Chief Veterinarian - Tiered Sign-On Bonus up to $5000

County of Wake, NC • Raleigh, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for a Tiered Sign-On Bonus up to $5,000.
As Chief Veterinarian, you will go beyond clinical care by leading programs that keep animals healthy from intake to adoption, including high-volume spay/neuter, vaccination, and preventive care. You will develop practical, innovative strategies to protect population health and create individualized plans for animals with complex medical or behavioral needs.
This position combines hands-on medicine with system-wide impact, including guiding protocols, overseeing population management, and fostering a culture of excellence that balances animal well-being with outstanding service to the public. Your strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and community focus will directly shape live-release outcomes and the center’s long-term success.

Requirements

• Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
• One year of veterinary experience
• NCVL - North Carolina Veterinary License
• USDA APHIS Accreditation
• DEA Registration or the ability to obtain upon hire
• Valid Driver's License and "safe" driving record

Nice To Haves

• Three years of shelter medicine experience
• One year of high quality-high volume spay-neuter experience
• Two years of clinical private practice experience
• One year of supervisory experience
• Proven knowledge of high-volume spay/neuter, preventive health, and treatment of common shelter diseases
• Ability to communicate clearly and compassionately with adopters, fosters, volunteers, and the public to build trust and provide excellent service
• Dedication to evidence-based protocols that protect population health and support high live-release outcomes
• Skill in identifying new pathways for animals in our care to thrive
• Experience guiding veterinary and support teams, setting clear standards, and fostering professional growth
• Ability to recognize and manage stress-related or abnormal animal behavior using best-practice interventions
• Capacity to balance immediate medical needs with long-term program planning and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead programs that keep animals healthy from intake to adoption, including high-volume spay/neuter, vaccination, and preventive care
• Develop practical, innovative strategies to protect population health
• Create individualized plans for animals with complex medical or behavioral needs
• Guiding protocols
• Overseeing population management
• Fostering a culture of excellence that balances animal well-being with outstanding service to the public

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees