Veterinary Assistant
County of Ventura Camarillo, California, United States
- Location: Camarillo, California, United States
- Categories: Accounting and Finance, Animal Control or Services
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: May 30, 2025
Job Description:
Veterinary Assistant
Description
DescriptionABOUT VENTURA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES (VCAS)
VCAS has adopted the Socially Conscious Sheltering (SCS) framework, which aligns with our core values of encouraging cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders (elected officials, community members, private veterinarians, transfer/rescue partners, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, local businesses, volunteers, and other animal welfare agencies). We wish to promote a positive culture of mutual respect and support.
We offer a wide array of programs and services to the residents and animals of Ventura County. These services include animal sheltering, pet adoptions, lost & found, field services, cruelty investigations, pet licensing, TNR surgical services, low-cost vaccination clinics, volunteer/foster opportunities, and emergency disaster response. Each year, Ventura County Animal Services cares for more than 10,000 stray and surrendered animals. VCAS operates two amazing, open admission, life-saving shelters within the county: the main shelter in Camarillo has a 400-animal capacity, which can increase to over 900 during declared natural disasters and the Simi Valley Animal Shelter, which is a smaller facility offering many of the same services as the Camarillo Shelter. In 2014, VCAS became the largest Open Admission Municipal Animal Shelter in California with a Save Rate of over 90% and has maintained this rate since that time.
THE POSITION
Under general direction, performs veterinary services including spay/neuter surgeries; examines and determines preventative medical care and treatments for shelter animals and stray animal emergency cases; and provides oversight for the security and dispensing of drugs and ensures compliance with all federal and state regulations. Performs other related duties as requested.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
- Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.
- Vacation Accrual - Minimum of fourteen (14) days earned per calendar year at time of hire up to twenty-six (26) days earned per calendar year maximum.
- Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 2% match on your 401(k) contributions.
- Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans. Tier one for employee only is $502 per pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $730 per pay period and tier three for employee plus family is $905 per pay period.
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
- Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes an annual floating holiday.
Veterinary Assistant is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.
The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies. There are currently two (2) Fixed Term vacancies with an expected duration of August 1, 2025 through August 1, 2028. A Fixed Term position is a position designated by the Director-Human Resources or Board of Supervisors to which persons may be appointed for fixed terms not to exceed three (3) years. Fixed Term employees are eligible for the same benefits and compensation as Regular employees.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: May 29, 2025
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.
FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: June 13, 2025
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Under direction of Veterinarian and/or supervision of the Registered Veterinary Technician, provides medical care and treatment to animals by restraint of animals, assisting in conducting physical examinations, providing treatments and performing diagnostics, and observing for clinical symptoms;
- Cleans and prepares the operating rooms/treatment rooms, surgical instruments, medical equipment, medications and sedatives for use;
- Ensures that correct equipment and instruments are at hand, that monitoring and support equipment such as anesthetic machines, monitors, scopes, breathing apparatus are operable and sanitizes necessary equipment, instruments and the surgery area;
- Prepares instruments and medical supplies for Veterinarian use; prepares animals for various types of surgery; assists with anesthesia;
- Maintains records of animal treatments and monitors the feeding, care and physical condition of animals under veterinary care;
- Assists with admissions, discharges and surgical releases;
- Checks incisions, clips and bathes animals to remove mats, blood, tar or other materials detrimental to the animal's health;
- Travels throughout the County to various mobile spay and neuter locations, shelters, vaccine clinics, and special events; and
- Performs other related duties as required.
Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. The required knowledge, skills and abilities also can be obtained by:
- Experience in the care and handling of animals in an animal care clinic or animal care setting
- Must possess a valid California driver license at the time of hire and maintain it thereafter
- Must be willing and able to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays
- Must be willing and able to work in a mobile Spay/Neuter clinic that works in various locations throughout the County
- Must be willing and able to stoop, bend, lift, carry and/or move animals and supplies up to 50 pounds
- Incumbents may be required to wear a uniform during work hours
- Incumbents are required to successfully complete a Department approved course leading to a certification in Euthanasia by Injection within the first six (6) months of hire or promotion OR possess and maintain a valid license as a Registered Veterinary Technician with the California Veterinary Medical Board
- Incumbents are required to successfully obtain a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) through the California Veterinary Medical Board within the first six (6) months of hire or promotion OR possess and maintain a valid license as a Registered Veterinary Technician with the California Veterinary Medical Board
Ability to: learn how to handle and care for animals in a humane manner; learn how to recognize abnormal behavioral and physical symptoms in animals; learn how to safely handle and maintain clinic medical instruments and equipment; learn how to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships; learn how to deal tactfully with the public; utilize department's shelter software programs; identify, understand, evaluate illnesses, habits and behaviors of various animals; take action in maintaining herd health to prevent cross contamination; recognize signs and symptoms of zoonotic diseases; learn how to maintain simple records and make reports as necessary.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Duties are performed primarily indoors but may also be performed outdoors in varying weather and atmospheric conditions. Duties involve moderate to heavy physical activities. There is frequent exposure to dangerous and/or diseased animals, hazardous materials and extreme noise. Will be required to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays. Duties will also be performed in a mobile Spay/Neuter trailer throughout Ventura County.
Recruitment Process
FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.
To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at http://www.ventura.org/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources-Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003.
Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application and supplemental questionnaire.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.
APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.
WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100% An un-proctored, internet-based, job-related written examination will be conducted to evaluate participating applicants' knowledge of Anatomy, Common Animal Diseases, Animal Behavior, Care, Handling and Feeding Animals, Cleaning and Disinfecting Methods, Pharmacy Inventory, Dispensing & Administering Drugs, Surgical Procedures & Equipment, Medical Equipment/Laboratory Procedures, AND Medical Records/Reports for successful performance on the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
Candidates successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.
INTERVIEW PROCESS: For more information about how to prepare for a selection interview, please click here.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post-offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record is required for this position.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
For more information about this recruitment, please contact Maritza David by e-mail at maritza.david@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 677-5162.
YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE
Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)
(SEIU)
To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.
- Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
- Retirement FAQ's
- Memorandum of Agreement
Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ, UPT, UWS