Clinical Veterinarian/Senior Clinical Veterinarian

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Department Summary: Office of Research & Innovation, Division of Animal Resources invites applicants to apply for an outstanding opportunity to join our Veterinary Team as a Clinical Veterinarian/Senior Clinical Veterinarian.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Clinical Veterinarian supports VCU’s mission by ensuring humane and ethical animal care across a diverse biomedical research portfolio. The Senior Clinical Veterinarian plays a critical role within the veterinary services team, providing expert clinical support, specialized veterinary oversight, and perisurgical guidance across a decentralized, two-campus program.

Serving as a Senior Veterinarian authority, this position operates under the direction of the Associate Director of Veterinary Services and focuses on the high-level delivery of veterinary care, surgical consultation, and the implementation of clinical best practices across all DAR vivariums. The Senior Clinical Veterinarian will also collaborate closely with the Associate Director to develop proficiency in VCU’s complex USDA-regulated surgical models and decentralized operations.

General Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical Veterinarian

Clinical Care & Surgical Support

• Conduct clinical rounds and provide medical care for rodents, rabbits, fish, and agricultural species (swine).
• Deliver anesthesia and surgical support, collaborating with Principal Investigators (PIs) on protocol refinement and perioperative care for large animal models.
• Oversee and mentor veterinary technicians in clinical procedures and treatment delivery.
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

Specialized Clinical & Surgical Support

• Deliver comprehensive clinical care and preventive veterinary programs for a diverse species portfolio, including rodents, rabbits, swine, and aquatic models.
• Provide surgical and anesthetic consultation to Principal Investigators (PIs), supporting protocol refinement and perioperative management.
• Under the mentorship of the Associate Director, develop expertise in and provide oversight for complex USDA-regulated surgical protocols.
• Conduct required veterinary observations of surgical procedures in compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.
• Exercise professional judgment to manage individual animal health cases and implement welfare interventions in alignment with institutional policies.
  
  

Decentralized Program Operations

Clinical Veterinarian

• Manage clinical priorities across multiple facilities on two campuses, ensuring consistent standards of care and regulatory compliance in urban vivariums.
• Exercise professional autonomy to resolve facility-specific veterinary issues independently.
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

• Provide clinical mentorship and guidance to junior clinical veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) staff to uphold consistent veterinary standards.
• Identify clinical risks across decentralized facilities through routine site assessments and deliver targeted staff training as needed.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director to ensure veterinary authority is consistently applied at both cage-side and procedural levels.
  
  

Regulatory Compliance, Documentation and Scientific Consultation

Clinical Veterinarian

• Maintain accurate and compliant medical records in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, and AAALAC International standards.
• Serve as a voting member of the VCU IACUC, contributing to protocol review, policy development, veterinary observations, subcommittee work, and investigator consultations.
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

• Serve as a voting member of the VCU IACUC, providing expert protocol review and participating in post-approval monitoring (PAM).
• Support AAALAC International accreditation efforts and assist with USDA and OLAW regulatory reporting in collaboration with the Associate Director and Attending Veterinarian.
• Act as a “Partner in Science” to faculty by advising on experimental design to promote both scientific rigor and animal welfare.
  
  

Emergency & On-Call Services

Clinical Veterinarian

• Participate in a rotating schedule for weekend and holiday on-call veterinary emergency coverage.
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

• Participate in a 24/7 rotating on-call schedule for emergency veterinary coverage.
• Support the Associate Director by serving as a clinical lead on veterinary and animal welfare matters, as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

Clinical Veterinarian

• DVM/VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution
• Ability to obtain a Virginia Veterinary License and DEA registration
• Demonstrated ability to work in—and foster—an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility among faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

• DVM/VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution
• Board certification (DACLAM) required
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in laboratory animal medicine following DACLAM certification, or significant specialized experience in veterinary medicine combined with DACLAM board certification
• Ability to obtain a Virginia Veterinary License and DEA registration
• Demonstrated ability to work in—and foster—an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility among faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Clinical Veterinarian

• ACLAM board-eligible (residency completed) or board-certified.
• Experience in the handling, anesthesia, and clinical management of swine or other agricultural species in a research setting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage clinical priorities in a decentralized or multi-site environment.
  
  

Senior Clinical Veterinarian

• Demonstrated proficiency in the clinical and surgical management of rabbits and swine.
• Proven experience with veterinary health surveillance in large-scale rodent programs.
• Experience working effectively within a decentralized, multi-site academic research environment.
  
  

Salary Range: $126,000-$150,000(final compensation commensurate with experience)

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: VP Research MBU

Department: Animal Care Facility

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: 33251Y -33256 - Clinical Veterinarian RS 1- Sr. Clinical Veterinarian RS 1

Contact Information

Contact Name: Niki Boyd

Contact Email: tsboyd@vcu.edu