinary medicine with the Surgery team at Advanced Veterinary Specialists (AVS). As a Surgical Veterinary Assistant, you'll work alongside board-certified veterinary surgeons, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), and experienced veterinary professionals supporting surgical preparation, patient care, sterilization, and post-operative recovery.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Veterinary Assistant looking to develop their surgical and specialty medicine skills in a collaborative, fast-paced veterinary hospital.

Why Join Advanced Veterinary Specialists

Advanced Veterinary Specialists is home to board-certified specialists in Surgery, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Dentistry, alongside a highly skilled Emergency & Critical Care team.

AVS is accredited by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) as a Level II Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Facility—one of only two in California to hold this distinction.

You'll gain hands-on experience with specialty surgery while working in an environment focused on mentorship, continuing education, teamwork, and career development.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Provide compassionate pre-operative and post-operative patient care, including handling, restraint, positioning, transport, and monitoring under the direction of an RVT or veterinarian.
• Prepare patients, surgical suites, and recovery areas, including shaving, scrubbing, and surgical preparation according to hospital protocols.
• Clean, wrap, sterilize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment using autoclaves and gas sterilizers.
• Maintain clean, organized, and well-stocked surgical, prep, and patient care areas.
• Manage proper labeling, storage, and inventory of surgical instruments, equipment, and medical supplies.
• Collaborate with veterinary surgeons, RVTs, Veterinary Assistants, and support teams to maintain efficient surgical workflow and exceptional patient care.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of clinical veterinary experience; veterinary surgery or specialty hospital experience preferred.
• Strong animal handling, patient restraint, and veterinary patient care skills.
• Excellent communication, organization, attention to detail, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and work efficiently in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• California Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP) required within 60 days of hire.

Perks & Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 401(k), and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Three weeks of accrued paid time off and uniforms
• Annual Veterinary Assistant and RVT Continuing Education (CE) allowance
• VetBloom access with RACE-approved continuing education, training, and curriculum
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities within Ethos Veterinary Health

Location Highlight

Build your veterinary career in beautiful Santa Barbara, with access to beaches, mountains, hiking, dining, and year-round outdoor recreation. AVS is accessible to veterinary professionals throughout Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland, Ventura, Oxnard, and surrounding Central Coast communities.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class veterinary medicine and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of more than 140 specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary professionals in hospitals designed for learning, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and help advance veterinary medicine—together.

Join Us

If you're a Veterinary Assistant, Surgical Veterinary Assistant, Surgery Veterinary Assistant, Specialty Veterinary Assistant, or experienced veterinary support professional looking to develop your skills in veterinary surgery, surgical preparation, patient care, and specialty medicine, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and join the Surgery team at Advanced Veterinary Specialists in Santa Barbara.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.