Community Outreach Veterinarian

Exempt Full-time position, 30 hours per week, including regular weekend days and some evenings

Annual Salary: $86,250

Spanish-speaking differential: Additional $1.00 per hour for employees who demonstrate and maintain Spanish language proficiency and are willing to use this skill for Wayside Waifs’ business purposes. 

Position Summary

The Community Outreach Veterinarian is a newly created position established in response to Wayside Waifs’ recent Strategic Plan and completed Community Needs Assessment. The Community Outreach Veterinarian is primarily responsible for providing veterinary care for all animals under Wayside’s growing Community Outreach programs (serving owned animals). Primary responsibilities include general examinations, alteration surgeries, animal public health, student teaching, and teamwork. The Community Outreach Veterinarian will work up and/or direct internal medicine, emergency, and surgical cases based on existing resources. The Community Outreach Veterinarian at Wayside Waifs is expected to demonstrate leadership and teamwork in all organizational and public interactions.

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Perform physical examinations and diagnostic/medical procedures in a way that will deliver the highest quality care while minimizing patient stress and discomfort. Explain physical examination findings and communicate a diagnosis of the animal’s problems and generate and present a treatment plan for the animal based on existing resources.
• Provide preventive/wellness services such as vaccinations, disease and parasite testing, and owner counseling.
• Perform high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries in a clinic and/or mobile surgical unit environment.
• Participate in low-cost and free high-volume community vaccines clinics in the field, both indoor and outdoor. 
• Perform euthanasia of animals owned by the public as deemed medically necessary to prevent suffering.
• Develop and implement medical protocols specifically for Community Outreach programming and ensure disease control protocols are followed.
• Oversee all aspects of veterinary care during scheduled work hours, including pre- and post-operative care, anesthetic administration and monitoring, emergency care, restraint, and treatment. 
• Provide a compassionate environment for vulnerable populations and their pets.
• Work with, provide leadership, and set a professional example for the public, staff, and volunteers. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all staff and volunteers, as well as the public not only within the vet clinic, but also in support of other departments to help further Wayside’s mission and values.
• Educate the staff and volunteers to increase their knowledge of community medicine and practices.
• Assist with media and PR upon request of the Development & Communications Departments.
• Provide counseling and teaching to veterinary student externs in the areas of surgery, medicine, and public health.
• Develop professional, friendly, and mutually beneficial relationships with local veterinarians, promoting Wayside Waifs and our mission within the veterinary and animal welfare community. 
• Compliance & Accreditation.
• Must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Missouri and State of Kansas and have a current BNDD.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, safety, security, and operational standards related to animal care and the practice of veterinary medicine.
• Ensure all services performed through Wayside Waifs programming meet or exceed all regulatory and/or professional standards consistent with client expectations.
• Current federal DEA license or ability to obtain.
• Attend training that is required to enhance knowledge and skills and to maintain credentials.
• Assistance with and support of all Outreach Clinic activities.
• Comply with Wayside Waifs policies and best practices.
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Position Requirements:

Professional:

• Current licensed Missouri and Kansas veterinarian with current BNDD or ability to immediately acquire provisional Missouri and Kansas veterinary licenses.
• Experience with companion animals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and good problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment within Community Outreach and other departments, while being flexible in a multi-faceted and ever-evolving organization.
• Ability to work with people in a variety of high-stress and emotional situations while maintaining a composed and professional demeanor.
• Ability to balance routine surgeries, general medical care, and emergent medical needs.
• Ability to troubleshoot and offer options for operational improvement to benefit the animals and the organization.
• Demonstrate the ability to work efficiently as a team member in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.

Education:

• Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) required.
• Must be willing to learn new procedures and attend training as needed.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred but not required.

Physical:

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds to waist height for various tasks.
• Repetitive bending, kneeling, stooping, and similar movements required.
• Must be able to physically restrain animals weighing up to and including 125 pounds.
• Able to work with exposure to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions.
• Must be able to perform a significant amount of standing during a typical day, exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and possible zoonotic diseases.
• Noise level is moderate to high.
• Exposure to animal waste.