Shelter Veterinary Services Coordinator
Summary: The Shelter Veterinary Service Coordinator is responsible for the operation of the League’s Veterinary services including surgery for AWLA shelter animals, caretaker community cats, and contracted surgery for other shelter or rescue clients. The Shelter Veterinary Service Coordinator works under the leadership of Shelter Veterinary Services Manager (LVT) and Veterinary Director and within the policies and guidelines of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. This position is based in Arlington, Virginia.
This position reports to the team manager and works within a small cohesive team of three staff members. This position will also work closely with all League staff, volunteers, and the public.
Compensation: The compensation for the position starts at $20.00 per hour. Applicants with LVT certification (Virginia), compensation is $22.00 per hour
Responsibilities include the following but other duties may be assigned:
- Assist in surgery including but not limited to: bringing animals to and from surgical suite the morning of and after surgery, recovering animals from anesthesia following surgical procedures, restraining animals for pre-medication and catheter placement/intubation.
- Monitor anesthesia of animals during surgical procedures in the absence of the LVT.
- Perform daily pre/post-surgery preparation in the absence of the LVT.
- Knowledgeable to common shelter medical terminology and diagnoses.
- Scheduling/dispensing medications as recommended by the Veterinary Director and/or per medical protocols.
- Scheduling procedures for AWLA animals at external Hospitals (SEAVS, CVCA, ect), ensuring transportation is coordinated to and from appointments.
- Assist Veterinary Team with medical examinations and other duties as needed.
- Maintain inventory of all shelter /medical supplies and medications, ordering if necessary
- Data entry of all surgical reports into PetPoint (Software Database).
- Maintain and enhance the AWLA visiting veterinarian program and maintain relationships with veterinarians available for surgery coverage when needed.
- Promote a strong commitment to teamwork, customer service, consistent standards, and continuous improvement within the veterinary department.
- Work collaboratively with kennel, adoptions and administrative staffAdditional duties as considered necessary and assigned.
Supervisory responsibilities: no supervisory responsibilities
Qualifications:
Education / Licenses / Certifications:
- Licensed as Veterinary Technician or similar level of experience (preferred, not required)
- Certified or ability to get Humane Euthanasia Certification within one (1) year of hire
- Experience in the field of animal welfare or veterinary medicine
- Experience with “hands-on” nonprofits
- Experience working with PetPoint
- Experience with computer databases, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office platform
- Knowledge in other languages is a plus (but not required): Arabic, Mandarin, Sign Language, Spanish or Vietnamese
- Animal Care Expertise: Ability to properly restrain animals for pre-medication and catheter placement; knowledge of companion animal care and behavior.
- Communication and Teamwork: Strong communication skills with the public, volunteers, and co-workers regarding sensitive and emotional situations; willingness to work collaboratively and ask questions.
- Professionalism and Work Ethic: Dedicated to the mission of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington; committed to organizational goals; positive, enthusiastic, and professional demeanor; energetic, hardworking, and highly organized self-starter.
- Problem-Solving and Resilience: Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to maintain composure in stressful, sensitive, or emergency situations.
- Confidentiality: discretion with confidential information.
- Record-Keeping Skills: Ability to write clearly and maintain detailed records.
Typical physical and mental demands: Working with animals involves frequent bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and extended periods of walking or standing. You will need strong hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to operate common equipment like computers, telephones, photocopiers, and other systems/tools used in daily tasks.
Be prepared for exposure to injured or deceased animals, disinfectant chemicals, and fluctuating indoor and outdoor temperatures. You may assist in restraining animals, including those that are distressed or aggressive, and face potentially hazardous situations like bites or scratches.
Physical strength and dexterity are essential for managing animals on a leash, often while performing other tasks such as opening doors. You should be able to lift and move heavy objects or animals (up to 50 lbs) and engage in active, physical work throughout the day.
Clear hearing and vision are necessary for effective communication with the public, volunteers, staff, and animals. Flexibility and adaptability are also crucial to managing frequent interruptions and changes in routine. Comfort around a wide variety of animals—including dogs, cats, small companion animals, reptiles, amphibians, and wildlife—is key.
Additionally, this role requires emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience to handle both the rewarding and challenging aspects of working with animals. Candidates must maintain composure, show compassion, and stay focused in a dynamic environment.
Vaccination requirement: Upon hire, employees will be required to receive rabies prophylaxis and tetanus vaccinations
Benefits: We offer comprehensive medical benefits, including dental and vision insurance. Employees accrue vacation and sick time separately, with 12 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays each year. After two years of employment, employees are eligible for a 7% retirement contribution from the company. This position also qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additionally, we offer a salary bonus for proficiency in Arabic, Mandarin, Sign Language, Spanish, or Vietnamese. Employees also receive free pet adoptions, free pet vaccines, and other pet-related benefits.