What are the responsibilities and job description for the Veterinary Receptionist position at Petersen Pet Hospital?
Receptionist – Veterinary Front Desk **$1000 sign on bonus**
Salary: From $15/hr.
Schedule: 36-40 hours per week, including every other Saturday
Petersen Pet Hospital is hiring a full-time customer service professional to be the knowledgeable, welcoming face at our front desk. This role goes beyond typical administrative assistant duties—it's about delivering knowledgeable service while confidently communicating in the language of veterinary care. Whether discussing vaccines, explaining procedures, or coordinating appointments, your ability to speak the lingo and anticipate client needs will directly contribute to smoother appointments, stronger client relationships, and better patient outcomes.
What to Expect
As you join our team, expect to be supported in your work and home life with:
- All the benefits you deserve—medical, dental, vision, and retirement for full-time team members—plus an employee pet discount because we know your pets are family, too!
- Paid time off. Catch your breath with paid holidays and PTO. Take the time you need to recharge.
- 401(k) with a generous company We invest in your future while you care for our pets today.
- Hands-on training and mentorship to support long-term growth across a variety of roles within the hospital, whether you're aiming to grow in client care, or simply build a meaningful long-term role.
Key Responsibilities:
- Be the first point of contact: Greet clients and their pets warmly, complete the sign-in process, verify and confirm appointment details, and ensure clients feel informed and reassured.
- Support clinical flow: Assist in relaying key information between clients and clinical staff.
- Manage client communications: Handle incoming calls for appointments, care questions, prescription refills, and more. Make outbound calls for appointment reminders and follow-up care.
- Operate with accuracy: Process payments, manage invoicing, and schedule future appointments with attention to detail.
- Speak the language: Understand and communicate clearly about common vaccines, lab tests, procedures, pet behavior, and veterinary terminology.
- Create a welcoming space: Help maintain a clean, organized, and client-ready environment—including occasionally assisting with pet-related clean-up to ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors.
Qualifications:
- 2 years of front desk or client-facing customer service experience, providing a warm and welcoming approach to every interaction
- Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and positive demeanor
About Petersen Pet Hospital
Petersen Pet Hospital in Hiawatha, Iowa is a beautiful, progressive, 8 doctor small animal practice. We are AAHA Accredited, Fear Free, pocket pet friendly upscale practice with an old-fashioned ethic of kindness, quality and caring. Our doctors and team are dedicated to making a visit to our practice a low stress event for our patients and their owners and our client testimonials attest to our success. Led by Dr. Petersen, Dr. Saunders and Dr. McGinty, our veterinarians are well educated and experienced. Most of all, they simply love animals. They are backed by a skilled support team that is friendly and enthusiastic.