St. Francis Vet Care is a non-profit organization that has provided quality affordable and accessible veterinary care to the companion animals of people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and very low-income residents in North Central Florida for the last 18 years. We are committed to serving the needs of animals and people in our community while strengthening the human-animal bond.
The Veterinary Receptionist serves as the first point of contact for our clients and supports the daily operations of the clinic by providing exceptional customer service, coordinating appointments, educating clients, and maintaining efficient front office operations. We are seeking a compassionate, community-focused individual with excellent communication skills, strong organizational abilities, and a solid understanding of veterinary medicine. The ideal candidate enjoys helping both people and animals and is committed to making a meaningful difference in our community.
NOTE: This position has a set schedule. Applicants must be available to work Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Greet clients and visitors in a friendly, professional, and compassionate manner.
- Answer, screen, and direct incoming phone calls, emails, and client inquiries.
- Schedule appointments and maintain the daily appointment calendar.
- Triage incoming calls by gathering appropriate patient information and recognizing situations requiring immediate veterinary attention.
- Educate clients regarding clinic services, vaccination schedules, parasite prevention, common contagious diseases, wellness recommendations, and discharge instructions within established protocols.
- Check clients in and out, assist with new client paperwork, notify medical staff of patient arrivals, and maintain efficient client flow throughout the clinic.
- Dispense veterinarian-approved medications, prescription refills, flea and heartworm preventatives, prescription diets, and pet supplies in accordance with established protocols.
- Process payments and maintain accurate financial records.
- Maintain accurate patient medical records, enter medical and communication notes into practice management software, and prepare or organize client files as needed.
- Maintain a clean, organized reception area, manage office supplies and inventory, and receive and distribute incoming mail and deliveries.
- Assist veterinary staff with safely restraining or supervising animals when appropriate.
- Perform general administrative duties including filing, scanning, copying, data entry, and document preparation.
- Work collaboratively with veterinarians, technicians, volunteers, and management to ensure efficient daily clinic operations and communicate concerns requiring management attention.
- Provide compassionate service to both pets and people while maintaining safe, sanitary working conditions and assisting with community outreach clinics as assigned.
Skills/Abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; must possess conversational and written English skills.
- Bi-lingual (English-Spanish) is a plus.
- Working knowledge of veterinary terminology, vaccination schedules, medications, parasite prevention, prescription diets, common contagious diseases, and basic companion animal health.
- Ability to appropriately triage client concerns and recognize situations requiring immediate veterinary attention.
- Ability to communicate with empathy and professionalism while serving clients from diverse socioeconomic background
- Ability to safely handle and restrain animals while following OSHA and clinic safety policies.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, email, Internet, database management software, and veterinary practice management software, or the ability to quickly learn new software.
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with clients, volunteers, coworkers, and community partners.
- Ability to communicate with empathy and professionalism while serving clients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Excellent organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize work, adapt to changing demands, and maintain attention to detail.
- Ability to remain calm, resourceful, and professional while handling emergencies, difficult situations, and high call volumes.
- Professional, dependable, and able to maintain confidentiality while exercising sound judgment and discretion.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
- Lifelong learner with a desire to share knowledge and continually improve.
- Physical effort requiring standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, squatting, and lifting, pulling, or pushing up to 35 pounds with reasonable accommodation and the ability to work in a busy and occasionally noisy environment.
- Reliable, punctual attendance required.
- Must maintain a professional appearance; scrubs or business casual attire must be worn in accordance with clinic dress code.
Licensing/Education/Experience
- Minimum of one year's experience in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, or veterinary receptionist position preferred.
- General knowledge of companion animal health and veterinary terminology required.
- High school diploma or GED equivalent.
We're an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour
Experience:
- Veterinary: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English (Required)
- Spanish (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Gainesville, FL 32607 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Gainesville, FL 32607: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
