Veterinary Medical Assistant

General Position Summary:
The Medical Assistant is responsible for assisting the Medical Manager as needed with ensuring the overall health and wellness of animals housed in the Brother Wolf Adoption Center and in Brother Wolf foster homes.
Essential Function/Major Responsibilities:

• Implements treatment plans for animals needing health care under the direction of the Medical Manager and Veterinarian of Record.
• Administers oral, topical, and subcutaneous medications and vaccinations under the direction of the Medical Manager and Veterinarian of Record.
• Facilitates medical appointments with foster families.
• Meets with foster parents and adopters to discuss treatment plans and medications.
• Completes all aspects of entering medical information into the database, ensuring that records are complete and detailed. Updates animals' records as needed.
• Monitors the health of all animals housed in the Adoption Center on an ongoing basis and rapidly identifies any health concerns or conditions.
• Acts as a liaison between the front desk and medical departments to prioritize medical appointments.
• Assists with daily tasks such as restocking medications, refilling medications, paperwork, and returning phone calls.
• Provides excellent customer service while assisting adopters, volunteers, fosters, or other Brother Wolf staff and maintains a friendly demeanor.
• Acts as a liaison between Brother Wolf's medical department and multiple partner veterinary clinics to follow up on treatment plans, schedule appointments, coordinate drop off/pick up of animals, and provide ongoing coordination for animals that require multiple appointments.
• Restrains animals for vaccines, medicating, nail trims, and other medical procedures as needed using Fear Free techniques.
• Transports animals to offsite appointments as needed.
• Maintains daily cleanliness of the Medical Department, including taking out the trash, sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing all surfaces.
• Participates in paid, after-hours on-call rotation.
• Humanely euthanizes animals due to medical or behavioral circumstances.
• Helps to ensure a healthy, safe, clean and pleasant environment for the animals and the public at all times.
• Treats all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion at all times, regardless of the situation or circumstance.
• Promotes a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
• Fills in for other areas and performs other tasks, functions, duties as needed or requested.

Qualifications:

• Two or more years prior experience working in the animal medical field. Shelter experience is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain accurate and detailed record keeping are essential.
• Familiarity with diseases common to dogs and cats as well as preventive, therapeutic, and veterinary treatment of domestic animals.
• Experience handling animals in a safe and effective manner, especially large, untrained animals, those with unknown dispositions, or aggressive tendencies. Willingness to become certified in Fear Free techniques.
• Knowledge of animal behavior. Experience working volunteering with an animal welfare agency is a plus.
• Knowledge of contemporary shelter and clinic maintenance techniques and accepted sanitary practices.
• Ability to identify medical and behavioral problems immediately and communicate them effectively.
• Rabies inoculations required (facilitated by employer as needed).
• Must be certified in Buncombe County to vaccinate animals for rabies or be willing to become certified (facilitated by employer as needed).
• Must be certified as a euthanasia technician or be willing to become certified (facilitated by employer as needed).
• Ability to multitask and take initiative, working with minimal supervision and direction.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and time management skills are essential.
• Ability to read, write, and understand English is required. Bilingual skills are a plus.
• Comfortable with technology such as the Google App Suite and online databases and scheduling tools.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license and, if hired, be able to bring a clean driving printout from the DMV.
• Understand, agree with, and live the Brother Wolf mission, values, and vision.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical ability to walk and or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday is required. Ability to bend and squat repetitively throughout the day.
• Physical ability to engage in repetitive motions of legs, arms, and hands and to hear and see clearly.
• Physical ability to push up to 150lbs and to carry up to 50lbs regularly and independently throughout a regular workday required.
• Allergic conditions, which may be aggravated when handling or working with animals, may be a disqualification.

Working conditions:
Conditions may include working alone, working inside or outside during varying weather conditions, frequent interruptions, and some evenings/weekends meetings and shifts.
Educational Requirements:
Registered Veterinary Technician or equivalent experience preferred
Availability: This position must be available to be scheduled for work five days a week between the hours of 7 AM and 6 PM without other conflicts. The typical schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday with a total of 40 hours of work per week. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year as animals need daily care.