Shelter Veterinarian

Job Description

Veterinarian-Available for Full Time or Part Time

Do you have a love for animals and a passion to help your community? Join our lifesaving team at Salt Lake County Animal Services! We are the largest, no-kill, municipal shelter in Utah.

While working for Salt Lake County, you will receive a wide variety of benefits, including paid time off, and including ALL Federal and State HOLIDAYS. We want you to have the time to go out and enjoy the beautiful, diverse sites of Utah. If you enjoy the outdoors this is the place to be, with multiple ski areas and hiking trails within an easy commute of the city. Not to mention, our thriving food scene and nightlife, with access to world class theater productions.

Salt Lake County Animal Services has won the Best of State award in Utah almost every year, for the past 15 years. We have won numerous achievement awards from the National Association of Counties for cutting-edge programming: the Free Feline Fix, the Pet Crew Pantry, Animal Controls Officers (ACO) Cares, Humane Education, and this year for Hounds Around Town.

We are looking for a full-time Shelter Veterinarian to practice high quality medicine and surgery in a fast-paced environment. We have a generous community committed to animals. This has allowed us to provide innovative programs for our communities and shelter animals. We have a dedicated injured animal fund to help provide advanced care to the animals in our care. Work with an outstanding team of veterinary technicians and assistants to provide top quality individual and herd health care. Work with a passionate dedicated team of other animal welfare professionals to find the best solutions for the animals in our community.

Salt Lake County…A career with a purpose in the community you love!

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

What it is like to work here:

At Salt Lake County our culture is woven into all aspects of our work and our employees’ lives, from the way we treat each other to the way we support the community.  To promote and foster a fun and healthy work environment, we appreciate employees through great benefits, a healthy work life balance and room to grow and develop.

Surround yourself with:

Peers who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. We serve Salt Lake County and envision a safe and beautiful place for all to live work and have fun. Salt Lake County is about connecting people and championing our community.  Community is more than a place….its our heart and service that bring us together.

We encourage a work life balance:

Working for Salt Lake County is more than just a paycheck.  A career with /Salt Lake County includes several benefits and perks.  We support our employees with 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year.  We work in a hybrid environment giving you flexibility to manage working from home and being in office.

Additional Benefits for full time include:

• Retirement options for hybrid pension/401(k) or 401(k) only with a 10% contribution

Medical coverage including a 100% county paid premium option-Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for adult designees

• Health Savings account with a county contribution up to $1200/year, Flexible Spending Account
• 100% county-paid Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability option
• Professional Development
• Plus: Onsite medical clinic, childcare and gym; hospital insurance, pet insurance auto and home insurance and discounts at County facilities.

JOB SUMMARY

Provides diagnostic, treatment, and surgical services to all shelter animals. Monitors animal health, provides patient education and assists with administrative work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited college or university and possession of a valid license to practice as a Veterinarian in the State of Utah.

Possession of a Controlled Substance License at the time of hire OR attainment within 60 days of hire.

Possession of a Certification to issue State Health Exams at the time of hire OR within 30 days of of hire.

Must receive a verified negative test result on a mandatory drug test before starting in this position.

Will be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.

May be subject to post accident and reasonable suspicion alcohol and drug testing.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must pass a required background check through fingerprinting and enrollment in the continuous RAP Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) program in accordance with current County Human Resources policy requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Supports entire team involved in spay/neuter surgeries and clinic. Performs required number of canine and feline sterilizations per day
• Adheres to herd health treatments and protocols that are cost and time efficient.
• Monitors progress of animals receiving treatment and ensures rapid recovery.
• Maintains complete surgical, complication, mortality, and controlled drug logs and individual patient medical records.
• Completes wellness and surgical procedures in a competent, safe, and efficient manner.
• Provides education and consults with clients including fosters, adopters, owners, rescuers and staff.
• Utilizes knowledge of population management to recommend non-responsive candidates for euthanasia.
• Assists with diagnostic or surgical vet responsibilities in the absence of the vet-specific specialty.
• Researches, suggests, and maintains best practices for high quality shelter medicine and high volume spay/neuter clinics.
• Assists in the development and implementation of improved or new diagnostic, treatment, and surgery protocols.
• Assists clinic manager to create and distribute work schedules for veterinary staff.
• Provides on-call services on a rotating basis to respond to emergencies.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA)

Knowledge of:

• Surgical procedures for spaying and neutering canines, felines, and other common shelter animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.
• Shelter medicine and best practices
• Modern techniques for treating various animals for common diseases and injuries
• Laws, codes, regulations, and policies affecting the agency’s operations and programs
• Quality assurance procedures and techniques
• Training principles, practices, and techniques

Skills and Abilities to:

• Determine surgical needs based on animals’ health status
• Understand, interpret and apply pertinent provisions of County, state and federal laws, rules, regulations and standards that affect the operation and administration of the shelter medical program
• Effectively provide training and instructions to staff on a variety of medical techniques common to animal care
• Analyze program needs and develop, recommend, and implement operational procedures, policies and protocols
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations and deal effectively and tactfully with citizens and staff
• Prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Position requires standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads of 10 - 40 pounds on regular basis and up to 80 pounds on occasion, stooping, bending, squatting and reaching on a frequent basis.

Incumbent will be  frequently exposed to animals that may bite, kick, scratch or be diseased (including rabies), as well as fur, dander, unpleasant odors, loud noises, unsanitary conditions, dust, gases, and chemicals. Incumbent will be frequently exposed to blood, new and used needles, scalpels and other sharp instruments and contaminants.

 

Additional Information

Full Time SLC employees are eligible for:

• 13 Paid Holidays
• 12 Paid Sick Days
• Up to 24 Paid Vacation Days per year (DOE)
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Utah Retirement System Pension
• 10% Employer Contributions in Utah Retirement Options
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical Health Savings Account (HSA) or Traditional Medical Insurance
• Medical HSA Plan No Premiums
• HSA Front Load to employees $600 Individual/1,200 Family
• Dental insurance
• $25,000 Life Insurance
• Many Additional Programs to Assist you