Veterinary Technician Lead, ER

$39.00–$54.00/hour (DOE) + $10,000 Sign-On Bonus
Full-time opportunity in San Francisco, California
Schedule: Full-time | Swing Shift

Lead a high-performing Emergency & Critical Care (ER/CCU) team at SAGE San Francisco, one of Northern California’s premier specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals. As an ER Clinical Lead, you’ll combine advanced veterinary clinical expertise with hands-on leadership, overseeing Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and Veterinary Assistants while supporting emergency and critical care operations, staff development, patient flow, and exceptional patient and client care.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Emergency Veterinary Technician, Critical Care Veterinary Technician, RVT, or veterinary team leader ready to advance into a clinical leadership role within specialty and emergency veterinary medicine.

Why Join SAGE San Francisco

At SAGE San Francisco, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, we provide advanced emergency, critical care, and specialty veterinary medicine through a collaborative team of board-certified specialists, emergency veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, and support professionals.

Our fast-paced ER/CCU environment is built around teamwork, advanced medicine, mentorship, continuous learning, and clinical excellence. As an ER Clinical Lead, you’ll play an important role in developing veterinary technicians and assistants, strengthening Emergency Department operations, and partnering with hospital leadership to deliver outstanding patient outcomes and client experiences.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Lead, mentor, coach, and support a team of Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and Veterinary Assistants within Emergency & Critical Care.
• Oversee day-to-day ER/CCU operations, supporting efficient patient flow, emergency triage, critical care, and high-quality veterinary nursing.
• Serve as a clinical resource and role model, demonstrating strong emergency and critical care technical skills and veterinary best practices.
• Partner with emergency veterinarians, specialists, department leaders, and hospital management to optimize workflows, patient outcomes, and client satisfaction.
• Implement and maintain clinical protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Assess veterinary technician and assistant competencies and identify opportunities for technical training and professional development.
• Facilitate hands-on training, mentorship, coaching, and performance feedback for ER/CCU team members.
• Support employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and a positive hospital culture.
• Create monthly staff schedules and maintain appropriate staffing and coverage for a busy Emergency & Critical Care department.
• Manage department payroll and staffing costs, including reviewing and approving employee timecards.
• Promote continuous improvement in patient care, client service, staff development, workplace safety, and Emergency Department operations.

What You Bring

• Minimum of three years of clinical experience in veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (ER/CCU).
• Current California Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) license preferred.
• Previous veterinary leadership, supervisory, Clinical Lead, Lead Veterinary Technician, or team management experience preferred.
• Strong emergency and critical care veterinary nursing knowledge and technical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, train, and develop Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants.
• Strong leadership, organization, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and client service skills.
• Ability to manage staffing, scheduling, workflow, and competing priorities in a fast-paced emergency veterinary hospital.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with emergency veterinarians, veterinary specialists, technicians, assistants, hospital leadership, and support teams.
• Commitment to veterinary patient safety, clinical excellence, exceptional client care, and continuous professional development.

Perks & Benefits

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

• Competitive $39.00–$54.00/hour compensation plus a $10,000 sign-on bonus
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; 401(k), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), paid vacation, and sick leave
• Annual Continuing Education (CE) allowance, VetBloom RACE-approved continuing education, RVT license application and renewal reimbursement, and ongoing leadership development
• Career milestone bonuses for earning your RVT or Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) credential
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), uniforms, wellness resources, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities throughout Ethos Veterinary Health

Location Highlight

Located in San Francisco, SAGE offers the opportunity to advance your veterinary leadership career in one of Northern California’s most dynamic specialty and emergency medicine markets. The hospital is accessible to veterinary professionals throughout San Francisco, Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and surrounding Bay Area communities.

Enjoy access to world-class dining, culture, outdoor recreation, and the opportunity to practice advanced emergency and critical care medicine alongside an experienced veterinary team.

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 more than 140 specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary professionals and leaders in hospitals designed for learning, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

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

If you’re an experienced Emergency or Critical Care Veterinary Technician, RVT, Lead Veterinary Technician, or veterinary clinical leader ready to take the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.

Join SAGE San Francisco and lead a talented ER/CCU team while advancing emergency and critical care veterinary medicine.

Candidates can confidentially submit their CV to the Talent Acquisition team.

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 applicable law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.