Veterinary Shift Lead, Emergency

ER/ICU Veterinary Shift Lead - Animal Medical Center of Seattle

Compensation: $30–$40+/hr for LVTs + Lead differential ( $2/hr) + swing differential (+$2/hr, 4pm–12am) and overnight differential (+$4.50/hr, 12am–8am) + Generous CE allowance for LVTs and VTS

Full-time opportunity in Shoreline, WA

Schedule: Full-time

The ER/ICU Shift Lead supports and enhances team performance through effective leadership, clear communication, and a commitment to excellent patient care and team development. This role acts as a key liaison between nursing staff and leadership, ensuring that shifts run smoothly and efficiently.

Why Join Animal Medical Center of Seattle (AMCS)

At AMCS, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, collaboration, accountability, and clear communication are more than values - they shape the way the hospital operates every day. Leadership is accessible, teamwork is genuine, and we are intentional about continuing to strengthen our teams, processes, and services over time. We value strong technician utilization and encourage our LVTs to work at the top of their skillset as integral members of the medical team, with financial and mentorship support for technicians pursuing VTS credentials.

In your day-to-day, you will:

Key Responsibilities

- Work alongside the team to maintain service quality and efficiency. Spend each shift working directly with the team, providing hands-on support and ensuring adherence to the highest standards of care and service.
- Guide the utilization of the team to optimize workflow and patient care. Manage team resources effectively to ensure smooth and efficient operations, aligning team skills with the demands of patient care and hospital needs.
- Organize huddles to prioritize tasks and ensure quality patient care. Conduct brief, focused meetings (huddles) to set priorities for the team, ensuring efficient workflow and high-quality care during each shift.
- Provide coaching and continuous guidance to the nursing care team, helping them develop their skills and perform optimally in their roles. Identify performance issues and advise the ER/ICU Supervisor on actionable improvement plans to enhance individual and team performance.
- Foster a learning culture and coordinate training opportunities. Cultivate an environment that encourages continuous learning and professional growth, coordinating with the Nursing Trainer to schedule and prioritize training sessions.
- Address patient care issues in collaboration with Supervisors and Medical Director. Work closely with the Supervisors and Medical Director to swiftly resolve any patient care challenges, ensuring all solutions uphold the highest standards of veterinary practice.
- Resolve interpersonal conflicts in the moment and ensure a cohesive team environment. Keep the Nursing Manager informed of these situations to address further as needed.

Secondary Functions

- Participate in hospital leadership meetings to contribute to practice alignment, offering insights to represent the nursing team's perspective in hospital-wide strategies. Share feedback with leadership and ensure follow-up actions are taken to address any concerns from the nursing team.
- Uphold the Ethos mission and vision by embodying the organization's core values and culture in all interactions, while promoting inclusivity and equitable treatment within the team, ensuring all members are respected and celebrated for their diversity.
- Communicate daily goals and longer-term initiatives to the nursing care team, ensuring alignment with hospital objectives, and regularly monitor and report on individual and team progress, providing updates and feedback to both the team and hospital leadership.
- Ensure the nursing team has necessary supplies and tools for success. Regularly check the availability of medical equipment and tools, ensuring the team is well-equipped to perform their duties efficiently.
- Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

- 1–3 years' experience in a veterinary specialty or emergency hospital
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Basic computer proficiency and ability to use relevant software
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, stressful work environment
- Ability to always maintain professionalism and composure
- Ability to effectively communicate with teammates, leadership, and clients in a professional manner
- High school diploma or equivalent; certification as a veterinary nurse/technician preferred

Location Highlight

Shoreline sits just north of Seattle, offering easy access to the city while keeping a quieter, more residential feel. The area is close to Lake Washington and Puget Sound, with parks, trails, and waterfront nearby, and connects quickly to downtown Seattle via light rail and I-5. It's a convenient, livable location with the full range of Pacific Northwest amenities close at hand.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.