Veterinary Operations Manager / Lead Veterinary Technician - $30+/hr

Veterinary Operations Manager / Lead Veterinary Technician

Black Mountain Animal Hospital | San Diego, CA

Are you an experienced veterinary technician who is ready for more than just another floor position?

Black Mountain Animal Hospital is looking for a hands-on Veterinary Operations Manager who can help support the treatment floor, strengthen our front desk workflow, improve client communication, and help keep the hospital running smoothly day to day.

This is a hybrid role for someone who understands veterinary medicine, knows how a hospital should flow, and is comfortable leading people without losing the willingness to jump in and help.

We are not looking for an office-only manager.

We are not looking for someone who only wants to do technician work.

We are looking for someone who can bridge both sides of the hospital: clinical flow and client service.

About Us

Black Mountain Animal Hospital has been family-owned and operated since 1987. We are a small animal hospital in Rancho Peñasquitos focused on high-quality medicine, strong client relationships, and a stable team culture.

We are not corporate. Decisions are made locally, the team is supported directly, and we care deeply about creating a workplace where good people can do good work without unnecessary drama.

The Role

As our Veterinary Operations Lead, you will help manage daily hospital flow while remaining hands-on with the team.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting doctors and technicians with daily treatment flow
• Assisting with appointments, procedures, surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and patient care
• Helping the front desk improve phone handling, scheduling, client communication, and follow-up
• Coaching technicians, assistants, and reception team members
• Helping train new employees and reinforce hospital standards
• Monitoring workflow so appointments, treatments, discharges, and callbacks do not fall through the cracks
• Helping present estimates and support treatment-plan communication
• Improving client experience from first call through checkout
• Helping identify operational problems and implementing practical solutions
• Supporting inventory, compliance, organization, and daily accountability
• Communicating clearly with ownership and leadership about what is working and what needs attention

This is a leadership role, but it is also a working role. The right person is comfortable leading from the floor, not just from behind a desk.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong veterinary technician experience
• Is comfortable working with doctors, technicians, assistants, and receptionists
• Can help organize a busy hospital without creating tension
• Communicates clearly and professionally with clients and staff
• Can handle difficult conversations with maturity
• Understands client service and the importance of phone conversion, follow-up, and clear communication
• Can help improve team accountability without being harsh or dramatic
• Is confident, calm, organized, and solutions-focused
• Takes ownership instead of waiting to be told what to do
• Wants to help build a stronger hospital, not just clock in and clock out

RVT is strongly preferred, but we are open to a highly experienced veterinary technician with strong leadership ability.

Clinical Skills Preferred

Ideal candidates will be comfortable with:

• Venipuncture
• IV catheter placement
• Anesthesia monitoring
• Dental procedures and dental radiographs
• Surgical preparation and recovery
• Laboratory sample handling
• Client education
• Treatment-plan communication
• Safe and compassionate patient handling

Leadership Skills Preferred

This role is especially well-suited for someone who has experience with:

• Training technicians, assistants, or receptionists
• Managing daily workflow
• Improving team communication
• Handling client concerns
• Following up on estimates, callbacks, and incomplete tasks
• Supporting scheduling and staffing
• Holding team members accountable in a fair and professional way
• Helping doctors stay on schedule
• Creating or enforcing hospital systems and protocols

Schedule

Full-time position.

Typical hospital hours are daytime hours with no overnight shifts.

Schedule details can be discussed during the interview.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation is based on experience, skill set, and leadership ability.

Expected range:

$30+/hour DOE

Benefits may include:

• Health insurance support
• Dental and vision options
• 401(k)
• Employee pet care benefits
• Paid time off
• Continuing education support
• Growth opportunity into a larger leadership role for the right person

Why This Role Matters

We are looking for someone who can make the hospital better.

That means better flow for doctors, better support for technicians, better communication for clients, better accountability for the team, and a better overall experience for pets and their owners.

If you are an experienced veterinary professional who is ready to lead, stay hands-on, and help shape the daily operations of a growing hospital, we would like to meet you.

Apply Today

Please submit your resume and tell us briefly why this hybrid leadership role interests you.

Black Mountain Animal Hospital provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.