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About the Role

This role is a vital member of the veterinary medical team at the Community Veterinary Clinic (CVC), supporting high quality/high volume spay/neuter surgery (HQHVSN) and primary pet care (PPC). The Senior Veterinary Assistant (SVA) provides preventive and basic veterinary care for pet cats and dogs in ASPCA focus areas and animals in rescue care. This hands-on position involves directing floor workflow, coaching the team in animal handling, client communication, medical assistance, surgical preparation, medical record entry, and patient anesthesia monitoring. The SVA collaborates with other Medical Managers to coordinate daily workflow, ensuring high-quality care and maximizing impact for animals in the community.

Responsibilities

Direct workflow on the clinic floor
Coach the team in animal handling, client communication, medical assistance, preparing animals for surgery, entering medical records, and monitoring patients under anesthesia
Coordinate work with other Medical Managers to deliver high-quality care and optimize impact
Perform medical support functions including anesthesia monitoring, surgical preparation and assistance, diagnostics, medication dispensing, and patient recovery
Support HQHVSN and PPC for cats and dogs alongside veterinarians, technicians, and assistants
Use low-stress, gentle animal handling techniques to ensure a safe and compassionate environment
Communicate effectively and nonjudgmentally with clients, assisting with intake, history, and discharge
Oversee clinic floor workflow, ensuring efficient use of staff time and skills for optimal patient care
Maintain a consistent and visible presence to answer questions, make adjustments, offer support, give/receive feedback, and foster mission commitment
Ensure staff consistently deliver high-quality patient care and adhere to CM’s standard operating procedures
Coach nursing staff in gentle, low-stress patient handling, promoting active support for animal behavioral and mental health
Coach staff in effective client communication, accurate information relay, and gathering patient history using open-ended, non-judgmental questions
Ensure staff take mandatory rest and meal breaks and adhere to time and attendance guidelines
Train and onboard new nursing team members, including hands-on skills and online modules
Monitor and assess trainee progress, providing regular developmental feedback and coaching
Assist with training rotating Interns, Residents, and veterinary/technical students through coaching, discussion, and demonstration
Manage a team of 3-5 employees, setting clear expectations and fostering learning and development
Support direct reports through regular feedback, career conversations, annual performance evaluations, and ongoing check-ins
Serve on the CVC Leadership Team to achieve daily clinic goals
Support a culture of kindness, respect, belonging, and teamwork
Lead a culture of safety and security, reporting incidents promptly and addressing root causes
Assist with hiring new staff
Assist with scheduling nursing staff for optimal coverage
Manage team time and attendance, reviewing timesheets and approving time off requests
Facilitate daily huddles to ensure staff have necessary information
Meet regularly with the CVC leadership team, providing open communication, feedback, and solutions
Attend required workshops or meetings

Requirements

Possess excellent animal handling skills
Possess strong organizational skills
Possess strong leadership skills
Ability to work well within a team
Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff
Desire to serve clients in a kind, helpful, and nonjudgmental manner
Basic computer skills
Ability to use electronic medical records system
Ability to use online calendar and email
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment
Strong interest in animal welfare and serving underserved communities
Ability to lift and carry 40-plus pounds repeatedly throughout the day with assistance
Ability to work standing for 8 or more hours
Fear Free® Shelter certification required within 60 days of hire
Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies
English language proficiency
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent professional experience required
One year experience working professionally as a veterinary assistant required

Skills

Animal handling
Organizational skills
Leadership
Teamwork
Communication
Client service
Basic computer skills
Microsoft Office
Electronic medical records system
Online calendar
Email
Fear Free® Shelter certification
English
Spanish (Strongly Preferred)

Location

Brooklyn Community Veterinary Clinic
Greater metro area (occasional flexibility)

Work Type

On-site
Monday – Friday, 8-hour schedule
Flexibility to work occasionally beyond scheduled workday

Experience Level

One year experience as a veterinary assistant required
People management experience strongly preferred
Experience in high volume spay/neuter surgery strongly preferred

Education Level

High school diploma
GED
Equivalent professional experience

Salary/Compensations

$33.65 - $36.06 per hour

Benefits

Affordable health coverage (medical, employer-paid dental, optional vision)
Flexible time off (vacation, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave)
10 company paid holidays
Competitive financial incentives
401(k) plan with generous employer contributions (dollar-for-dollar match up to 4%, additional 4% contribution)
Robust professional development opportunities (classes, on-the-job training, coaching, mentorship, internal mobility, field support opportunities)

About the Company

The ASPCA’s Community Medicine (CM) team provides expert veterinary care to support animal welfare through stationary and mobile clinics in underserved communities in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
CM helps pet owners overcome barriers to care by providing quality services directly to communities and subsidizing basic and preventive care costs.
CM treats people and pets with dignity and respect, assisting pet owners in making informed decisions regardless of financial circumstances.
The ASPCA team comprises over 1,000 dedicated colleagues with deep knowledge, skills, and passion for animals.
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA believes animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment and legal protection.
As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with over two million supporters, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals nationwide.
Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA operates a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a canine rehabilitation center, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.
The ASPCA's programs and services extend nationwide, assisting animals through disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and advancing the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

Equal Opportunity

The ASPCA is committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture, welcoming all voices to contribute to its lifesaving mission.
Staff represent diverse backgrounds and dimensions, bringing valuable experiences and perspectives.
The ASPCA is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion because it elevates organizational culture, aligns with Core Values, and enables faster progress toward the vision that all animals live good lives, valued by society, protected by laws, and free from cruelty, pain, and suffering.