Job Description

JOB TITLE: Associate Veterinarian
REPORTS TO: Executive Director/Shelter Manager

Full-time Salary Exempt

The Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC) is a non-profit, managed intake, lifesaving animal welfare organization located in Front Royal, VA, whose mission is to provide compassionate care to the abandoned, abused, neglected and homeless animals in Warren County, VA. HSWC also aims to place adoptable pets in loving homes and educate the public on the importance of vaccinations and population control.

The HSWC has an annual intake between 1200-1500 animals and has a robust volunteer/foster program. The HSWC’s veterinary clinic serves the needs of all shelter pets in care in addition to offering spay/neuter services and quarterly rabies and microchip clinics to the general public. The HSWC proudly maintained no-kill status with a 95% live release rate in 2020 and continues to develop new programs and services aimed at keeping animals in loving homes.

Position Summary:

The Humane Society of Warren County is proud to provide progressive and high-quality veterinary care to our shelter animals as well as high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services to publicly owned animals. The Associate Veterinarian oversees the HSWC’s onsite veterinary clinic, providing leadership, direction, and supervision to all members of the clinic staff. The Associate Veterinarian is expected to be well versed in shelter medicine including protocol development, outbreak prevention and management, and staff training. They are expected to stay current in the field of shelter medicine through independent research and continuing education conferences. Due to the nature of the shelter setting, after-hours and on-call work may be necessary.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for the day-to-day health of all animals in the clinic's care; triages and stabilizes ill and injured animals; diagnoses and treats a wide variety of medical conditions and diseases; anesthetizes animals as needed.
• Performs efficient spay/neuter technique (10-15 animals per day,) in addition to other minor surgical procedures for shelter animals.
• Practices high quality shelter medicine and emergency care; an emphasis is placed on problem solving through physical examination and use of in-house diagnostics when possible.
• Makes recommendations and monitors adherence to protocols on topics including but not limited to, intake procedures, cleaning and disinfection, and treatment of infectious disease. Perform staff training as needed.
• Maintains detailed medical records in the shelter’s software; enter medical notes in a timely manner.
• Organizes and participates in scheduled weekend events - quarterly rabies/microchip clinics.
• Oversees dispersal and recording of controlled substances and the controlled drug log.
• Oversees the inventory and ordering of medications and medical supplies.
• Keeps abreast of the status or any changes to Department of Health Professions.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with shelter staff, volunteers, and local veterinarians.
• Provides animal stories for HSWC media and marketing staff.
• Sets a positive and professional example for other staff members.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and Shelter Manager.

Required Skills / Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
• Must maintain an active license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Virginia.
• Current DEA license or the ability to obtain prior to employment.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in veterinary medicine through a combination of education, training and experience is required.
• Knowledge of animal sheltering practices and procedures; understanding of shelter medicine and epidemiology.
• Experience with high volume spay/neuter including pediatric spay/neuter.
• Knowledge of public health and rabies education procedures.
• Valid Virginia Driver’s License required.
• Must be comfortable safely driving all HSWC transport vans, abiding by all traffic laws.
• Must be able to safely and compassionately handle and work with all cats and dogs, including those with medical or behavioral challenges.
• Must have the ability to actively problem solve and seek answers independently.
• Must have strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate a project with multiple and often changing components.
• Must be a team player and self-starter with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Must have effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload.
• Must be highly motivated, with strong communication skills and a professional manner.
• Must have the ability to get along well with a variety of people, as well as demonstrate ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations and information.
• Must possess high emotional intelligence.
• Must have a strong knowledge of animal care giving with the ability to identify medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Must meet background check requirements.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Ability to make closely coordinated eye/hand movements.
• Ability to lift and transport items weighing up to 65 pounds.
• Ability to handle animals effectively and humanely.
• Have a high level of manual dexterity.
• The ability to bend and squat.
• The ability to stand and sit for significant periods of time.
• Exposure to disinfectant solutions and zoonotic diseases.
• Subject to animal bites and scratches.
• Consistently exposed to animals and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.

Benefits:

• Employee Discount
• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• HSWC will pay for license renewals

Experience:

• Veterinary: 1 year (Required)
• Shelter Medicine: 1 year (Preferred)

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

Schedule:

• Weekends required for quarterly vaccine clinics
• 8-10 hour shifts
• Monday through Thursday in the clinic, available by phone or text outside of those times, occasional Fridays at the shelter

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year