Position Summary: Provide leadership and direction for the daily medical and surgical care of animals. Triage and stabilize ill and injured animals and diagnose and treat a wide variety of medical conditions. Serve as internal expert at disease recognition and develop treatment plans for the animals. Identify and advocate against animal cruelty, perform high volume spay/neuter and other minor surgeries, monitor patients and multi-task veterinary requests made by other departments.
Supervisor: Deputy Director
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:
Diagnosis and treatment of disease
Disease identification and surveillance, including daily rounds
Triage and examination of a variety of species
Efficiently stabilize and manage a variety of trauma cases
Recognize, manage and treat a wide variety of medical conditions, with a particular focus on infectious diseases
Direct medical technicians and assistants in the daily performance of their duties
Oversee controlled substances use and logging with the assistance of the medical lead
Administration and monitoring of anesthesia
Performance of routine surgery, focusing on high-volume high-quality spay/neuter
Collect appropriate samples and perform and/or request appropriate laboratory tests, including decapitation for rabies testing
Interpretation of laboratory data and radiographs
Assist in placement and euthanasia decisions
Properly record all drug activity, DEA logs, and statistics, as required by law and ARL policy
Maintain accurate and complete medical records, including computer data entry
Recognition and documentation of cruelty cases, including preparation of veterinary statements and expert witness testimony
Necropsy examinations of deceased animals
Work with the Deputy Director to ensure compliance with relevant state law and city code
Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director
Skills and Requirements:
DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree
Licensure in PA to practice veterinary medicine
Previous clinical experience, particularly in shelters, preferred but not required
Strong surgical and diagnostic skills
Interest in and understanding of shelter medicine, epidemiology, and herd health
Good written and oral communication skills
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, able to multi-task and prioritize
Dependable, reliable, and efficient
Must have a valid PA driver’s license
Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds, stand for prolonged periods of time, and perform multiple surgeries on a daily basis
Basic familiarity with computers, MS Office and database experience
Set the tone for professionalism and performance expectations within Medical Department
Convey ideas, concepts, policies, and procedures to staff, as well as ensuring their understanding and compliance
Stay up to date on the most current shelter medicine protocols recommended by UC Davis
Must have a passion for the mission of ARL
Work Environment:
The employee will regularly be exposed to the following: potentially zoonotic diseases (including rabies), large animals, wildlife, loud noises (e.g. barking dogs), and odors
Examination, restraint, and treatment of a high volume of animals is physically and emotionally demanding
Euthanasia is performed in the facility and assisting with best practice euthanasia is a specific job task for this position
Overtime: This position is exempt from overtime.
Salary negotiable, full time, exempt, education opportunities, professional association dues, plus benefits including medical, prescription, vision and dental insurance, sick leave, annual leave, and IRA plan. May require some nighttime, weekend and holiday work.
Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the organization.
Animal Rescue League is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation. Accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals requiring them. EOE/M/F/D/V/SO.
NOTES:
Additional Salary Information: Salary will be determined based on experience.
About Animal Rescue League of Berks
Since 1952, tens of thousands of animals have been spared the fate of uncertainty and given the opportunity to experience a more enriching and humane life through the services provided by the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Inc (ARL). The ARL’s dedication to providing shelter and care for the unwanted and abused animals of Berks County has resulted in a comprehensive effort to not only provide the optimum level of care, but to enhance and guarantee a humane life for over 5,000 animals annually. At any given time we care for over 175 animals a day on our 10 acre facility, many of whom require veterinary care, rehabilitation, and training. Between the months of May through September, the shelter receives an average of 900 cats and 300 dogs per month.
