REPORTS TO: Medical Director

LOCATION: Barrow County, Georgia

BENEFITS: 5-day work week, build and manage shelter medicine team, provide much-needed medical services for under resourced municipality, health, vision, dental insurance and 401K, competitive salary based on experience

JOB SUMMARY

Provides high-quality medical care to shelter animals, including spay/neuter, treatment of various medical conditions, and herd health maintenance. Assists in developing, advancing, and implementing shelter medicine protocols and delivers and ensures humane medical treatment of all animals seen in the shelter.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinates and directs shelter medical operations and ensures sound veterinary medical practices:
  • With the Medical Director, and shelter management leads the evaluation and establishment of shelter medical protocols
  • Continually improves the medical management program and ensures high-quality medical care and services for shelter animals including those temporarily in foster care, focusing on identification, treatment and prevention of health problems
  • Makes recommendations and collaborates with the CEO, Medical Director, and shelter management in the formulation of shelter medical objectives, practices, plans and decisions that influence operations to ensure optimal health of sheltered animals
  • Oversees the maintenance of shelter drug and supply inventory while meeting and maintaining DEA requirements
  • Actively participates as a member of the management team; attends applicable meetings virtually and in-person
  • Maintains effective communication with staff through daily contact, in scheduled meetings, informally or in writing, as needed to coordinate and direct medical functions of the shelter
  • Supervises shelter veterinary students and externs, ensuring proper training and timely assessments
  • Provides guidance to medical and shelter staff for situations requiring immediate medical problem solving
  • Participates in interviewing and hiring decisions for shelter veterinary staff
  • Responsible for managing/coaching/training veterinary assistants/technicians on shelter medicine team
  • Ensures that appropriate shelter and medical personnel are certified in euthanasia; oversees regularly scheduled euthanasia training when appropriate
  • Identifies and helps to resolve ethics issues
  • Treats people and animals with respect; contributes to effective teamwork; promotes intra- and inter-departmental cooperation; and fosters public relations beneficial to Planned PEThood and shelter team
  • Ensures compliance with current Veterinary Medical Services contract between the shelter and Planned PEThood

• Performs the duties of a staff veterinarian, including but not limited to:
  • Provides medical services to all shelter animals, including physical examinations, diagnostics, medical rounds, and treatments
  • Performs sterilization surgeries and other surgical procedures for shelter animals
  • Ensures appropriate medication is administered by shelter veterinary staff as directed
  • Advises, performs or oversees euthanasia performed within the shelter when appropriate
  • Provides guidelines for on-call personnel to minimize the need for after-hours calls
  • Maintains appropriate licensing and completes required continuing education courses.
  • Adheres to state regulations, ASV Guidelines, and organizational protocols regarding animal care, treatment, advocacy, and the mission of Planned PEThood of Georgia, Inc.
  • Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs as a Leader – displaying a positive attitude and acting as a motivating force for all staff members
• Facilitates good communication channels between medical and administrative teams
• Ensure all clinic and shelter staff members are adhering to proper pre-, peri- and post-operative care of patients
• Communicate any issues concerning personnel, protocol, or contract compliance with Medical Director or CEO as appropriate.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Minimum of two years’ experience in shelter medicine with high volume spay neuter
• Ability to work well within the frenetic nature of shelter environment
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Proven organizational, time management, and planning skills required
• Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, and respectful manner at all times
• Maturity with ability to use good judgment and display a professional manner
• Good analytical skills and ability to identify and assess department issues/opportunities.
• Track record of fostering a positive work environment. Be viewed as a motivator and leader. Experience in molding and developing staff into a cohesive team while holding individuals and work units accountable for their results

• Physical Requirements
  • Must be able to work standing or sitting for 8 or more hours
  • Must be able to bend and kneel repeatedly
  • Must be able to see fine detail in a variety of situations
  • Must have good hearing including ability to distinguish changes in pitch
  • Must have acceptable sense of touch and smell
  • Must have good range of motion in joints especially wrist, knees, elbows
  • Must have good range of motion in your back for instance twisting
  • Must possess excellent hand-eye coordination
  • Must possess an acceptable degree of dexterity in hands and fingers
  • Must have good vision including peripheral vision
  • Exposure to high noise levels, fine detail, distance, depth perception and ability to focus

• Emotional/Mental Requirements
  • Must be able to work under stressful conditions and work professionally, efficiently and effectively under those conditions
  • Must be able to respond quickly to a variety of medical situations
  • Must be able to cope with death either due to surgical complication or euthanasia
  • Ability to rapidly and accurately process information
  • Ability to delegate tasks
  • Ability to recognize a need for assistance and ask for help
  • Ability to make decisions
  • Ability to cope with frustrating situations and remain calm

• Potential and Prolonged Exposures
  • Prolonged exposure to various aqueous solutions including but not limited to dish soap, chlorhexidine and spectra soap
  • Prolonged exposure to isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide
  • Potential exposure to formalin solution
  • Potential/Prolonged exposure to isoflurane gas
  • Prolonged exposure to quaternary ammonium cleaners, Rescue and bleach
  • Prolonged exposure to pressurized steam
  • Potential exposure to sharps including needles and surgical blades

REQUIRED

• Must be a licensed veterinarian in the state of Georgia.
• Knowledge of DEA requirements for handing and reporting controlled drug inventories (DEA licensure not required).
• Maintenance of malpractice insurance