Job Description
Lead ER Veterinary Technician - Overnight
Department: Veterinary Technicians
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
Compensation: $24.00 - $28.00 / hour
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:
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Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Medicine
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Overnight hospital operations
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Team leadership and mentorship
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Client communication and de-escalation
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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:
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24-Hour Emergency & Critical Care
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Internal Medicine
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Advanced Surgery
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Anesthesia & Analgesia
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Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine
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Behavioral Medicine
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Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
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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
- Emergency Veterinary Medicine
- ICU/critical care nursing
- 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
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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
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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.
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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
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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 Petcare’s 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:
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Emergency Veterinary Technician
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ER Lead Tech
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RVT/LVT/CVT
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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.
