Overnight Lead Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) – Emergency & Critical Care

South Metro Animal Emergency Care | Apple Valley, MN

Compensation & Benefits

• $34–$38/hour, based on experience

• +$6/hour overnight differential (8 PM–8 AM)

• +$2/hour weekend differential

• $2,500 sign-on bonus

• PTO, medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life and AD&D insurance, EAP, supplemental insurance options, and eligibility for performance-based bonuses

About the Position

South Metro Animal Emergency Care (SMAEC) is a growing, 24/7, AAHA-accredited emergency hospital looking for an experienced Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) to join our team as an Overnight Lead.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced emergency technician who enjoys taking on additional responsibility, supporting fellow team members, and helping keep overnight operations running smoothly.

In this role, you'll provide hands-on patient care while serving as a resource and leader for the overnight team. You'll work closely with our emergency veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and hospital leadership to maintain high standards of patient care, support team development, and identify opportunities to improve daily operations.

We believe our technicians play an important role in patient care and clinical decision-making. Our teams are well supported, with typical staffing of 2 credentialed technicians and 2 veterinary assistants per doctor, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your patients and your team.

What You'll Do

Our caseload includes a variety of emergency and critical care cases, including toxin exposures, foreign bodies, urinary obstructions, respiratory emergencies, trauma, surgical emergencies, and hospitalized patients.

As the Overnight Lead, your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing overnight clinical operations and helping ensure the team is providing consistent, high-quality patient care.

• Performing initial triage and working alongside DVMs to prioritize cases and determine treatment needs.

• Providing hands-on care for emergency and hospitalized patients.

• Placing IV catheters, NG tubes, central lines, and PICC lines.

• Applying splints and bandages.

• Monitoring anesthesia and assisting with surgical procedures.

• Reviewing treatment plans with clients and answering questions with compassion and confidence.

• Monitoring hospitalized patients and communicating changes in their condition to the medical team.

• Providing guidance, mentorship, and support to technicians and veterinary assistants.

• Helping maintain clear communication, accountability, and consistency across the overnight team.

• Working with the Hospital Leadership Team and Medical Director on workflow improvements, team development, and department goals.

What We're Looking For

• Current Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) credential.

• Previous experience in emergency and critical care medicine.

• Strong technical skills and confidence handling a variety of emergency cases.

• Previous leadership experience is preferred, but we're also interested in experienced technicians ready to take the next step.

• Someone who enjoys mentoring others and helping teammates grow.

• Strong communication and organizational skills.

• Ability to remain calm, make sound decisions, and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.

• A team-oriented approach with the ability to provide guidance and hold others accountable when needed.

• Someone who takes pride in their work and wants to contribute to a positive, supportive team.

Why Join South Metro Animal Emergency Care?

At SMAEC, we recognize the important role veterinary technicians play in emergency medicine. We want our team members to feel supported, respected, and involved in the care they provide.

Some of what you can expect:

• A technician-forward environment where your skills and clinical knowledge are valued.

• Strong technician-to-doctor staffing ratios.

• Opportunities to work with a diverse and challenging emergency caseload.

• A collaborative relationship with our veterinarians and hospital leadership.

• Opportunities to mentor others and grow professionally.

• Flexible scheduling options, including 8-, 10-, and 12-hour shifts, with swing and overnight opportunities.

READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

For more information about our hospital, visit smaec.com.

To apply, contact Christine Strassburg at christine.strassburg@lakefieldvet.com or apply at careers.lakefieldvet.com.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Veterinary Technician Lead supports the Hospital Administrator with the
daily operations of the hospital. This position is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks that
ensure smooth operations, medical accuracy, efficiency and effective communication. They assist
in developing goals and policies that embody Lakefield Veterinary Group’s core values. They also
help facilitate best practices by all team members to deliver quality, compassionate healthcare to
all pets. Ensures good communication with the clients, veterinarians, CSR. This position acts as a
lead and provides guidance and training to the technicians and assistants at the hospital.

WHAT YOU’LL DO (Essential Functions):
• Foster a culture built on our values: Respect, Learning, Do the Right Thing, WOW Service,
and Fun.
• Support a practice environment that promotes collaboration and teamwork and ensure the
delivery of quality, compassionate, effective, and efficient health care to pets.
• Comply with all practice policies, quality assurance guidelines, and minimum standards of
care.
• Respond to customer complaints in a professional, courteous manner and act to
satisfactorily resolve the problem.
• Perform Lead duties by providing guidance and expertise on daily activities for the
technicians and assistants.

o Assign duties and monitor execution to ensure service standards are met.
o Provide insights to the Hospital Administrator regarding the skill level and
performance of the nursing team.
o Participate in technician and assistant performance reviews.
o Participate in interviews for potential new hires.
o Provide training for new technicians and assistants and existing staff.
o Ensure quality and standards of care are adhered to.
o Hold regular technician/assistant meetings and follow up with hospital leadership
on agenda items.
o Create and maintain protocols for Technician/Assistant Manual.
o Maintain technician/assistant schedules.

