Join a great team of professionals who are excited about the mission and serving communities in the San Luis Valley. Be inspired to increase your own capabilities in a fast-paced environment where every day is different! Working in partnership with other teams, you will help prevent and alleviate animal suffering and homelessness. The League offers competitive pay and amazing benefits.

Purpose of Position: The Managing Veterinarian is responsible for the direction of the League’s San Luis Valley Animal Center (SLVAC) shelter and veterinary operations. This role serves as a clinical shelter veterinarian and provides leadership, oversight, and direction to the League’s SLVAC shelter team.  The Managing Veterinarian will provide mentorship to the staff, cultivate a culture of learning and teaching, establish strong external relationships with key partners including community veterinarians and work in close partnership with the League’s veterinary team at all locations. This role is responsible for ensuring every animal sheltered and patron served by the League receives optimal care.

Responsibilities

• Provide outstanding veterinary care to homeless and owned pets, including physical exams, diagnostics, treatment plans, shelter and owner requested euthanasia, and necropsies. Practice incremental medicine, using critical thinking and decision-making skills within the League’s scope of care.
• Lead and direct the SLVAC shelter team to ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to the League’s staff, volunteers, patrons, donors, partners, and vendors.
• Direct and monitor all aspects of the SLVAC shelter operations including pet admissions, animal care, veterinary care, and adoptions. Collaborate fully with other departments and locations to maximize the effectiveness of every team.
• Manages and develops an effective staff: providing effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determines staff qualifications and competency: recruits, interviews, selects, hires, trains, orients, mentors, evaluates, coaches, counsels, disciplines, and rewards.
• Establishes and monitors staff safety and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and collaborate on strategic goals while working with the leadership team to creatively meet all shelter needs.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness across the department, including statistical analysis and report creation and presentation. Implement improvements, ensuring efficient use of resources and effective operations.
• With the Medical Director of Shelter Veterinary Services (SVS), develop and implement shelter programs that control and reduce the prevalence and impact of contagion.
• Oversee day-to-day operations at SLVAC, ensuring that core operational functions are achieved at the highest standard and exceptional performance is delivered consistently.
• Implement and support the euthanasia content and training program designed by the Medical Director. Perform euthanasia and related tasks as needed for animals that are medically or behaviorally suffering, or are unsafe for the community, within our Socially Conscious Sheltering framework.
• Support and direct the humane treatment of companion animals to ensure the highest level of animal care is delivered to every animal in the League’s care. This includes the adherence to and monitoring of mandated standards (e.g., PACFA) and ensuring a safe and sanitary environment for animals and people.
• Develop, evaluate and control departmental budgets.
• Support and direct the appropriate flow of companion animals through shelter departments.
• Work in conjunction with other departments to assure appropriate, timely outcomes for all animals.
• Play a key role in development and evaluation of League wide strategic initiatives and goals.
• Develop SOPs and ensure they are updated and practiced with staff and volunteers.
• Effectively and compassionately communicate with foster families, owners of pets, and the community.
• Perform surgical procedures regularly including shelter and community high quality, high volume spay/neuter, dentistry, and various soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
• Serve as a veterinary ambassador with community partners, promoting the League’s mission, goals and strategic initiatives including Socially Conscious Sheltering and Communities to veterinarians, vendors, the public, and other animal welfare related organizations.
• Work in conjunction with appropriate leadership to supervise veterinarians and veterinary interns regarding core values outside of medicine and surgery.
• Work with cruelty investigations staff, on location and at League facilities, for evaluation, documentation and testimony about the condition of animals involved in investigation cases.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and League business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Leadership Key Competencies

• Project and Process Management
• Delivering Results
• Developing Direct Reports
• Building and Leading Effective Teams

Position Key Competencies

• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Analytical Thinking
• Conflict Management
• Financial Acumen & Fiscal Responsibility
• Innovation
• Strategic Thinking
• Community Partnerships

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• SLVAC Staff
• Volunteers

Travel

• This position requires driving a company vehicle
• This position requires up to 10% travel in state

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas.  Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation.

Full Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• League-paid Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical Program
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Veterinarians are eligible for student loan reimbursement (SLURP)
• Up to $2,000 Relocation Assistance
• And more!

Compensation: Starting at $125,000.00-$150,000.00 annually – at Full Time 40 hours status (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on March 14, 2024.

Requirements
Position Qualifications 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• High emotional intelligence
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
• Ability to work well within a fast-paced environment
• High attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Required

• Education: Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine
• Work Experience: Experience practicing veterinary medicine in a full service or shelter environment and three years of supervisory experience
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License.
• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record are required.

Desired

• Shelter medicine experience
• Skilled HQ/HV spay/neuter surgeon
• Proficiency with Chameleon