Lead Clinic Veterinary Assistant

Lead Clinic Veterinary Assistant

Help lead the team behind quality, affordable veterinary care.

The ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are looking for a Lead Veterinary Assistant to help coordinate daily clinic operations, support the Veterinary Assistant team, and ensure pets receive high-quality, compassionate care. This role combines hands-on veterinary support with team leadership, training, and workflow coordination.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced veterinary assistant who enjoys helping others succeed, keeping clinic operations organized, and contributing to positive experiences for pets and their owners.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday schedule with occasional Saturdays as needed

What You’ll Do

• Lead the Veterinary Assistant team: Coordinate daily responsibilities, assign tasks, monitor workflow, and provide guidance to support efficient clinic operations.

• Train and develop team members: Assist with onboarding, training, and mentoring while reinforcing clinic procedures, animal-handling practices, equipment use, and safety expectations.

• Support veterinary care: Assist veterinarians with examinations, procedures, patient preparation, and safe animal handling.

• Coordinate daily workflow: Monitor staffing needs, task assignments, and clinic priorities to support timely, quality patient care.

• Perform and oversee diagnostic testing: Conduct routine laboratory testing, including blood work and urinalysis, and ensure results are appropriately documented.

• Maintain medical records: Support accurate and timely documentation of patient care, diagnostic results, and other clinical information.

• Operate and maintain equipment: Use and help maintain clinic equipment, including X-ray and blood analyzer equipment, following established procedures.

• Educate and assist clients: Communicate with pet owners about ongoing care, treatment instructions, medications, post-treatment needs, and preventative care.

• Promote compassionate animal handling: Model appropriate handling practices that help reduce stress and support animal health and well-being.

• Maintain a safe, organized clinic: Help keep lobby and clinical work areas clean, orderly, and ready for daily operations.

• Support team accountability: Encourage collaboration, provide constructive feedback, address concerns in a timely manner, and reinforce ARL policies, procedures, and standards of care.

• Build positive client relationships: Represent the ARL professionally and help pet owners understand the services available through the Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required.

• Previous experience working in a veterinary clinic or animal hospital required.

• Three or more years of animal care and handling experience preferred.

• Previous supervisory, team lead, training, or mentoring experience preferred.

• Knowledge of animal behavior and safe, compassionate animal-handling practices.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills, including the ability to address questions and concerns professionally.

• Effective organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

• Basic math skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.

• Adaptability and sound problem-solving skills when clinic priorities or patient needs change.

• Animal CPR competency preferred.

• Commitment to teamwork, accountability, and the ARL’s mission.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Lift and move animals and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Stand or sit for extended periods and regularly bend, kneel, and move throughout the clinic.

• Work in confined spaces and use a ladder or step stool when needed.

• Safely handle animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.

• Work around animal odors, moderate noise, animal waste, cleaning products, and potential exposure to contagious diseases, bites, and scratches.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.