Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant at CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region

Austin, Texas, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

16 Jul, 26

Salary

17.0

Posted On

17 Apr, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Animal care, Veterinary assistance, Medical treatment administration, Triage, Volunteer coordination, Time management, Organizational skills, Data tracking, Sanitation, Communication, Attention to detail, Teamwork, Problem solving, Record keeping, Animal restraint

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service. BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: APA!’s Neonatal Kitten Nursery is one of the first of its kind, providing round-the-clock care and support for the most vulnerable of kitten populations. With over 2500 cats and kittens cared for every year, it is a key lifesaving program at APA! and an important piece of the equation that keeps Austin a No-Kill city. The Neonatal Kitten Medical Technician provides feeding and medical treatment to the cats and kittens in APA!’s Neonatal Program. The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s neonatal program. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for shelter operations. The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork. APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect. This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained, and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow. RESPONSIBILITIES: All Neonatal Kitten Nursery employees and volunteers must follow established policies and procedures at all times and must be able to work calmly and efficiently even when the nursery is at full capacity. * Perform intake exams on kittens and nursing/pregnant cats that come into the nursery, including blood draws for * Administer oral, topical, and subcutaneous medications and vaccines, as well as nebulizer treatments * Recognize symptoms of illness and prescribe proper medications according to established medical protocols, fill medications, and complete corresponding medical charts and paperwork * Elevate non-protocoled medication conditions and illnesses to the Medical Clinic. * Communicate clearly via email and in person with fosters, volunteers, and other staff members * Triage and prioritize workload according to training and develop an understanding of critical tasks vs non-critical tasks. * React with urgency to meet kitten and foster parent needs. * Work efficiently and manage your time effectively according to training and manager/director guidance. * Work independently and self motivate to complete the tasks at hand as well as plan for future and incoming requests and needs. * Track nursery kittens' weights daily to ensure they are gaining weight and thriving * Administer and communicate Fading Kitten Protocol * Spot treat nursery kittens with ringworm using lime dip * Restock medical supplies * Decontaminate rooms, crates, carriers, and other supplies * Assist in feeding nursery kittens, including tube feeding when needed * Help keep the nursery clean and running efficiently, which includes, but is not limited to, doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking trash and recycling out * Set up crates for incoming cats * Complete and submit daily and weekly checklists and reports, including EOD report, COVID sanitation checklist, and team handoff checklist * Train and learn basic kitten placement SOPs * Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment * Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed * Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program * Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work * Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager * Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts * Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support * Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager OTHER FUNCTIONS: * Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills * Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings * Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues * Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis * Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned * Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed * Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment * Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS: * High school diploma or equivalent required * Basic math skills required * Basic knowledge of common cat illnesses, injuries, conditions, and restraint techniques preferred * Experience volunteering with cats or working with cats in a medical setting preferred * Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail * Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment * Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with staff, volunteers, and fosters PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS: * Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine bleach and other chemicals, and inclement weather * Must be able to comfortably interact with cats of unknown health and behavior status and that may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc. * Must be able to move up to 40 pounds * Must be able to position self to tend to kittens in crates at varying heights from floor to ceiling * If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship to the organization. WORK ENVIRONMENT: * Exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals * Uses own transportation for travel and transport * While onsite may be exposed to unpleasant odors and noises, bites, scratches and animal waste * Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs EXPECTATIONS: * All staff must follow established policies and procedures at all times and must be able to work calmly and efficiently when the nursery is at full capacity * Commitment to the values and mission of APA! including sustaining a no-kill Austin and treating animals in APA! custody with compassion, kindness, and quality care * Follow the established chain-of-command to solve problems if/when they arise * Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart * Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations * Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission * Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles * Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members * Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials * Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively * Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations * Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality * Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed * Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience TIME COMMITMENT: * This is a full-time, nonexempt position with an average of 40 hours per week. * Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change * Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed * Shifts are variable between approximately 7:00 am - 9:00 pm. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position will report to the Neonatal Care Team Manager. LOCATION: * APA! Neonatal Nursery at 3102 Windsor Rd, Suite D Austin, TX 78703 * May travel to offsite locations as needed BENEFITS: Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life-saving work. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation. APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at job@austinpetsalive.org at least one week in advance of your interview.

Responsibilities

The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant provides essential medical care, feeding, and treatment to kittens in the nursery while collaborating with volunteers. This role involves maintaining high standards of cleanliness, tracking kitten health data, and ensuring efficient nursery operations.