Lead ER Veterinary Technician - Overnight

Lead ER Veterinary Technician - Overnight

Department: Veterinary Technicians

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Compensation: $24.00 - $28.00 / hour

Description Lead Emergency & ICU Operations When Pets Need You Most

Are you an experienced Emergency Veterinary Technician , ER Lead Tech , or seasoned Veterinary Assistant ready to step into a high-impact overnight leadership role within a fast-paced specialty and emergency hospital?

Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital (CASE) is seeking a Full-Time Overnight ER Lead Technician to support our 3rd Shift Emergency & ICU operations in Hickory, North Carolina. This is not just a technical role this is a hands-on clinical leadership opportunity designed for someone who thrives in:

• Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Medicine
• Overnight hospital operations
• Team leadership and mentorship
• Client communication and de-escalation
• Real-time problem solving and workflow management

As the overnight clinical leader on the floor, you will help guide hospital operations during the absence of daytime leadership while serving as a trusted resource for technicians, assistants, doctors, and clients alike. CASE is a 24/7 Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Referral Hospital providing advanced emergency, critical care, surgical, and specialty services across Western North Carolina. Our hospital includes:

• 24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care
• Internal Medicine
• Advanced Surgery
• Anesthesia & Analgesia
• Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
• Behavioral Medicine
• Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
• ICU & Oxygen Therapy Support

This is a hospital built for veterinary professionals who want to practice advanced medicine while working within a collaborative, high-performing team culture. Overnight emergency medicine requires a unique type of veterinary professional:

• Calm under pressure
• Technically skilled
• Emotionally intelligent
• Operationally aware
• Comfortable leading in real time

As the Overnight ER Lead Technician , you will serve as:

• A clinical and operational leader on the floor
• A mentor and support resource for overnight staff
• A point of escalation for workflow and client service concerns
• A collaborative partner to overnight veterinarians
• A dependable leader helping ensure continuity of care and hospital efficiency overnight

This role is ideal for:

• Experienced Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT/LVT/CVT)
• Senior Emergency Veterinary Technicians
• Strong Veterinary Assistants with advanced ER/ICU experience and leadership capability

Key Responsibilities Overnight ER Lead Technician Emergency & ICU Patient Care

• Provide advanced nursing care for hospitalized ER and ICU patients
• Monitor critical patients and respond to changes in condition
• Perform:
• IV catheter placement
• Venipuncture
• Medication administration (IV, SQ, oral)
• Oxygen therapy support
• Diagnostic sample collection
• CPR and emergency stabilization support
• Assist with anesthesia monitoring and emergency procedures
• Support radiographic and diagnostic imaging procedures

Overnight Hospital Operations Leadership

• Act as the primary overnight leadership presence on the floor
• Support hospital operations in the absence of daytime leadership teams
• Help coordinate workflow, triage, staffing support, and patient flow
• Step into clinical responsibilities as needed to support the team during high-volume periods or call-outs
• Assist with maintaining operational efficiency and overnight accountability

Team Development & Coaching

• Mentor Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants during overnight operations
• Provide real-time coaching and workflow guidance from the floor
• Support onboarding and training of overnight team members
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and supportive overnight culture
• Help identify growth opportunities for support staff development

Client Communication & De-Escalation

• Support difficult client conversations with professionalism and empathy
• Assist with client service escalations and emotional de-escalation situations
• Educate clients regarding treatment plans, estimates, discharge instructions, and overnight care expectations
• Maintain compassionate communication during emotionally charged situations

What We're Looking For Required Qualifications

• Strong background in:

1. Emergency Veterinary Medicine
2. ICU/critical care nursing
3. High-volume veterinary environments

• Ability to confidently support overnight ER operations independently
• Strong technical veterinary skills and clinical judgment
• Leadership mindset with strong communication abilities
• Comfortable leading from the floor in a fast-paced emergency setting
• Ability to multitask and prioritize during high-acuity caseloads

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT/LVT/CVT) strongly preferred
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience in veterinary medicine preferred
• Advanced ER/ICU experience highly preferred
• Experience mentoring or coaching veterinary support staff
• Strong Veterinary Assistants with advanced ER experience encouraged to apply

Why Join CASE? At CASE, we believe overnight teams deserve:

• Strong leadership support
• Respect for technical skill and experience
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• A collaborative specialty hospital culture
• The ability to practice high-level medicine with autonomy and trust

This role offers the opportunity to become a key operational and clinical leader within our Emergency & ICU team.
Full-Time Benefits & Incentives

We believe exceptional veterinary professionals deserve exceptional support.

Compensation & Financial Incentives

• Competitive compensation based on experience, technical skillset, and leadership background
• Overnight / 3rd Shift Pay Differential for hours worked between 12:00 AM 8:00 AM
• This position is eligible for Lead Shift Differential , paid in addition to the base hourly rate listed, for shifts worked in the ER Floor Lead role.
• 401(k) with 2% company match
• Headstart Student loan support opportunities for eligible RVT candidates.
• Paid training and leadership development opportunities

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Access to BetterHelp mental well-being platform
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Professional Growth & RVT Support

• Generous Continuing Education (CE) allowance
• 2 CE-specific PTO days
• Paid state licensure fees and renewals
• Growth and mentorship opportunities within CASE and Innovetive Petcare
• Support for technicians pursuing advanced specialty growth pathways

HeadStart Student Loan Support Program

Eligible RVTs who:

• Graduated from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology Program
• Successfully passed the VTNE within the past 3 years

may qualify for Innovetive Petcares HeadStart Program , designed to support newly credentialed technicians as they transition into advanced clinical practice.

Additional Benefits

• Flexible scheduling support
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee pet care discounts
• Collaborative specialty & emergency hospital environment

Why Hickory, North Carolina?

Enjoy the perfect balance of career growth and quality of life:

• Affordable cost of living
• Access to Charlotte & Asheville
• Outdoor recreation & Blue Ridge Mountain access
• Thriving veterinary referral community
• Strong specialty and emergency caseload exposure

Ready to Lead Overnight Emergency Operations at CASE?

If you are an experienced:

• Emergency Veterinary Technician
• ER Lead Tech
• RVT/LVT/CVT
• Veterinary Assistant with advanced ER/ICU experience

who is ready to help lead a high-performing overnight emergency team, we want to hear from you.
Apply today and join Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital (CASE) where leadership, emergency medicine, and advanced patient care come together overnight.