Lead Surgical Veterinary Technician

Lead Surgical LVT

Core Values Integration:
Deliver exceptional service with compassion and hospitality.
● Make positive assumptions.
● Build trust with transparency.
● Seek improvement and maintain a growth mindset.

Essential Competencies
● Leadership & Accountability: Leads by example, promotes professionalism, and holds self and others accountable to hospital standards.
● Clinical Mentorship & Staff Development: Mentors, trains, and develops LVTs, Veterinary Assistants, and Hospital Assistants through demonstration, observation, coaching, competency assessment, and constructive feedback.
● Surgical Workflow Management: Coordinates daily surgery and dentistry workflow to maximize patient safety, efficiency, and team communication.
● Client Communication: Confidently communicates with clients regarding surgical procedures, patient status, discharge instructions, and financial plans.
● Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates advanced anesthesia, surgical nursing, and technical skills while maintaining compliance with hospital protocols.
● Team Collaboration: Works collaboratively with DVMs, and all hospital departments to promote continuity of care.
● Organization & Time Management: Effectively prioritizes patient care, staffing needs, training responsibilities, and departmental workflow.
● Commitment to Growth: Continuously seeks opportunities to improve clinical skills, leadership abilities, and department performance.
● Safety Compliance: Ensures compliance with OSHA standards, hospital safety protocols, controlled substance regulations, and PPE requirements.
● Identify training gaps and work proactively with employees and leadership to develop action plans that improve performance and confidence.

Essential Duties:
● Meets and maintains all competencies, expectations, responsibilities, and performance standards outlined in the LVT Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 job descriptions. The responsibilities listed below are in addition to—not in place of—those requirements.
● Lead and coordinate the daily surgery and dentistry schedule.
● Ensure efficient patient flow from admission through recovery and discharge.
● Coordinate daily surgical caseloads while maintaining patient safety and workflow efficiency.
● Lead daily surgery rounds and team huddles.
● Serve as the primary mentor for newly licensed LVTs and developing technicians.
● Assist Veterinary Assistants pursuing licensure with skill development and competency progression.
● Develop, implement, and document individualized training plans and conduct competency evaluations.
● Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and support to improve individual and team performance.
● Monitor anesthesia, surgical nursing, pain management, and patient recovery standards.
● Review medical records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
● Identify workflow challenges and recommend practical solutions that improve patient care, efficiency, and team communication.
● Serve as the primary liaison between the surgical department and hospital leadership, communicating departmental needs, progress, and operational concerns.
● Promote compliance with hospital protocols and best medical practices.
● Monitor surgical, anesthesia, and dental inventory and communicate supply needs.
● Ensure surgical instruments and equipment are maintained, sterilized, and operational.
● Assist with equipment maintenance scheduling and troubleshooting.
● Model professionalism, accountability, and the hospital's Core Values at all times.
● Assist with departmental initiatives, special projects, and operational improvements as assigned.

Lead Surgical LVT Specific Skills:
● Demonstrates all Level 3 technical skills while maintaining proficiency.
● Oversees advanced anesthesia protocols and surgical nursing practices.
● Leads the development of clinical knowledge, technical skills, and professional growth of LVTs and support staff through mentoring, coaching, and competency assessment.
● Conducts and documents competency evaluations.
● Develops training materials and skill progression pathways.
● Leads departmental quality assurance initiatives.
● Identifies and implements workflow improvements.
● Ensures new policies, protocols, and workflow changes are communicated, implemented, and consistently followed within the surgical department.
● Oversees surgical equipment readiness and inventory management.
● Demonstrates sound clinical judgment while supporting DVMs during advanced procedures.
● Acts as a role model and leader for all hospital staff.
● May be assigned additional leadership responsibilities based on the needs of the hospital

Qualifications:
● High school diploma or equivalent.
● Degree from an accredited veterinary technology program or alternative certification route.
● Valid Washington State Veterinary Technician License, current and in good standing.
● Meets and maintains all qualifications required for LVT Levels 1, 2, and 3.
● Recover CPR (BLS and ALS) certification.
● Minimum five years of veterinary technician experience preferred.
● Demonstrated experience mentoring and training veterinary staff preferred.
Physical Requirements:
● Lift up to 40 lbs and perform active movements (standing, walking, bending, lifting, and patient restraint).
● Manual dexterity for equipment operation and data entry.
● Occasional exposure to chemicals, radiation, and moderate noise levels.

Compensation:
● Salary: $30.00 - $35.00 dependent on skills and experience

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