Senior Surgery Veterinary Technician

Live with Grace Animal Hospital

Senior / Surgery Veterinary Technician

(Port St. Lucie, FL | Tradition)

Position Summary

The Senior / Surgery Veterinary Technician is an experienced clinical professional responsible for advanced anesthesia, surgical, and dental support at Live with Grace Animal Hospital. This role serves as the primary technician for surgical procedures, functioning with a high level of autonomy to ensure patient safety, procedural efficiency, and Fear Free care.

Working closely with veterinarians, the Senior / Surgery Veterinary Technician provides leadership in the surgical setting, supports complex cases, and mentors fellow technicians while maintaining the hospital's standards for clinical excellence, teamwork, and compassionate care.

Core Responsibilities

Mentorship & Team Support

* Mentor Veterinary Technicians through hands-on training, coaching, and real-time guidance.

* Act as a clinical resource during surgery days, complex cases, and high-volume periods.

* Reinforce Fear Free protocols, anesthesia safety standards, and hospital procedures.

* Support leadership in identifying training needs and skill-development opportunities within the technician team.

Surgical & Anesthesia Leadership

* Serve as the primary technician for routine and advanced surgical and dental procedures.

* Independently calculate, administer, and adjust anesthetic protocols in collaboration with veterinarians.

* Lead anesthesia induction, intubation, monitoring, recovery, and pain management for surgical patients.

* Proactively recognize, communicate, and respond to anesthetic or surgical complications.

* Prepare surgical suites, instruments, and equipment while maintaining strict sterility and safety standards.

* Anticipate procedural needs to support efficient surgical flow and optimal patient outcomes.

Advanced Dentistry & Diagnostics

* Perform complete dental procedures including scaling, polishing, charting, and high-quality digital dental radiographs.

* Support veterinarians during complex dental extractions and advanced oral procedures.

* Ensure diagnostic accuracy and image quality for radiology and dental imaging.

Patient Advocacy & Hospitalized Care

* Provide advanced nursing care for surgical and hospitalized patients, including IV fluid therapy, pain management, wound care, and post-operative monitoring.

* Serve as a patient advocate, ensuring comfort, safety, and Fear Free handling at all stages of care.

Operational Excellence

* Maintain anesthesia logs, controlled substance compliance, and surgical records.

* Assist with inventory oversight for surgery, anesthesia, and dentistry supplies.

* Ensure anesthesia, monitoring, and surgical equipment is properly maintained and functional.

* Participate in rounds, case discussions, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

* 5+ years of progressive experience in a small animal practice, with demonstrated surgical and anesthesia responsibility."

* Advanced proficiency in anesthesia management, surgical support, and dentistry.

* Demonstrated ability to independently manage anesthetic cases, including complication recognition and response.

* Prior experience mentoring or supporting the development of other technicians.

* Strong Fear Free handling skills with a calm, confident presence in surgical and urgent situations.

* Excellent communication, organization, and attention to detail.

* Deep alignment with the Live with Grace mission and Fear Free philosophy.

* Credentialed Veterinary Technician (CVT/LVT/RVT) strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

* Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. unassisted and assist with team lifts over 50 lbs.

* Capable of standing, bending, and walking for extended periods during shifts.

* Must be able to perform all aspects of patient care safely and compassionately.

Company Overview

At Live with Grace Animal Hospital, our mission is to deliver compassionate, high-quality veterinary care that supports our clients and their pets through every stage of life. We believe pets are family and we're dedicated to treating each patient with kindness, respect, and personalized attention. We value clear communication, continued learning,…