Surgery Department Supervisor / Lead Anesthesia Technician

Company: Apex Vets
Location: Silver Spring
Posted on: January 20, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description About Us Apex Vets is what happens when an independently owned specialty hospital decides to do things differently—less corporate burnout, more team spirit; less red tape, more empowerment. We’re building a place where talent grows fast, teamwork is real, and people feel valued from day one. If you want a hospital with heart, humor, and high standards, you’ve found the right one. The Surgery Department Supervisor is a highly skilled clinical leader responsible for managing the daily operations, workflow, and team performance within the Surgery Department at Apex Vets. This role blends advanced anesthesia proficiency, surgical nursing excellence, leadership capability, and a passion for teaching. The ideal candidate is an experienced LVT (VTS preferred or interested in/actively pursuing), a confident anesthetist, a proactive problem-solver, and someone who thrives in a fast-paced specialty environment. They set the tone for teamwork, efficiency, communication, and continuous improvement in patient care. This position plays a critical role in shaping a surgical service that delivers exceptional medicine, a high standard of patient safety, and outstanding experiences for clients, colleagues, and referring partners. Essential Job Functions 1. Department Leadership & Team Management (35%) Lead, mentor, and support all members of the surgical nursing team. Demonstrate strong leadership presence on the floor, modeling professionalism, calm communication, and Apex’s quirky, compassionate culture. Ensure effective daily workflow management, including case flow, room turnover, anesthesia planning, and post-op recovery coordination. Oversee scheduling, time-off management, and equitable team assignment distribution. Proactively address interpersonal or performance concerns promptly, respectfully, and in partnership with SOM and HR. Maintain an open-feedback environment where coaching is routine, positive, and skill-focused. 2. Advanced Clinical & Anesthesia Responsibilities (30%) Serve as the primary anesthesia expert for surgical services, including advanced monitoring, critical patient support, and specialty procedures. Perform pre-operative evaluations, develop anesthetic plans, and support complex or unstable cases. Support surgeons with surgical prep, intraoperative technical assistance, and recovery protocols. Maintain oversight for controlled drug logs, anesthesia sheets, safety checklists, and surgical asepsis standards. Uphold a culture of surgical excellence through rigorous adherence to protocols and continuous quality improvement. 3. Training, Education & Skill Development (20%) Train new and existing team members in surgery-specific skills including anesthesia, sterile technique, surgical nursing, pain scoring, CPR readiness, and equipment care. Provide hands-on coaching, real-time teaching, and structured skill assessments. Partner with the Nursing Care Trainer and the Clinical Development & Compliance Lead to maintain standardized training pathways and competency checklists. Lead ongoing specialty education for the team, including wet labs, anesthesia refreshers, and CE event coordination. Encourage and mentor team members interested in pursuing licensing or VTS pathways. 4. Operational Oversight, Quality & Safety (10%) Ensure surgical spaces, equipment, and instruments meet high standards for cleanliness, sterility, and readiness. Collaborate with Infrastructure & Supply Manager to maintain surgical inventory, order supplies, and monitor equipment maintenance. Conduct regular audits of surgical processes, anesthesia documentation, and patient safety protocols. Identify workflow inefficiencies and propose solutions through data, observation, and team feedback. Support continuous improvement initiatives aligned with hospital-wide goals. 5. Client & Referring Veterinarian Communication (5%) Support surgeons in delivering clear, compassionate, and consistent client education for pre- and post-operative care. Help cultivate strong relationships with referring partners through reliable communication, accurate medical records, and high-quality surgical care. Serve as a professional representative of Apex’s surgical service. Qualifications Required Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT/RVT/CVT) Minimum 3–5 years experience in veterinary surgery, anesthesia, or specialty practice Demonstrated advanced anesthesia knowledge and competence Previous formal leadership or supervisory experience Proven ability to lead, mentor, and train clinical staff Excellent communication and collaborative skills Ability to multitask, prioritize, and maintain efficiency during high-volume days Comfortable giving and receiving feedback as a leadership practice Strong organization, time-management, and documentation habits Preferred VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia, Surgery, or ECC) or active interest in pursuing Prior experience or interest/willingness to advanced imaging (CT/Fluoroscopy/MRI) Experience writing SOPs or training materials Core Competencies (Practical and Emotional Intelligence Skillset) Self-starter: Takes initiative without prompt, anticipates needs Teacher at heart: Loves developing others and sharing expertise Efficient: Thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment Collaborative: Builds strong relationships with all hospital departments Adaptable: Learns quickly, pivots when needed, flexible in approach High medical standards: Demands and models excellent patient care Organized: Keeps systems flowing, documentation tight, and team aligned Professional communicator: Clear, compassionate, direct Feedback-forward: Comfortable coaching and being coached Work Environment & Physical Requirements Ability to lift up to 50 lbs with assistance as needed Ability to stand, walk, and assist with patient care for extended periods Exposure to anesthetic gases, radiation, zoonotic diseases, and surgical instruments Fast-paced specialty hospital setting with noise, pressure, and emotionally charged scenarios Schedule & Classification Full-time, exempt leadership role Primarily weekdays with flexibility for early morning surgical starts Participation in regular rotating on-call schedule that may require after-hours, weekends or emergency needs based on department volume Success Measures (KPIs) Surgical workflow efficiency (on-time starts, reduced bottlenecks, improved case flow) Training milestones achieved for surgery team members Anesthesia protocol adherence & patient safety metrics Medical record and anesthesia documentation accuracy Surgeries completed without preventable complications Positive feedback from surgeons, nursing staff, and clients Compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and Apex culture values

Keywords: Apex Vets, Frederick , Surgery Department Supervisor / Lead Anesthesia Technician, Healthcare , Silver Spring, Maryland