Staff Veterinarian

Position Summary:

The Staff Veterinarian provides veterinary care that balances shelter population management with individualized care. At Seattle Humane, all animals that are treatable and can be rehabilitated receive care, resulting in a need for oversight and treatment of a variety of infectious diseases, chronic medical cases, surgical cases and behavioral management. The Staff Veterinarian will be involved in all aspects of veterinary care including population management, disease prevention, assessment & treatment of hospitalized animals, high quality high volume spay/neuter surgery, as well as a variety of soft tissue surgeries & dentistry. Staff Veterinarian will be responsible for maintaining the health and well-being of shelter population as well as providing veterinary care to low-income pet owners. Staff Veterinarian will participate in training and mentoring of veterinary intern, support staff and veterinary students, as well as work with other staff veterinarians

KEY OR ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs examinations, vaccinations and diagnostic tests for shelter animals, recently adopted animals, and public clinic patients according to established guidelines


• Oversees chronic medical cases with the goal to decrease length of stay in the shelter and promote adoption with research, creativity, and outside resources in accordance with SH protocols and resources 

• Performs high quality high volume spay and neuter (HQHVSN) surgeries


• Performs other soft tissue surgeries (amputation, enucleation, cystotomy, gastrotomy/enterotomy, etc.) and dentistry


• Opportunity to perform orthopedic surgery if candidate has pre-established skill set


• Utilizes population management strategies which maximize life-saving capacity 

• Oversees pharmacotherapy of behavioral cases to ensure a good quality of life for shelter patients

• Provides on-site leadership and direction to Veterinary Intern and Veterinary Staff 

• Provides input and pertinent medical information to other departments as needed to facilitate the health care of all SH animals. 

• Provides input and pertinent medical information for the establishment of health care and disease control/sanitation and safety protocols. 

• Assures compliance with federal, state and local regulations concerning legend drugs, euthanasia and other veterinary practices. 

• Advises, performs or oversees euthanasia in accordance with SH procedures and federal regulations 

• Maintains a positive attitude and exemplifies the high level of care that SH provides to shelter guests (people and animals alike). 

• Maintains accurate files and records, especially pertaining to medical, surgical, and euthanasia records.  Adheres to the files and records retention policy and procedures. 

• Follows all written and verbally communicated departmental standard operating procedures. 

• Works closely with all departments and effectively communicates the medical needs of shelter animals 


• Collaborates and works congruently with other staff veterinarians and veterinary services leadership

• Provides support and training as needed within Veterinary Services Team, for other departments and shelter volunteers 

Secondary Functions:

• Carries out approved program or procedure changes in order to maintain compliance with any safety, health and labor regulations. 

• Assures a clean, orderly and positive working environment. 

• Assists with volunteer and staff training as requested. 

• Attends department and full staff meetings as requested and provides ideas and suggestions designed to improve programs and working conditions. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Provides instruction to staff and volunteers regarding animal health and wellbeing 

COMMUNICATION/INTERPERSONAL CONTACT:

• Daily verbal and written communication both within the veterinary services department and between SH teams (Intake, Foster, Animal Care, Adoptions and Behavior) and volunteers. 

• Daily communication with Seattle Humane customers and clinic clients through direct contact, over the telephone, via telemedicine/telehealth or written communication 

• Regular written or verbal communication with outside veterinarians, veterinary technicians or animal welfare agencies as needed 

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION OR TRAINING:

• Minimum of 1 years of clinical experience in veterinary medicine for Level 1 Staff Veterinarian; Minimum 3 years clinical experience in veterinary medicine for Level 2 Staff Veterinarian  

• Strong surgical and clinical skills, shelter medicine, HQHVSN & pediatric experience preferred 

• Strong interpersonal skills & ability to provide feedback and mentor others with empathy and compassion 

• Ability to assist in risk assessment and management of infectious disease on both individual and population level 

• Ability to think critically and problem solve 

• Low stress animal handling skills as related to a clinic/shelter environment 

• Ability to multi-task while working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment while maintaining a high standard of care 

