Veterinary Technician - Veterinary Specialist

Veterinary Technician, Senior Veterinary Specialist and Veterinary Specialist (position and pay dependent upon experience)

Hiring Range: $24-$27 average starting pay per hour, depending upon experience

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) with company matching; generous paid time off; paid family leave; pawternity leave for your pet, relocation assistance available; and additional employee benefits and growth opportunities.

Shift: Days and shift times can be flexible, typically five 8 hour shifts between 7:00am to 6:00pm

Position Summary:  Best Friends offers a veterinary career path with opportunities starting with Veterinary Assistants progressing to Veterinary Specialist, Sr. Specialist then Technician. Candidates will be hired based on experience, qualifications, and responsibilities.

Clinic: Our clinic offers state of the art exam rooms and equipment. You'll learn from highly experienced veterinarians and work with over 100 different species of animals from companion to exotics.

Ready for a Change of Scenery? Relocation assistance may be available

Location: Kanab, Utah 

This is an Animal Sanctuary in Angel Canyon. Near Zion, Utah, St. George, Utah, Glendale, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Three hour drive to Las Vegas, Nevada, five hour drive to Salt Lake City, Utah.

If you're searching from outside Utah, don't let the location stop you from applying. Kanab, Utah offers an extraordinary setting for your next chapter. Surrounded by the natural beauty of southern Utah and the Southwest, it's an incredible place for those who enjoy outdoor adventure, open spaces, and a close connection to nature. This is an opportunity to combine your veterinary career with a lifestyle and mission you can feel good about.

Culture Statement and Responsibilities:

We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.
• Perform medical care for dogs including but not limited to intravenous injections, blood draws, medicating, vaccinating, subcutaneous fluids, catheter placement, and microchipping under the direction of a veterinarian; have a comprehensive knowledge of sterile techniques, basic knowledge of surgical instruments, and general pharmacology, anesthesia monitoring, surgical induction and recovery; skilled understanding of humane restraint for medical procedures and emergency stabilization procedures.
• Maintain a clean and disinfected working environment, maintain controlled substances logs, accurately enter, and maintain patient and client medical data.
• Support, empower and enable volunteers and foster parents with the goal of utilizing volunteers to expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; conduct client communications including aftercare and emergency support.
• Support basic care for dogs such as feeding, cleaning, walking, and socialization for animals temporarily housed or transported within Lifesaving Center vehicles, buildings, or facilities.
• Work collaboratively with Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to achieve veterinary services and organizational lifesaving goals; follow Best Friends policies, procedures, and task lists for daily lifesaving outcome assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.
• Maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills and Experience:

• Some formal education from an AVMA accredited veterinary technician certification program preferred but not required.
• A minimum of two years working experience in veterinary medicine setting or equivalent work experience in an animal welfare or nonprofit setting. Experience working with a variety of species, including large animal is strongly preferred.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required. 
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process. 
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats. 
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.   
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.  
• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.  

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.  
• Exposure to dogs and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.   
• Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, holiday work, and may include on-call shifts.

*During the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in an onsite working interview. 

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.