Veterinarian, Adoption Center

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you a compassionate veterinarian with a passion for helping at-risk animals? Do you excel in a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment? Is working with a dynamic and dedicated team in a mission-driven organization the description of your dream job? If so, you should consider the role of the Adoption Center Veterinarian. As one of our staff veterinarians, you’ll be a critical player on this high-performing staff and volunteer team that works collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to further the ASPCA’s ultimate desired outcome that all animals live good lives. Staff veterinarians attend to the health of individual animals and the entire shelter population equally, with an eye toward minimizing length of stay (LOS) for animals and utilizing best practices and innovative programs to ensure all animals in the care of the Adoption Center receive timely services and support to move quickly and successfully into safe and loving homes. Success in this role requires a clinician experienced in shelter medicine, comfortable with complex medical case management, and committed to animal welfare. The ideal candidate is organized, efficient, and excels in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Strong communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills are essential to provide high-quality medical care that meets each animal’s needs and accounts for behavioral complexities. The Adoption Center currently provides shelter and adoption for five groups of animals: Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD and our National Field & Disaster Response team, Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team, Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals, Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes, Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners.

Requirements

Ability to successfully work efficiently and calmly in a high-volume, fast-paced environment and effectively multi-task with a high degree of integrity and accountability and without loss of attention to detail
Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively and respectfully with all levels of staff
Solid veterinary medical knowledge, including familiarity with shelter medicine principles and best practices
Strong clinical skills, including efficient diagnosis and treatment of cats and dogs for a variety of medical conditions
Excellent low-stress animal handling and restraint skills
Ability to teach and coach others
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
Basic computer skills, including Excel, Microsoft Office, and email
Able to lift 40 pounds
Able to work standing for 8 or more hours
Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (or equivalent degree) from an accredited veterinary college
Eligibility for licensure in New York State (NYS) as a veterinarian required
USDA accredited in New York State or completed within 4 months of hiring
Minimum 3 years small animal clinical practice with at least 1 year clinical shelter medicine experience managing both individual animal and population level care required
Fear Free® shelter certified or completed within 60 days of employment
Language: English (Required)
Doctorate: Veterinary Medicine (Required)
Minimum 2 years clinical practice involving cats

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with PetPoint or other shelter software systems
Current licensure in NYS
Veterinary internship and/or advanced clinical training in shelter medicine
Prior experience and/or advanced training in shelter medicine

Responsibilities

Provide timely, high-quality, practical, compassionate and cost-efficient veterinary care to a wide range of canines and felines in accordance with shelter medicine principles and best practices
Provide skilled and efficient diagnosis and treatment of patients with timely recognition of, and planning for, conditions requiring care through the ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH)
Practice and model low-stress handling techniques to minimize animal fear, anxiety, and stress
Maintain regular and close communication with veterinary colleagues in other ASPCA programs, including with AAH regarding care of hospitalized patients, Community Medicine (CM), Animal Recovery Center (ARC), Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (R&R), and Kitten Nursery (KN) staff regarding medical needs and animal flow between the populations
Ensure that in-house and foster animals receive medical exams upon admission and are provided with on-going care as appropriate; ensure veterinary care provided is aligned with, and contributes to, the efficient and humane flow of animals from intake through outcome
Direct patient care provided by medical team members
Maintain accurate and thorough documentation of all exam findings, test results, diagnoses, treatments and procedures, in accordance with principles of medical record-keeping.
Create Certificate of Veterinary Inspections (CVI) for animals being transported interstate
Closely collaborate with other departments, including ARC, Kitten Nursery, and R&R, and with other teams, including Operations and Behavior, at the Adoption Center to ensure the overall welfare of animals in our care, to effectively share information in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders, and to ensure that decision-making regarding treatment, pathway plans, and outcomes for each animal is informed by all relevant considerations.
Play a leading role in daily Medical-Behavior-Sheltering rounds (daily rounds/pathway planning); ensure individual patients and the population are assessed daily and treatment/intervention recommendations are implemented in a timely fashion
Guide appropriate and timely decisions about euthanasia – with attention to animals’ physical, medical, social and behavioral needs collectively
Monitor the health and welfare of the shelter population, identify potential disease outbreaks, and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
Ensure effective use of quarantine and isolation spaces to manage individual animal needs and effectively protect population health; ensure appropriate designation and use of PPE
Perform humane euthanasia
Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Follow and enforce all ASPCA Adoption Center SOPs; provide input to written SOPs and other related materials including information sheets and data sheets
Offer input and feedback on medical protocols and standards of care
Obtain continuing education as required by ASPCA and state licensing board
Provide medical information and representation to other ASPCA departments, public and media
Deploy with other ASPCA teams, including but not limited to Community Engagement, Community Medicine, National Field & Disaster Response, the Cruelty Recovery Center, and the Rehabilitation & Recovery Center per availability and programmatic needs.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor, department head, or SVP
Contribute to a culture of learning at the Adoption Center, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, active participation in goal setting and monitoring, clear expectations, and regular practice of feedback and after-actions with the Senior Director, Veterinary Services
Model a standard of continual improvement in all aspects of Adoption Center care and handling of dogs and cats
Teach and mentor nursing and animal care staff on shelter medicine principles and Adoption Center shelter medicine protocols
Ensure the medical team provides timely adoption follow-up and foster support via email, phone and in-person; step in to handle situations that require a higher level of decision-making
Competently and compassionately explain animals’ conditions to staff and responders with easily understood language.
Provide mentorship for student externs and other potential teaching opportunities
Inform and advise relevant internal stakeholders of medical conditions of shelter animals, including outbreaks of infectious disease and concern for reportable disease
Attend interdepartmental, AC, Medical Staff meetings and training sessions
Mentor, train, and support rotational assessments for shelter medicine rotating veterinary residents, interns, and externs

Benefits

Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.
Signing bonus (for external candidates)
Relocation bonus to non-local residents
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

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