• Must be able to read, write, listen and communicate rapidly and effectively 

• Should be able to identify personal limitations and be willing to ask for help 

• Ability to work independently or as part of a team 

• Proficient at use of computer technology including Microsoft Office programs, email, Internet and database management software to efficiently accomplish work 

• Must be able to use appropriate safety equipment for fractious or feral animals 

COMPLEXITY: 

A high degree of independent judgment is required. Duties are diverse as routine varies day to day. Formal policies and procedures are followed or developed as needed. Staff Veterinarian must be able to recognize, prioritize, and address multiple tasks, maintaining concentration on a task or series of tasks while dealing with frequent interruptions and be able to identify situations where additional assistance is required. Must communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.  Requires the ability to solve problems and make clear decisions, sometimes quickly.  Must possess the ability to be sensitive to other opinions, perspectives or cultures.  Must be able to offer excellent customer service (internal and external).  The Staff Veterinarian should feel comfortable dealing with angry, confused, and/or distraught people and should be comfortable, or willing to learn more about, supporting clients experiencing crisis. 

With or without reasonable accommodation, the Staff Veterinarian frequently needs to speak clearly, hear well, write legibly, see clearly, and distinguish between various odors by sense of smell.  To complete tasks, good dexterity and sense of touch with both hands is needed.  The Staff Veterinarian performs work standing and walking for four to six hours at a time.  They frequently crouch, bend from the waist, and kneel. They may occasionally lift, floor to table and vice-versa, and/or carry for at least 6-10 feet, up to 30 pounds with or without accommodation.  

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (or V.M.D.) from an accredited college/university 

• Current veterinary license with the State of Washington or ability to obtain WA license 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work may be performed in various settings including: shelter medical center, outdoors, in community centers or client homes for up to ten hours per day. The operations of an animal shelter and veterinary clinic can be a high stress environment. Must be able to work efficiently under stressful conditions and respond quickly to a variety of medical situations.
 

Exposures to potential hazards include waste anesthetic gases, radiation, cleaning chemicals, formalin and disinfectants, needles, scalpel blades and other sharp hazards, animal bites and scratches, zoonotic diseases, animal hair, dander and wastes, pharmaceutical and biological agents, euthanasia solution, eye hazard, steam (from autoclave), wet floors, potential electrical hazards, constant noise (vacuum, fan, barking) and interruptions, back strain, exposure to cold or other hazards with walk-in freezer.   

Work Hours: Full-time, exempt position. Scheduled for 40 hours per week, generally scheduled over four ten-hour shifts. The Shelter and Veterinary Clinic are open 7 days per week and on holidays; schedule may vary depending on coverage, holidays or emergencies. Must be available weekend hours. Shared overnight on-call for emergencies, phone triage only.

LOCATION:

The position works in an onsite capacity, located in the Bellevue, WA office.

SEATTLE HUMANE CORE VALUES:

Candidate should be committed to Seattle Humane’s Core Values:

Compassion
Accessibility
Innovation
Responsibility
Teamwork

Who we are:

Seattle Humane is more than a shelter, we are a community resource center. We're meeting the increasing need for pet owner support services, so that families don't have to choose between an overdue bill and a beloved family member. We're training the next generation of veterinarians in our state-of-the-art medical center. We're building a community of animal advocates through our volunteer and youth education programs. The impact of Seattle Humane is life-changing, for the animals in our care and the people who love them. Our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with the people who will love them. Through our outreach, advocacy, and 

Equal Opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, Seattle Humane is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

The Benefits:

At Seattle Humane, we believe in investing in our people, you'll receive competitive benefits and perks, including full health & wellness coverage, generous paid time off starting at three weeks, 10 paid holidays, an employer matching retirement plan, personal pet allowance, employee sabbaticals, and discounts.

Check out our LIST of benefits and perks HERE

Sound like something you want to be a part of? Then apply today!