Staff Veterinarian Updated: March 2022
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Veterinary Services
Summary:
The Staff Veterinarian works in cooperation with the Director of Veterinary Services and Shelter Management to monitor and improve the general health of the animals in the shelter; to help ensure that the transmission of disease is kept to a minimum; to diagnose and oversee the medical treatment of sick and injured animals; to oversee the administration of all vaccinations; to perform spay/neuter surgeries, amputations, dental work, hernia repair and other surgical procedures on animals. In addition, the staff veterinarian’s expert input is valuable in reviewing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for animals in incoming & work-up, the shelter, foster care, and in our public wellness clinic. It is vital that the Staff
Veterinarian works to ensure that the mission and standards of CAP are upheld.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Recommend to Shelter Management that any animals beginning to show signs of illness, be properly housed for observation, treatment or euthanasia.
- Examine and prescribe treatment for animals that have been determined to be adoptable and are in the foster home process.
- Check animals that are receiving treatment in–house to ensure the animals are recovering. Address any complications with the Shelter Management.
- Work with the foster care management to ensure that foster home volunteers are given adequate directions for treating the animals in their care.
- Examine or oversee the examination of foster animals who are brought back for follow ups.
- Perform spay/neuter surgery on animals that have been placed for adoption and animals that have been adopted, feral cats, and public animals.
- Perform surgical procedures on animals with medical needs e.g. hernia repair, amputations, dental work, enucleations, etc.
- Improving shelter animals’ dental health by performing checkups, cleaning, and extracting teeth.
- Maintain patients’ medical records by ensuring notes are added to Avimark and/or PetPoint in a timely manner.
- Review and make recommendations for updating the Work Up, Foster care, and wellness SOP’s.
- Be involved with the management of clinic staff, reporting needs for disciplinary action to clinic management, training staff on skill sheet processes, acting as manager when clinic management is not on-site, keeping staff motivated to accomplish goals and stay on task, and assessing working interview candidates, giving feedback to clinic management.
- Reporting unsafe conditions for both humans and animals to Executive Management.
- Reporting any activities that are outside of or unapproved by any veterinary licensing board, DEA licensure requirements, and standard veterinary protocol to Executive Management.
- Maintain current knowledge of veterinary medicine by keeping up to date with new studies, research and reports.
- Perform a daily walk through of the shelter to observe the animals and ensure that all are displaying signs of good health.
- Attend Managers’ Meetings.
- Serve as a liaison with the veterinary community.
- All other duties as assigned by management.
Required Education and Experience:
- Doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from an accredited school of Veterinary Medicine.
- New graduates and experienced vets welcome to apply.
- Avimark experience a plus.
Physical Requirements:
Constant:
- Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces. Includes working closely with others for a significant portion of the workday.
- Remaining in a stationary position, often standing for prolonged periods.
- Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
- Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
- Move, push, pull, and pick up items up to 30 lb.
Occasional:
- May be expected to chase and catch animals that have escaped on occasion.
Environmental Conditions:
- Includes high level noise environments, including barking and other animal noises.
- Includes pungent smells from animal caretaking, including from feces, abscesses, and other medical issues.
- Includes small and/or enclosed spaces and working near co-workers.
- Includes working around animals that are sedated, open to surgery, sick, and fractious.
- Includes exposure to hazardous chemicals and regulated drugs.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Must have a current Texas Veterinary Medical License and stay in good standing with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. (50% covered by CAP).
- Maintenance of malpractice insurance (25% covered by CAP)
- VIN membership (100% covered by CAP).
- Must keep up on required Continuing Education hours ($750/annually covered by CAP).
- Be available for flexible schedules as needed by the clinic/shelter, and for emergency situations with animals.
- Willing to work one weekend date a week.
- Willing to help train staff on medical terminology and skill sets.
- Experience in shelter medicine with high volume spay neuter experience is a plus, but not necessary
- Ability to work well within frenetic nature of shelter environment
- Excellent verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, and respectful manner at all times
- Surgical skills necessary to spay/neuter all ages (including pediatric) and sizes of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Skills needed to perform amputations, enucleations, dental work, and other standard procedures.
- Have the skills (or work up to within 6 months) to perform a minimum of 20-30 surgeries each day in addition to performing the other responsibilities listed in this description.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with a high level of accuracy.
- Excellent initiative with the ability to see what help is needed with the team and jump in.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including making solid judgment calls when superiors are not available.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and ask for help when appropriate.
- Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
- Must have a professional appearance, excellent communication skills, and the ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public, volunteers and other staff members.
- Should understand the principles of animal care and the policies and procedures of the association. Must also possess a humane and caring attitude concerning overall treatment and disposition of animals.
- Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of immunization as related to infectious diseases of animals and zoonotic diseases
- Willing to commit to the organization, supporting the mission and policies of CAP.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Work Location: One location