Lead Veterinary Technician
- Compensation
- $26–$30 / hr
- Location
- Chicago, IL, USA
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Lead
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- Not specified
- Category
- Healthcare
- Posted
Must have
- Passion for animal welfare and PAWS Chicago's No Kill mission.
- Strong understanding of veterinary nursing principles, including patient assessment, disease recognition, medication administration, laboratory procedures, and animal restraint.
- Experience with blood collection, IV catheter placement, treatment administration, and patient monitoring.
- Ability to remain calm, organized, and compassionate while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced clinical environment.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Basic computer proficiency.
Nice to have
- Minimum 3 years technician experience required
- Certified Veterinary Technician in Illinois preferred
- Animal shelter experience preferred
- Minimum of 1-2 years of leadership experience
Full description
**Where Advanced Medicine Meets Lifesaving Impact
At PAWS Chicago, every patient has a story—and every member of our medical team plays a vital role in changing its ending.
PAWS Chicago provides advanced medical care to thousands of homeless and at-risk animals each year while maintaining an industry-leading save rate. Our Shelter Medicine team treats everything from neonatal kittens and puppies to critically ill emergency patients, infectious disease cases, trauma, and medically complex animals that require intensive nursing care and close collaboration across disciplines.
For veterinary technicians, there are few environments that offer this breadth of experience. Every day presents new challenges, opportunities to expand your clinical skills, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals who have nowhere else to turn.
If you're looking for a career where your technical expertise is valued, your professional growth is supported, and your work directly saves lives, we'd love to meet you
Position Summary
The Shelter Medicine Lead Veterinary Technician plays a vital role in supporting the medical care of the homeless animals placed into loving homes through PAWS Chicago each year. Working closely with the Shelter Medicine leadership and the veterinary support team, the Lead Veterinary Technician helps ensure that every animal receives the highest standard of medical care and compassionate treatment.
The Lead Veterinary Technician at PAWS Chicago applies advanced technical expertise while collaborating across departments to support the organization's mission. This role provides day-to-day leadership for the Shelter Medicine Technicians and Veterinary Assistants, oversees workflow and staff assignments to maximize efficiency, helps drive positive outcomes for the thousands of animals cared for by PAWS Chicago each year and is experienced in maintaining accurate controlled substance records while ensuring compliance with DEA regulations.
Whether caring for neonatal patients, assisting with emergency cases, managing hospitalized animals, or preparing pets for adoption, every day offers opportunities to lead, grow, and make a lasting difference.
What You’ll Do Deliver Outstanding Patient Care
- Provide exceptional medical care to animals of all life stages, from neonates to seniors, including emergency and intensive care as needed.
- Evaluate animals for disease, injury, parasites, and other health concerns, communicating findings to Shelter Veterinarians.
- Provide technical assistance to Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants and communicate changes in patient condition, diagnostic results, treatment plans, and medical concerns.