Veterinary Surgical Assistant

Join a premier veterinary teaching hospital team! This position provides critical surgical support across both the Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Medical Center and the Equine and Farm Animal Veterinary Center. Our unique team of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants specializes in advanced sterile techniques for a diverse array of small and large animal procedures.

If you possess advanced knowledge of veterinary medicine and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative teaching environment, we want you on our team.

What You'll Do

• Surgical Prep & Aseptic Technique: Set up advanced surgical suites, validate sterility, manage equipment, and prepare patients using precise aseptic techniques.
• Intraoperative & Patient Care: Maintain sterile fields, assist during complex surgeries, calculate medications, and support anesthesia and isolation protocols.
• Equipment & Sterile Processing: Operate and maintain cutting-edge surgical technology (including C-arms, drills, lasers, and microscopes) and manage instrument sterilization.
• Turnover & Inventory: Ensure rapid room readiness by disinfecting suites, restocking vital supplies, and maintaining strict OSHA compliance logs.
• Coordination & Mentorship: Streamline surgical scheduling, document critical patient data, and help train the next generation of veterinary students, interns, and residents.

What We Are Looking For

• Team Players: Active problem-solvers who can work independently with sound judgment but know when to collaborate.
• Safety-Minded Professionals: Commitment to maintaining a clean, functional workspace in accordance with OSHA, EHS, and hospital infectious disease policies.
• Operational Agility: Demonstrated physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations, flexibility to extend hours based on patient needs, and comfort working around potential hazards (zoonotic diseases, chemicals, gases).

Other Work/Responsibilities: Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Experience/Education: Completion of an accredited training program in the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. Some positions may require additional Training, Certifications, or Licensure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Clinical OR Experience: Previous experience working in an operating room or sterile processing support role within a veterinary or human healthcare setting; experience in a teaching hospital environment preferred.
• Training & Instructional Support: Experience teaching, coaching, or mentoring veterinary students, interns, residents, or junior staff in clinical or surgical workflows.
• Surgical & Sterile Processing Expertise: Competency in sterile processing and OR support, including handling complex surgical instrumentation, maintaining sterility standards, and supporting specialty or high-volume surgical services.
• Critical Thinking & OR Workflow Management: Ability to prioritize surgical cases and instrumentation needs, troubleshoot equipment or workflow issues, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• Communication & Professionalism: Strong communication skills with the ability to support OR teams effectively, respond to instrumentation and supply needs, and maintain professionalism in high-pressure clinical settings.