Career Center

Type of Position: Full-Time, Salaried

Reports to: Executive Director

Job Summary:  

The Medical Director is responsible for overseeing the daily veterinary care and operations at Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary (PSDS), as a chief steward of best practices in animal welfare and care. This includes managing the overall daily veterinary care, and veterinary staff. The Medical Director will work alongside other team members to advance the mission of PSDS.  The Medical Director will be a part of the organization’s Leadership Team. The Medical Director’s primary responsibility will be to manage the care of our sanctuary dogs, who will live at the sanctuary and will never be adopted out. The secondary responsibility will be to manage the public facing portion of the clinic to help fund the sanctuary on a reserved schedule. The Medical Director will have the responsibility to initiate and execute a business plan for the public facing portion of the clinic. The Medical Director will be a key part of the organization’s Leadership Team.

About Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary:

We provide senior dogs with a compassionate, forever home, at our veterinarian-supervised sanctuary. We care for our dogs for all the days of their lives, including hospice needs. We are the premier “dog retirement community” for canines who need us most - forever. We fill a unique need and space in senior dog sanctuaries. While you won’t find shuffleboard at our sanctuary, our seniors have other amenities and supports that make Pepper’s a well-deserved luxury for senior dogs. We provide small group and one-on-one care; enormous space to play, lounge, and sleep kiddie-poolside; individual bedroom suites; professionally trained staff and volunteers; and dedicated physical therapy and medical care. Dogs who become part of the Pepper’s family win the retirement lottery. 

We will officially open in 2023, when construction is complete on our first-rate sanctuary. The dogs we’ve already welcomed, currently live between our leadership team and at the sanctuary. We are presently focused on raising the funds to complete our $5 million capital campaign. 

Pepper’s only adopts dogs from area shelters and rescues, helping to ease the burden of overcrowding. The ASPCA estimates that approximately 670,000 dogs who enter U.S. shelters each year are euthanized. Sadly, many of these dogs who are considered seniors and special needs dogs are prematurely or unnecessarily euthanized due to age, special medical needs, testing heartworm positive, or having a disability. At Pepper’s, age and appearances don’t matter – we’re specially equipped to care for elderly and special needs dogs for their entire journey. Please feel free to check us out on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@psds.

Benefits: 

• The annual salary for this position will be $110,000-$130,000
• Compensation will be commensurate with education/experience
• Work in a cutting edge, and fully equipped clinic
• Work in a unique veterinary setting where the majority of your clients are sanctuary residents
• PTO and Holiday Pay
• Competitive Medical Insurance, available after 90 days of employment
• SLRP, Student Loan Repayment up to $300 a month(also qualifies for PSLF)
• Relocation Assistance
• Allowances for CE and Licensing fees
• Access to onsite hydrotherapy and laser therapy equipment. In the future, we will also have a hyperbaric chamber
• Access to a Dog Behaviorist Board Member
• Work close to the Denver Metro Area, but enjoy a view of the mountains; the sanctuary is nestled into a colorful Colorado setting, complete with beautiful mountain views
• Great nearby hiking trails provide outdoor engagement throughout the year, while supporting the work-life balance that we deeply encourage

Responsibilities of the Medical Director include, but may not be limited, to: 

• Implementing and maintaining consistent medical standards and guidelines within the hospital by designing, maintaining and reviewing veterinary protocol. 
• Reviewing, implementing and observing staff treatment of animals. 
• Leading the PSDS Veterinary Team to ensure the highest level of care is delivered to the dogs, including adherence to and monitoring of mandated standards such as the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA).
• Recruiting, training, developing, and managing veterinary staff and volunteers, ensuring they are motivated and empowered to carry out their responsibilities to the required standard of excellence.
• Strategizing, developing, and implementing initiatives that streamline veterinary care, improve care and customer service and/or enhance programs, ensuring the continued growth and progress in relation to established goals.
• Conducting physical examinations, diagnostics, and treatments.
• Participating in medical rounds.
• Documenting, updating, and maintaining thorough, accurate, and contemporaneous medical records.
• Maintaining appropriate State and DEA licensing and completing required continuing education courses.
• Performing surgical procedures, including various soft tissue and orthopedic procedures, dentistry, and HQHV spay/neuter surgeries.
• Ensuring sanctuary veterinary compliance with federal regulations and government agencies.
• Overseeing safety protocols to ensure PSDS sustains a safe and sanitary environment for animals and people.
• Developing and implementing a veterinary program with the Director of Operations that controls and reduces the prevalence and impact of contagions.  
• Creating, implementing and supporting the euthanasia content and training program, performing euthanasia and related tasks, as needed.
• Overseeing veterinary clinic maintenance, managing the maintenance associated with the sanctuary’s veterinary clinic.
• Generating veterinary-related reports for the Executive Director and Board of Directors, as needed.
• Taking immediate action to address safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, patron, animal or the organization at risk
• Assisting with the annual budgeting process.
• Working closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, Staff, and Volunteers to provide support and information.
• Executing other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director.

Education and Experience:

• Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Medicine
• Current or eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License
• Current or ability to obtain DEA License
• Three years of demonstrated clinical experience post-graduation required, which includes practicing veterinary medicine, teaching veterinary medicine, and providing leadership for or managing a veterinary team
• Experience performing orthopedic surgeries preferred 
• Leadership or management experience in clinic, hospital, or shelter environment desired
• Experience as a teacher or mentor of veterinary professionals or students ideal
• Proficient in the use of practice software in the provision of veterinary medicine
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Competency Requirements:

• Must be passionate about the humane treatment and care of animals
• Must be committed to the mission of PSDS
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Well-organized & must have a strong ability to multitask
• Highly ethical
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team

Workplace Culture:

• Must be able to work in a dog-friendly environment
• Must be able to drive a motor vehicle locally to conduct sanctuary business; must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to frequently stand and move around the work areas (duties require sitting, bending, reaching, and stooping; manual dexterity, feeling and grasping is needed for keyboarding and other work tasks)
• Must be able to climb a flight of stairs to access upstairs business office
• Must frequently lift dogs and objects up to 50 pounds; may occasionally transport heavier pets and items
• Normal or corrected hearing and vision are required, along with speaking abilities
• Subject to moderate noise with typical work environments involving dogs (barking, computers, printers, & office traffic)
• Subject to exposure to radiation in association with performing radiological vet procedures
• Must be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed
•  Occasional out-of-the-area travel may be required for training, conferences, and to visit other sanctuaries 

Want to be an integral part of the mission-driven work we do?

How to Apply:

• Please send a resume and cover letter to veterinary@psds.org

Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary Mission:

Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary provides a compassionate, loving, lifelong home where elderly dogs are cared for during their good days, bad days, and last days.

*For more information on PSDS, please visit our website:  www.psds.org.

Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.