Job Type
Full-time, Part-time
Description
About Cerro Alto
Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital is a privately owned, doctor-led specialty and emergency hospital on California's Central Coast. Built by specialists who believe great medicine starts with great people, we're committed to collaboration, mentorship, and delivering exceptional, patient-centered care across surgery, emergency, internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, and advanced imaging.
Our surgery service works alongside emergency, internal medicine, radiology, oncology, and cardiology in a fast-growing, high-energy hospital environment. If you want to be part of a team that takes medicine seriously - but not itself - you'll feel at home here.
Why This Role Is Special
This is not a "just set up rooms and clean instruments" job.
As a Surgical Assistant at Cerro Alto, you'll be deeply involved in a specialty surgery service that performs advanced orthopedic, soft tissue, minimally invasive, and emergency procedures.
You'll work side-by-side with board-certified surgeons, anesthetists, and experienced technicians who love to teach, mentor, and build people up.
This role is ideal for someone who wants real exposure, real responsibility, and a clear path for growth - whether that's into lead assistant roles, anesthesia, specialty technician training, or long-term leadership within a referral hospital.
You'll be a critical part of keeping our surgery service running safely, efficiently, and at a high standard of excellence.
What You'll Do
You'll be trusted with both patient care and case coordination, playing a central role in outcomes and client experience.
Core Responsibilities:
- Process, clean, package, and sterilize surgical instruments and packs
- Maintain sterilization logs and ensure compliance with aseptic protocols
- Set up and break down operating rooms between procedures
- Assist surgeons and anesthesia team during surgical procedures
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient surgical environment
- Support daily workflow of the surgery service and help anticipate team needs
- Stock, organize, and manage surgical supplies and equipment
- Assist with patient transport, positioning, and preparation for surgery
- Contribute to a positive, collaborative OR culture
Why Cerro Alto
We're building something intentional here-a hospital where people enjoy coming to work, where technicians are valued for their expertise, and where patient care benefits from true collaboration across services.
If you're looking for a place where you can
grow, be challenged, and be part of a genuinely supportive team, we'd love to connect.
Shift Differentials
We recognize the value of overnight and weekend coverage and offer additional compensation for eligible hours worked:
- Overnight Differential: +$3.00/hour for hours worked between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM
- Weekend Differential: +$3.00/hour for hours worked between Friday at 8:00 PM and Monday at 6:00 AM
These differentials are
separate and cumulative. Team members working eligible overnight hours during the weekend differential period may earn both differentials, providing the opportunity to earn up to an additional $6.00/hour above their base rate.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
We care just as much about attitude and curiosity as we do about experience.
You may be a great fit if you:
- Must be able to work 10-hour shifts, flexible Monday through Friday
- Have experience in a veterinary, medical, or surgical environment (preferred, not required)
- Are detail-oriented and take pride in doing things the right way
- Stay calm and focused in a fast-paced, high-acuity setting
- Enjoy being part of a tight-knit, high-performing team
- Want to learn, grow, and build a long-term career in specialty medicine
- Communicate clearly and support others when things get busy
Salary Description
$18.50 - $21.50 per hour