• Oversee the daily duties of fellow technicians and assistants:

o Ensure efficient flow to the day’s activities including DVM exams, technician
appointments, drop offs and surgeries.
o Ensure proper medical treatments are provided to all patients.
o Ensure proper restraint techniques are practiced using Fear Free principles and that
all pets are being treated with compassion.

o Ensure surgery patients are being properly medicated and up to date anesthetic
protocols are practiced.
o Ensure hospitalized/surgical patients are receiving proper care throughout their stay.
o Ensure a calm and professional atmosphere is maintained in exam rooms.
o Ensure estimates and invoices are accurate.
• Oversee inventory management
o Ensure proper stock of medicine and medical supplies for the clinic.
o Takes weekly inventory count for ordering.
o Place online/phone orders for all supplies as needed.
o Enter invoices/stock into PIMS.
o Responsible for End of Month counts (data entry and discrepancies).
o Ensure medication prices are up to date.

• Cubex

o Responsible for all controlled drug and DOC inventory.
o Ensures all team members using Cubex properly.
o Ensures proper stock of medications within the Cubex.
o Responsible for one or more of the following tasks relating to controlled drug
management:

 Ordering
 Restocking
 Cycle Count and Discrepancy Resolution

• Practice Management Software (PIMS) Liaison

o Ensure PIMS are in good working order.
o Handle technical problems that arise within PIMS.
o Responsible for new integrations with PIMS.
o Responsible for formatting templates and forms in PIMS in coordination with the MD
and HA.
o Responsible for receiving any new training for PIMS and ensuring all staff is up to
date in PIMS training.

• Hospital compliance and regulatory duties

o Update hospital protocols annually in coordination with MD.
o Maintain Radiation Log(s), Anesthesia Log
o Maintain OSHA compliance/oversee OSHA safety officer.
o Understand and train team on requirements for compliance:

 OSHA
 AAHA
 DEA
 FDA
 Radiation board

• Equipment maintenance and compliance

o X-ray and Dental machine maintenance

 Ensure x-ray machines are in working order and all radiographs are
appropriately labeled and stored.
 Completes annual PPE safety check and documents in log.
 Ensure dental machine is maintained daily.

o Anesthesia machine(s) maintenance
o Anesthesia monitor(s) maintenance and replacement parts.
o Ensure surgery and dental rooms are sanitized monthly.
o Inventory surgical instruments and replace poor quality instruments in coordination
with MD.
o Ensure treatment room, exam rooms, pharmacy, kennel and x-ray room are
maintained and clean daily.

• Complete 10 hours of professional development annually.
• Perform other duties and projects as requested.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR (Essential Qualifications):

• Associates or higher degree required.
• Preferred from a veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary
Medicine Association (AVMA).

Professional Licenses/Certifications

• Successful completion of the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE),
administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
• State-recognized veterinary technician certification (CVT, LVT, or RVT) with credentials in
good standing.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of experience as a technician in veterinary practice, including clinical
and laboratory work with live animals.
• 2-3 years of experience leading a department or team.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of veterinary hospital practices and procedures.
• Adaptable/Flexibility in all positions/scheduling - rooms, float, dentals, surgery
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple
priorities and take initiative in managing the efficiency of daily operations.
• Ability to handle and maintain sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Professional, caring, compassionate, and tactful interactions with clients and employees.
• Effective decision-making skills for determining optimal methods to treat pet injuries and
illnesses.
• Ability to direct, coach, support, encourage and lead others in a positive and collaborative
manner.

• Advanced knowledge of medical equipment, medical conditions, pharmaceuticals and
surgical procedures.
• Advanced proficiency with various computer programs, including Microsoft Outlook, Word,
Excel, and Practice Management Software (PIMS).
• Strong written, verbal, and active listening communication skills with a customer-oriented
approach.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to convey complex technical details to individuals with varying degrees of technical
knowledge.
• Proactively identify issues and formulate solutions.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to talk and hear. The
team member must frequently use a computer for long periods of time. Specific vision abilities are
required to do this job including close vision. This position requires walking and/or standing for long
periods of time, bending, reaching, grasping, and repetitive motions. Must be able to lift up to 30
lbs. unassisted, 50 lbs. with assistance. Working environment may be stressful with aggressive,
frightened, abused or injured animals that may bite or scratch. Must be able to work flexible hours
including evenings, weekends and holidays.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervisory responsibility, along with the Hospital Administrator, for Veterinary Technicians and
Assistants.

ABOUT LAKEFIELD VETERINARY GROUP 

We believe exceptional veterinary care starts with exceptional people.  

We partner with hospitals across the country to preserve what makes each practice special - its people, culture, and connection to community - while providing the operational support and resources that allow teams to thrive.  

As we grow, we are committed to creating an environment where team members feel respected, supported, and empowered to deliver outstanding care. 

Our Values 

Our culture is built on five core values that guide how we work and serve: 

• Respect 

• Learning 

• Do the Right Thing 

• Wow Service 

• Fun 

If these resonate with you, you’ll fit right in. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Lakefield Veterinary Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members and applicants.

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