Animal Shelter Veterinarian

About the Department

The Department of Public Works is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating and regulating development activities, and providing animal care and services. The Department is committed to high-quality service, partnering with the community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work.

Position Duties

Salary range for this classification is $161,179.20 - $196,341.60 annually. This range includes an approximate five percent(5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

Additionally, Animal Shelter Veterinarians (Full Time) are eligible for a hiring incentive that shall provide a one-time, non-pensionable payment of $20,000 upon hire. The one-time, non-pensionable lump sum Hiring Incentive shall be paid asfollows:

Upon Hire: $5,000
Upon 6-Months Worked: $7,500
Upon 12-Months Worked: $7,500
 
The City of San Jose, Animal Care and Services Division is seeking Veterinarians to work at the Animal Care Center, including one full-time in either/or, shelter medicine and/or the shelter’s public high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic. The Animal Shelter Veterinarian may perform all aspects of shelter medicine in a large animal shelter. Duties may include routine spay/neuter surgeries on cats, dogs, and other animals as indicated. This position provides direct care and treatment of homeless animals entering the City of San Jose’s Animal Care Center.
 
In addition, this position is required to diagnose, treat, and/or recommend euthanasia. Registered Veterinary Technicians will be assigned to assist this position with the preparation and post-surgery processes of spay/neuter and other surgical procedures. This is a position reporting to the Shelter Manager of Animal Care and Services. This classification is represented by City Association of Management Personnel (CAMP).

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

•  Directs, coordinates and performs the screening, diagnosis, and basic and emergency medical treatment of animals in the shelter.
•  Performs or supervises the visual monitoring of impounded animals, including those that may be isolated or quarantined for signs of illness or unusual behavior.
•  Performs surgical procedures, including spay/neuters and vaccinates animals to prevent diseases. 
•  Maintains accurate medical records of animals.
•  Effectively communicates the condition and status of animals with staff, public and animal groups. 
•  Advises staff on matters within the veterinary field.
•  Orders, maintains and controls the drugs used at the shelter and in the field.
• Trains appropriate staff in administering first aide and vaccinations to animals, the performance of euthanasia and other paramedical duties.
• Performs and directs staff to perform euthanasia of animals that are irremediably suffering from serious illness or severe injury, as necessary
• Ensures that shelter staff participates in a comprehensive disease prevention program for the animal shelter. 
• Participates in special spay/neuter or vaccination clinics.
• Supervises staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; providing technical guidance to staff; ensuring staff are trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Ensures compliance of activities to codes and all legal regulations.

Physical Requirements

Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 50 pounds while handling animals and equipment. Employees may be exposed to cold and hot temperatures, loud noises, odors, dust, air contaminants, blood borne pathogens while using hypodermic needles on animals and may be exposed to animal scratches and bites.

Minimum Qualifications

Education 
A degree from an accredited college or university in Veterinary Medicine.
 
Licensing Requirements (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.)  

• Valid California license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California is required. 
•  Ability to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration for controlled substances.
•  Valid California Driver’s License and a good driving record. (Must maintain a good driving record.)

Other Qualifications

Competencies
(Needed at entry into the job in order to perform the essential duties.)

Job Expertise –Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

• Ability to examine, evaluate and treat shelter animals (primarily dogs and cats) in a professional and efficient manner
•  Skill in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for medical staff
•  Ability to operate assigned medical equipment
•  Ability to make sound decisions, including prescribing medications and euthanasia of animals that are irremediably suffering from serious illness or severe injury
•  Ability to develop and implement methods to control and prevent the spread of diseases in a shelter  
• Knowledge of safety regulations and safe work practices

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Decision Making – Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.

 
Additional Competencies and/or Desirable Qualifications (Competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities that are more position specific and/or likely to contribute to more successful job performance.)
 

• Knowledge of California state, federal and municipal animal health laws and regulations governing the impounding, releasing and euthanasia of animals
• Experience in supervision and program management
• Experience performing spay/neuter procedures and vaccinations in a high volume environment  Experience handling and treating aggressive and/or feral animals
• Experience in training staff to rapidly identify animals requiring isolation or veterinary care.  Experience using computers for tracking animals in the shelter
• Experience in the development of a comprehensive program of health care services for the animal shelter, establishing medical standards and procedures for the maintenance of healthy, safe and sanitary facilities.
• Experience in estimating veterinary requirements for the budget and monitoring expenditures
• Ability to negotiate and monitor contracted medical services with local animal clinics and veterinarians

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant’s training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.
 
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. 

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Charmaine Guerrero via email at [email protected].