Job Post

Veterinarian, Animal Shelter – Eligible for Student Loan Reimbursement

Company Name: Dumb Friends League
Company Website: http://ddfl.org
Location: Alamosa, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Category: Operations

Description
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: Provide veterinary care in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. Staff veterinarians are the foundation of the League’s veterinary team. Working in partnership with teams across the League, you will help homeless pets find homes and owned pets keep their homes, prevent, and alleviate suffering, enhance the dignity of our patrons, and collaborate with our veterinary community. Collaborate with the League’s veterinary teams, including shelter and community veterinary services across locations, to develop skills, improve practices and enhance the care provided to shelter and community animals. Develop programs to address the unique concerns of this community, such as vaccine clinics and public spay/neuter clinics.

Responsibilities

Shelter Veterinary Services:

Provide outstanding veterinary care to homeless and stray pets including physical exams, diagnostics, treatment plans, preventative medicine, case management, surgery, euthanasia, and necropsies, as needed.
Perform surgical procedures on shelter animals on a regular basis including HQ/HV spay/neuter, dentistry, and various soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
Recommend animals, as needed, for transport to the Malone Center for additional diagnostics and/or treatment.
Provide HQ/HV S/N procedures for community owned pets.
Provide on and off-site vaccination clinic services for the public.
Consult and provide assistance to patrons and external veterinarians regarding animals cared for by the League.
Partner with the SLV operations team to coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease animals effectively and efficiently.
Manage and maintain accurate medical and surgical records.
Remain up to date on trends in veterinary medicine, and in shelter medicine.

Leadership/Administrative: 

Collaborate with Director of Satellite Operations and Chief Veterinarian to establish and maintain location specific SOPs.
Train shelter staff on the application of veterinary services SOPs and advise on other procedures.
Ensure appropriate handling of veterinary inventory and controlled substances under the supervision of the Chief Veterinarian.
Manage the overall operations of the veterinary clinic including appropriate maintenance and purchasing of equipment and supplies, scheduling of daily procedures, effective medical recording and statistical reporting with the assistance of the SVS technician and SLV veterinary technician.
Overall:

Contribute to and support a culture of learning generally, and specifically for colleagues, veterinary interns, and veterinary support staff.
Delivery League specific training programs regarding veterinary care as requested.
Collaborate with, and receive mentorship from, the League’s Medical Directors and Lead veterinarians across all facilities.
Contribute to and help maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork within Veterinary Services and across the League.
Lead the management of cases, advocating for the best outcome for individual animals within the League’s scope of care.
Practice incremental medicine, using critical thinking and decision-making skills within the League’s scope of care.
Participate in euthanasia and euthanasia decision making through a compassionate, thoughtful approach within the shelter.
Work with investigations staff to evaluate, document, and testify about the condition of animals involved in cruelty and neglect cases.
Effectively and compassionately communicate with owners of pets and the community.
Contribute to initiatives to improve processes and procedures.

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

Position Key Competencies

Analytical Thinking
Critical Thinking
Team Player
Conflict Management
Community Partnerships
Strong Leadership
Fiscal Responsibility
Innovation
Strategic Thinking

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

None

Travel

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)
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 $110,000 – $120,000 annually – at Full Time 40 hours status (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

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.
Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License. If driving a League vehicle, valid driver’s license and insurable driving record are required.

Desired

Shelter medicine experience
Skilled HQ/HV spay/neuter surgeon. Training may be available in HQHVSN and Shelter Medicine as needed.
Proficiency with Chameleon