Salary : $68,422.64 Annually Location : Throughout Riverside County Job Type: Per-Diem Job Number: 25-73497-06ADS Department: Animal Services Opening Date: 04/17/2025 Closing Date: Continuous ABOUT THE POSITION The County of Riverside's Human Resources Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) is seeking a Temporary Veterinary Assistant Per-Diem to support the Department of Animal Services throughout Riverside County. *Work schedules are based on department needs and can be Monday- Friday or Tuesday- Saturday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Under supervision, assists Veterinary Surgeon by performing routine and para-professional duties involved in the surgical sterilization of small animals at a County Spay and Neuter Clinic; assists in the care and treatment of animals; and performs other related duties as required. The Veterinary Assistant is an entry-level classification and reports to a Supervising Registered Veterinary Technician. The County Spay and Neuter Program and shelter functions as part of the Veterinary Services Division of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Sterilization surgeries are performed on small animals (e.g., dogs, cats and rabbits), and shelter animals are examined and treated for minor illnesses or injuries. The Veterinary Assistant is distinguished from the Registered Veterinary Technician class in that the latter is registered by the California Veterinary Medical Board and performs the more complex pre-surgery and post-surgery care of animals as allowable under their certification. Instruction, guidance, and supervision is received from a Veterinary Surgeon or Supervising Registered Veterinary Technician. Upon obtaining a valid Registered Veterinary Technician certificate, incumbents may promote to the Registered Veterinary Technician class with a satisfactory performance evaluation. HIGHLY IMPORTANT - ALL CANDIDATES MUST HAVE A COPY OF THEIR TRANSCRIPT(S) UPLOADED BEFORE SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION. Meet the Team!The 's Mission is Working together to improve Riverside County for people and animals. TAP Benefits: EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES • Assist a Veterinary Surgeon in the administration of physical examinations to determine surgical fitness of animals by handling animals during the examination. • Prepare instruments and medical supplies for Veterinary Surgeon's use; prepare animals for sterilization surgery and assist with anesthesia procedures. • Provide the Veterinary Surgeon with supplies needed during the sterilization surgery of animals; provide support for any emergencies that might arise. • Monitor animals during surgery as needed; observe animals after surgery to detect any abnormal behavior or physical symptoms and report findings to the Veterinary Surgeon. • Clean and prepare surgical packs and instruments for sterilization prior to surgery; provide general care for and feed animals. • Under direction, render first aid, medical treatment, and therapy as required for hospitalized animals. • Assist with admittance and discharge of animals to and from clinic. • Assist in training clinic personnel; order necessary materials and medications required by the Spay and Neuter Facility and Shelter. • Assist with filling prescriptions; assist spay and neuter staff with daily operations. • Observe general shelter population for illness and/or injury. • Assist veterinarians in treating shelter animals, including a variety of exotic animals, through the restraining and managing of many different species. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OPTION I Education: None required. Experience: Two years of experience in the care and treatment of small animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian at a veterinary clinic or small animal hospital. (Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units in animal health, animal science, zoology, or a related field to the assignment may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience.) OPTION II Education: None required. Experience: Three years of experience in the care and handling of animals with a public or private agency. (Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units in animal health, animal science, zoology, or a related field to the assignment may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience.) ALL OPTIONS Knowledge of: Safe, humane, and efficient methods for the care and treatment of small animals, particularly dogs and cats; equipment and procedures used at a veterinary clinic; physical and behavioral characteristics of small animals; substances and methods used to clean and disinfect animal habitats. Ability to: Care for small animals; recognize abnormal behavioral and physical symptoms in small animals; safely handle and maintain clinic medical instruments and equipment; deal tactfully and effectively with the public; maintain simple records and make reports as necessary. Other Requirements License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required. A series of three Rabies vaccines is required within 30 days of employment. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Contact Cindy Mendez Acevedo at ...@rivco.org with any questions regarding this recruitment. APPLICATION INFORMATIONVeteran's Preference The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: Reasonable Accommodations The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: Proof of Education If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (). Work Authorization Requirement Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas. Equal Opportunity Employer The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors. Pre-Employment All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required. Probationary Period As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving At Will, are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head. General Information Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies. Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered. Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at ...@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-###-####. Temporary employees participate in the 401(a) Temporary and Part-Time Employees' Retirement Plan and are required to contribute 3.75% of salary to the pension plan. The County contributes a matching amount. A list of benefits for employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) is available 01 Are you legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law?
- No
- Yes
- I am in the process of obtaining authorization.
02 Are you currently 18 years of age or older?
03 Do you possess a valid California Driver's License?
04 What is the highest level of education you have from an accredited college or university in animal health, animal science, zoology, or a related field to the assignment?
- None of these
- Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units
- At least 30 semester or 45 quarter units
- At least 60 semester or 90 quarter units
- At least 90 semester or 135 quarter units
- At least 120 semester or 180 units
- I have my Associate's degree
- I have my Bachelor's degree
- I have my Master's degree
- I have my Doctorate degree
05 How many years of experience do you have in the care and treatment of small animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian at a veterinary clinic or small animal hospital?
- None
- Less than 12 months
- 1 year or more, but less than 2
- 2 years or more, but less than 3
- 3 years or more, but less than 4
- 4 years or more, but less than 5
- 5 years or more, but less than 6
- 6 years or more
06 How many years of experience do you have in the care and handling of animals with a public or private agency?
- None
- Less than 12 months
- 1 year or more, but less than 2
- 2 years or more, but less than 3
- 3 years or more, but less than 4
- 4 years or more, but less than 5
- 5 years or more, but less than 6
- 6 years or more
Required Question