Clinic Veterinary Assistant

Clinic Veterinary Assistant

Be part of the team behind quality, affordable veterinary care. 

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a reliable and compassionate Clinic Veterinary Assistant to support the medical services and mission of our ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics. This role helps provide hands-on patient care, animal handling, medical support, and client communication while helping pets receive trusted, affordable veterinary care.

This is a great opportunity for someone with professional animal-handling experience who is interested in growing their veterinary skills in a fast-paced, mission-driven clinic environment. Clinic Veterinary Assistants work closely with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and support staff while gaining meaningful hands-on experience in veterinary medicine.

Schedule

We are currently open to both full-time and part-time candidates.

Full-time:

• 40 hours per week
• Schedules are typically four 10-hour days
• Schedule may fall Monday through Friday with rotating half-day Saturdays based on clinic needs
• Regular hours can range from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Part-time:

• Hours may vary based on availability and department needs
• Schedule may include weekdays and rotating half-day Saturdays based on clinic needs
• Regular hours can range from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

About the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics

The ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are part of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization. Through the clinics, the ARL extends its mission into the community by helping pet owners access trusted, affordable veterinary care for the animals they love. There are two clinic locations that provide pets with quality, affordable, compassionate care. Services include preventative care, on-site blood work, radiographs, surgery, and other essential veterinary services at a more affordable rate to help pets stay in loving homes.

What You’ll Do

• Assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians with exams, treatments, procedures, and patient care.
• Safely handle and restrain dogs and cats in a professional clinic setting.
• Prepare exam rooms, treatment areas, supplies, and equipment for daily appointments and procedures.
• Support patient comfort, recovery, and monitoring as directed by veterinary staff.
• Clean and disinfect equipment, exam rooms, treatment areas, kennels, and workspaces.
• Assist with basic laboratory preparation, supply stocking, and medical equipment maintenance.
• Provide friendly, professional support to clients and reinforce basic care instructions as directed by the veterinary team.
• Follow veterinary medical protocols, safety procedures, sanitation standards, and animal handling guidelines.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required, or ability to obtain one.
• At least one year of hands-on professional animal-handling experience required.
• Experience in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, boarding kennel, grooming facility, daycare, training facility, or similar professional animal-care environment preferred.
• Comfort safely handling, restraining, and caring for dogs and cats in a professional setting.
• Basic understanding of animal behavior and humane handling techniques.
• Strong communication, customer service, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow instructions accurately and maintain attention to detail.
• Reliable, adaptable, and able to multitask in a fast-paced clinic environment.
• Basic computer skills helpful.
• No formal veterinary education or certification required; on-the-job training is provided.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies
• Educational reimbursement opportunities for approved veterinary-related coursework
• Potential reimbursement assistance for approved Veterinary Technician/CVT education programs

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in an active veterinary clinic environment and may require frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, safely handling animals, and assisting with medical procedures. Candidates must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, contagious or zoonotic diseases, cleaning products, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures.

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

Why Join the ARL?

As a Clinic Veterinary Assistant, you will gain hands-on veterinary experience while helping pet owners access trusted, affordable care for the animals they love. You will work alongside veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and experienced team members in a mission-driven clinic environment that supports learning, teamwork, and professional growth.

If you are reliable, compassionate, and excited to continue building your veterinary skills while helping pets and their families, we would love to have you join our team.

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.