Medical Director

Company Description

Dog Star Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in the greater Hartford, CT area, dedicated to rescuing dogs from abuse, neglect, and surrender situations. The organization works to provide safe, loving, and permanent homes for dogs in need. Through partnerships with local animal control and rescue networks, Dog Star Rescue is driven by its mission to save lives and create meaningful connections between dogs and their adoptive families.

At Dog Star Rescue, medical care is foundational to humane, responsible lifesaving. The Medical Director ensures that all medical decision-making supports the health, welfare, and long-term success of dogs in our care while remaining aligned with organizational values, policies, and resources.

The Medical Director provides strategic oversight of medical operations and serves as the senior medical leader for the organization. This role focuses on medical policy, budgeting, complex case guidance, and external veterinary relationships, while delegating day-to-day coordination to designated medical coordinators.

Medical Leadership & Policy

• Establish and maintain medical standards, protocols, and policies for dogs in care.
• Provide guidance on complex, high-risk, or high-cost medical cases.
• Advise leadership on quality-of-life decisions and medical exceptions.
• Ensure compliance with state, local, and transport-related medical requirements.

Financial & Risk Oversight

• Develop and oversee the annual medical budget.
• Review and approve significant or non-routine medical expenditures.
• Evaluate requests for post-adoption medical financial assistance and provide recommendations.

Partnerships & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison with partner veterinarians, clinics, and medical consultants.
• Collaborate with Intake, Foster, Adoption, Behavior, Kennel, and Events teams to support whole-dog care.
• Support community-facing medical initiatives, including vaccine clinics and partnerships.

Team Support & Oversight

• Provide guidance and oversight to medical coordinators.
• Ensure clear delegation, accountability, and alignment across medical roles.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Experience working with veterinary professionals or animal welfare medical programs.
• Ability to balance medical best practices with operational and financial realities.
• Organized, collaborative, and comfortable providing guidance in complex situations.
• Commitment to Dog Star Rescue’s mission and values.
  

• Shape medical policy and standards that directly impact lifesaving outcomes.
• Collaborate with dedicated volunteers and professionals across the organization.
• Make high-impact decisions that improve animal welfare at a systems level.

Working conditions

Remote with occasional in-person coordination as needed. Access to reliable internet and phone required.

Reports to: Board of Directors