Lead Veterinarian, LA Foster Program

Please make sure to attach your resume to complete your application.

Summary:

COVID Statement:

Being fully vaccinated is condition of employment for this position that requires onsite work at a Los Angeles County or City facility. The ASPCA makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs that prohibit a person from being vaccinated.

Who we are:

Have you ever wondered what happens to cats and dogs whose owners are unable to afford vet care? Or kittens too young to be admitted to a shelter or queens nursing litters? We did. The ASPCA’s Community Medicine (CM) team provides expert veterinary care to support the welfare of animals and their people through our stationary and mobile veterinary clinics, serving the most underserved communities in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. We help pet owners overcome barriers to care, bringing quality services directly to the communities that need us most and partially or fully subsidizing the cost of basic and preventive care. CM treats people and pets with dignity and respect, assisting pet owners in making informed decisions about their pets’ health and wellbeing regardless of their financial circumstances. When you come to work at the ASPCA, you join a team of over 1,000 dedicated colleagues with deep knowledge, skills, and passion for the animals we serve.

What you’ll do:

Help animals in need! You’ll provide medical expertise to save the lives of kittens and cats that need us most.  You’ll lead a team of highly skilled and specially trained registered technicians.  You’ll work closely with boarded ASPCA shelter medicine experts to increase positive outcomes for kittens and cats  on both an individual patient level and on a population level by diverting them from the shelter system into caring foster homes and supporting their adoption through our placement partners.    

No worrying about the cost of services to your clients, minimal paperwork, no on-call or overnight shifts, and no after-hours emergencies. You get to focus on your patients – and have a life! The ASPCA will support you professionally through mentorship and training in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter. If you have limited experience with HQHVSN and have always wanted to become a better, more efficient surgeon, this is your opportunity to learn from the pros.

What you’ll get:

  • Work/life balance:
    • 40 hour, five-day work week with two days off to recharge – regular day shifts with no on-call or after-hours
    • three weeks of paid vacation time to relax
    • paid sick time to heal
    • three paid continuing education (CE) days and a CE stipend to keep your skills sharp
    • ten paid holidays to observe
    • plus – one week of paid personal time to celebrate what and when you like
  • Terrific benefits package:
    • medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • pre-tax dependent care and health flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
    • 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions beginning after one year of service
    • employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance
    • veterinary state license fee reimbursement
    • and more – note that benefits are subject to change annually
  • Room to grow: the ASPCA has robust professional development programs to help you grow as a veterinarian and a person
  • Support: structured mentorship from experienced veterinarians – we are one of the largest and most impactful animal welfare organizations in the world, so you will always have a strong team to lean on and cheer you on

Responsibilities:

Job Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Support LA Foster Initiative (60%)

  • Provide strong leadership and decision-making to the LA Foster Team on medical issues, logistic planning, and foster communication.
  • Manage a team of Registered Veterinary Technicians
  • Oversee the implementation and execution of a Veterinary Technician Externship program that will train Veterinary Technician students at ASPCA locations.
  • Serve as the veterinarian of record for the LA Foster Care Program
  • Provide veterinary oversight and training for ASPCA staff and facilitate the implementation of operational and shelter medicine protocols for Foster Care, collaborating with ASPCA shelter medicine experts and other veterinarians as appropriate.
  • Provide direct veterinary care and pathway planning for LA Foster cases care including surgical procedures such as enucleations, amputations, or other soft tissue surgeries.
  • Lead population rounds on a daily to weekly basis to aid in early identification of potential health concerns and ensure timely flow of kittens and cats through the program to minimize length of stay. 
  • Advise on standards, quality of care, protocols, and adherence to regulatory requirements. 
  • Develop and support relationships with key community partners in the greater Los Angeles area, including local shelters (especially LA County Department of Animal Care and Control facilities), and placement partners; act as a liaison to facilitate open communication between the ASPCA and these partners regarding LA Foster Care.
  • Ensure appropriate medical care of all Foster Program cats via regular and continuous communication with team personnel and through direct care work as appropriate.
  • Develop strategies to integrate Community Medicine’s operational programs to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the LA Foster Care.
  • Instill the guiding principle that everyone can—and should—actively support the animals’ behavioral and mental health in everything they do.
  • Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle patients in a low stress manner, and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals.

Community Medicine Veterinarian duties (40%)

  • Provide compassionate, quality preventive and basic care to patients, overseeing all aspects of veterinary care during a clinic day including physical examination, diagnostics, treatment recommendations and delivery, prescribing of medications and discharge information
  • Perform pre-surgery physical examinations on all surgical candidates
  • Perform 25 – 35 high quality, high volume spay/neuter surgical procedures per spay/neuter clinic day (individualized training provided by the ASPCA)
  • Diagnose and treat post-surgical medical complications
  • Triage and refer cases that do not fall within CM’s parameters of care as appropriate
  • Perform humane euthanasia in accordance with ASPCA policy and CM protocols
  • Communicate with clients in a respectful, non-judgmental way; discuss physical examination and test results to allow pet owners to make informed decisions about their pet’s care
  • Counsel owners about end of life and other sensitive medical concerns
  • Provide discharge instructions for patients and oversee the dispensing of medications
  • Document exam findings, test results and treatment recommendations according to ASPCA guidelines
  • Communicate effectively with Community Medicine, Client Services and other ASPCA staff
  • Support the training & development of ASPCA staff, interns, externs and residents
  • Assist in determining the needed scope of services provided by Community Medicine based on experience with patients and clients and provide input into medical protocols
  • Participate in CM’s monthly virtual medical rounds, attend workshops or staff meetings as requested

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

  • Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
  • Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
  • Believes in Team – that we are stronger together
  • Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
  • Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Additional Information:

This is a full-time position, approximately 8 hours a day, 5 days a week from Tuesday through Saturday. The position requires flexibility in schedule, willingness to occasionally work beyond the scheduled end of the workday and flexibility in reporting location.

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

The target hiring range for this role is $169,500 – $179,500

For more information on our benefits offerings, can be found here

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please click this link and join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

Bilingual English/Spanish, Experience in general small animal practice or shelter medicine 1 year preferred, Experience in high quality, high volume spay/neuter preferred, Fear Free® Veterinary certification is required within 60 days of hire, Medical and surgical experience with neonatal and juvenile feline case management 1 year preferred

  

Veterinarian License – Other

Language:

English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:

Doctorate: Veterinary Medicine (Required), DVM (Required)

  

Category II USDA accreditation or ability to obtain, Current California Veterinary License, or ability to obtain prior to hire, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent, Experience in high quality, high volume spay/neuter preferred

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

Please don’t forget to attach your resume to complete your application.

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

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