Vice President Veterinary & Breeding Operations

CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE, INC. • Santa Rosa, CA

9d • $145,000 - $155,000

About The Position

The Vice President Veterinary and Breeding Operations is responsible for overseeing the operational efficiency and logistical execution of the organization’s veterinary hospital, breeding program and canine early development program. This role provides strategic oversight and operational leadership to ensure the supply, health and readiness of service dogs through streamlined processes, effective staffing and robust pipeline management, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of regulatory compliance requirements
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with experience managing teams, complex logistics and staffing models
• Familiarity with live animal shipping protocols and pipeline management in a veterinary or breeding context
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in veterinary practice management or animal care operations, ideally in a breeding or hospital setting
• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, veterinary technology, business administration, a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Lead and optimize daily operations across veterinary hospital, breeding and canine early development facilities to ensure efficiency, quality and alignment with organizational goals. Develop and implement protocols for live animal logistics, including safe and compliant shipping, intake and transfers. Manage facility workflows, resource allocation and scheduling to support high-volume service dog breeding and care, while creating forward-looking strategic and operational plans to support growth and readiness.
• Pipeline & Logistics Management: Oversee the end-to-end pipeline of service dogs from birth through placement into training, ensuring smooth transitions across breeding, canine early development, transportation, veterinary care and training teams. Collaborate with internal departments to forecast needs and manage capacity planning.
• Staffing & Volunteer Oversight: Supervise director canine early care operations and manager veterinary operations, ensuring appropriate training, performance management and engagement. Develop staffing models and volunteer programs that support operational needs and enhance organizational culture. Coach and develop direct reports to support growth, engagement and successful execution of responsibilities.
• Veterinary Oversight & Coordination: Provide operational support to veterinary teams to ensure delivery of high-quality care. Coordinate with veterinary leadership to align operational practices with clinical priorities and animal welfare standards. Ensure nationwide compliance with veterinary regulations and implement a veterinary network that optimizes in-house and outsourced care.
• Organizational Accountability: Serve fellow staff and organizational partners with professionalism and integrity, ensuring actions and communications align with Canine Companions’ core values.

Benefits

• Employer-Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staff
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first year
• Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 403(b) retirement plan
• Community Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your community
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well-being
• Inclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progress

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees