Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant

San Diego Humane Society is hiring a Shelter Outreach Veterinary Assistant for our Shelter Outreach team! 

How you’ll impact our mission: 

At San Diego Humane Society, we’re united by our mission to Inspire Compassion. In 2015, animal welfare organizations in our region achieved zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable shelter pets — a commitment we have met for the past nine consecutive years. Our goal is to use the knowledge we have gained in this time to help other communities in California reduce euthanasia of healthy and treatable shelter animals by increasing their capacity to perform spay/neuter.

As a member of the team, and under the guidance of the Program Manager and Shelter Outreach team, this position will partner with and travel to under-resourced shelters throughout California to provide spay/neuter procedures for in-care animals and training on high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter for veterinary staff. If you’re passionate about making an impact in the animal welfare movement, we’d love to talk to you. Eligible candidates will receive a $1,000 sign-on bonus!

This is a grant-funded, two-year role with a possibility of extension. 

What’s in it for you? 

At SDHS, we’re proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and commit to being a place where every person – staff, volunteer, and guest – can feel a sense of belonging. We support and invest in employees through conscious delivery of benefits and a workplace environment based on our Core Values.

As an employee you’ll enjoy: 

• Competitive pay and paid time-off (including your Birthday Day Off!)
• Comprehensive benefits package, training and well-being programs
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% match after 1 year
• Free pet adoptions, pet vaccines and spay/neuter services
• …and so much more!

What you’ll do: 

• Set up prep and surgery rooms, and cleans rooms after procedures. Maintain all medical equipment used, clean instruments, order supplies as directed. Keep surgical supplies up to date for everyday use, including packs, drapes, and gowns.
• Assist veterinarian with exams, procedures, and anesthesia oversight. Monitors animals before, during and post-surgery. Administers treatment, including oral and injectable medications, vaccines, microchips, etc.
• Provides hands-on spay/neuter training for veterinarians and medical teams. Ensure the highest quality medical care of animals in accordance with SDHS policies and procedures.
• Assists surgical team in meeting grant funding goals, including traveling to other shelter sites a minimum of 20 weeks per year and three days per week (total of 60 days per year minimum). Surgical team will perform 60-90 surgeries per trip, with a minimum goal of 1,200-1,800 surgeries per year.

What we’re looking for: 

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Must have a minimum of three (3) years of clinical and/or shelter experience in a veterinary environment.
• Must have the ability to work in a variety of environments while maintaining a high standard of care for patients, and the ability to be flexible and adapt to changes as they arise.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be approved by SDHS insurance carrier to drive a company or personal vehicle for work purposes.

Location: Based at our San Diego campus, with expected travel in the field (minimum of 60 days of travel per year – 20 weeks per year, at three days per week total). This position also has the potential for remote work some days of the month.

Pay: Starting range is between $18.80 – $22.50 per hour. The actual hourly rate is determined by your related education and experience.