Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant

Smith Veterinary Hospital | Santa Fe, NM
 

Schedule:full-time, Monday-Friday availability is required.
Compensation: Pay range starting at $18/hour. Final pay will consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

About You

Smith Veterinary Hospital is looking for a Veterinary Assistant to join our team as part of the Thrive Pet Healthcare community. No prior animal handling or veterinary experience is required. If you love animals, are eager to learn, and want to start a career in veterinary medicine, our team is happy to train you. You'll work alongsideveterinarians, technicians, and client service team members, supporting patient care, keeping our hospital running smoothly, and helping pets and their families have a positive experience.

 Responsibilities

• Learn and follow hospital protocols while supporting veterinarians and technicians during exams, treatments, and procedures.
• Gently and safely handle and comfort patients, with hands-on training in low-stress and safe restraint techniques.
• Assist with patient intake, including escorting clients and pets to exam rooms and recording basic information such as weights.
• Help prepare treatment areas and supplies, and assist with laboratory samples and diagnostic procedures as trained.
• Support surgery and dental procedures by preparing rooms, instruments, and supplies as trained.
• Clean, disinfect, and organize exam rooms, kennels, treatment areas, and equipment, and keep them stocked.
• Care for hospitalized patients, including feeding, walking, and cleaning kennels.
• Follow OSHA, safety, and infection-control protocols.
• Communicate clearly and kindly with clients and teammates.
• Take part in a positive, collaborative team environment and in continuing education opportunities.
• Complete other tasks as assigned.

About You

• Prior vet med or animal handling experience is preferred but not required. We are open to training someone who is eager to learn and wants to start a career in veterinary medicine.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• A genuine love of animals and a compassionate, patient approach.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and welcome feedback.
• A positive, team-first attitude and a reliable, professional work ethic.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to stay calm and adaptable in a fast-paced hospital environment.
• Comfort working around animals of various sizes and temperaments, with training and support.
• Interest in building a long-term career in veterinary medicine.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements below may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and assist with larger patients.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and reach for extended periods.
• Ability to work around animals of various sizes and temperaments, cleaning chemicals, medications, and potential biohazards.

You’ll Grow with Us

Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU
• Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills 
• A program designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital

And, with so many locations nationwide, you can find and move into any specialty, hospital type, or environment. Join us and provide your best care at a clinic that is deeply rooted within its community and bolstered by the resources of Thrive Pet Healthcare.

Benefits – our care in action

Thrive offers a suite of benefits to support team members’ emotional, physical, professional, and financial wellbeing. In addition to our health and life insurance, and short- and long- term disability plans, we offer eligible team members:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with employer match
• Mental health resources, including easy access to therapy through Lyra Health
• Paid parental leave
• Purr-ental leave for when you adopt a pet
• Subsidized backup childcare and elder care
• Expert advice, support and network discounts for fertility and family planning
• FREE CE courses
• Pet perks and veterinary service discounts
• Student loan support tools and assistance

*Some benefits shown are only for full-time team members who work 30 hours or more per week. Certain Benefits may be subject to waiting periods or length of service requirements.

About the Hospital

Smith Veterinary Hospital has proudly served pets in Santa Fe and the surrounding communities for over 75 years. Our AAHA-accredited and Feline-Friendly certified hospital offers primary, urgent, and emergency care, along with surgical, dental, and ultrasound services. We’re committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care in a collaborative environment that supports both pets and the people who love them.

About Thrive

Thrive Pet Healthcare creates the future of pet well-being through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community of teams and partners. Today, its network of 360+ primary, emergency, and specialty hospitals across the U.S. cares for pets of all ages and health needs. Thrive invests in its people—through mentorship, leadership programs, continuing education, and well-being initiatives—so teams can grow and feel supported. For pet owners, convenient solutions such as a mobile app, digital booking, Thrive PlusTM membership, HereFurYou Helpline, an online pharmacy and flexible financial options* make accessing quality care simpler— giving families the peace of mind their pets deserve. 

Thrive Pet Healthcare has been recognized by Top Workplaces with Culture Excellence Awards for Purpose & Values and Work-Life Flexibility. The Purpose & Values award reflects organizations that consistently live what they stand for, brought to life at Thrive through our commitment to shaping the future of pet wellbeing and our core values. These values guide how we work and how we care for pets, clients, and one another. The Work-Life Flexibility award recognizes our focus on making meaningful work sustainable, supporting our teams in balancing professional impact with life outside of work.

We welcome you to join our story and join where #WeThriveTogether. Learn more at thrivepetcare.com.