Veterinarian

THIS POSTING WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Applications are referred to the department daily for consideration.

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

Under limited direction, the Veterinarian is responsible for all medical treatments and surgical services performed at the City’s Animal Care Services shelter; provides medical care and treatment of impounded animals; trains and oversees the work of non-professional staff who assist with animal health or euthanasia procedures; represents the City on the care and treatment of animals and pets.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will have experience working in a large municipal animal shelter or non-profit that provides animal shelter services to a municipal organization. The ideal candidate will have experience providing high-quality veterinary care and spay and neuter services to shelter animals. The ideal candidate will have experience in providing knowledge and guidance to other shelter personnel, volunteers, and community members regarding veterinary care for shelter animals housed in the shelter and volunteer foster homes. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work under pressure and will embrace a foster centric model of animal sheltering that improves the lives of animals and people. The ideal candidate will have the opportunity to work a 4/10 work schedule, with one day of remote work to enter medical records, create treatment plans for shelter animals, and other administrative functions. Job sharing/part-time work is also a possibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single position management classification in the Animal Services Division of the General Services Department. The Veterinarian classification is distinguished from the Animal Care Services Manager, in that the latter has significant authority for various administrative and managerial operations within the Animal Care Services division, and is not responsible to possess specialized knowledge in order to examine, diagnose, and prescribe medical or surgical treatment for any ill or injured animals at the shelter.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Limited direction is received from the Animal Care Services Manager. Responsibilities include direct and indirect supervision of supervisory, technical, and support personnel. Responsibilities include direct supervision over Registered Veterinarian Technicians and indirect supervision of Animal Care Technicians.

1. Examine, diagnose, and perform routine and emergency medical treatment of all impounded animals; vaccinate animals against Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, Upper Respiratory Infection, and other diseases common to canines, felines, and other animals commonly found in shelters; perform spay/neutering surgery on animals prior to adoption; examine animals prior to adoption and before release to ensure health condition.
2. Regularly review medical condition of animals quarantined at the animal shelter; provide follow-up treatment to injured animals as necessary; perform euthanasia of designated animals.
3. Provide ongoing training for staff throughout the division to rapidly identify animals requiring isolation or veterinary care; train and supervise non-professional staff performing or assisting with veterinary duties or medical procedures.
4. Recommend and draft policies and guidelines for the animal health program for the animal shelter, as assigned; develop protocols for handling ill and injured animals in the shelter.
5. Supervise the visual monitoring on a daily basis of impounded animals, including those that may be isolated or quarantined for signs of illness or unusual behavior; assure that problems are promptly reported; determine and direct appropriate action as required.
6. Supervise the use of immobilization capture drugs; oversee use of drugs used for euthanasia; oversee the ordering and maintaining of supplies and equipment.
7. Review animal bites and exposure reports concerned with rabies and other diseases; contact citizens and officers involved and direct follow-up procedures; may assist field officers with cruelty investigations or rescues where medical intervention is necessary.
8. Respond to inquiries from the public; maintain effective community relations; participate in special community events; advise/explain proper medical care and treatment of animals and pets; perform studies; prepare reports and maintain records; prepare press releases and respond to inquiries from the press.
9. Assign, train, direct, and evaluate staff; provide professional and technical guidance to staff; oversee and implement disciplinary actions as necessary.
10. Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Surgical procedures for spaying and neutering canines, felines, and other common shelter animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.
• Shelter medicine and best practices.
• Standard guidelines of the veterinary professional that are used in the State of California.
• Knowledge of modern techniques for treating various animals for common diseases and injuries.
• Laws, codes, regulations and policies affecting the department’s operations and programs.
• Quality assurance procedures and techniques.
• Training principles, practices and techniques.
• Principles and practices of leadership and conflict resolution.

SKILL IN

• Addressing community groups, panels and/or commissions.
• Using computers and computer applications and software.

ABILITY TO

• Decide whether to perform surgery based on the animals’ health status.
• Understand, interpret and apply pertinent provisions of county, state and federal laws, rules, regulations and standards that affect the operation and administration of the shelter.
• Effectively provide training and instruction to non-professional staff personnel on a variety of medical techniques common to animal care.
• Analyze program needs and develop, recommend and implement operational procedures, policies and protocols.
• Analyze situations and take appropriate action; reach sound conclusions.
• Surgically alter with RVT support a minimum of 14 animals within a 4 hours block of time.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations and deal effectively and tactfully with citizens and staff.
• Prepare clear, complete and technically accurate reports.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience

Two years of recent experience in veterinary medicine. Supervision of staff, program responsibility, and previous experience in animal shelter medicine are highly desirable.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

License

A current license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California.

Driver License

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment. Loss of the license is cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Requirement

Incumbents in this class may need to work weekends, holidays, nights, and respond to emergency animal services assignments during off duty hours.

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the next posted cut-off date;
2. Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
3. Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified if:

• If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section.
• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

(Pass/Fail) – In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, all applicants must complete and submit online responses to the supplemental questionnaire to the City of Sacramento Employment Office by the next posted cut-off date;

1. Responses to the supplemental questionnaire must be submitted online; paper questionnaire will not be accepted.
2. Incomplete supplemental questionnaire will not pass the review process; omitted information cannot be considered or assumed.
3. A resume will not substitute for the information required in the supplemental questionnaire.
4. Possession of the minimum qualifications is not necessarily a guarantee for further advancement in the selection process.

SCREENING COMMITTEE

(Pass/Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.

CONDITIONAL HIRE

Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

QUESTIONS:

For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Application Support at 855-524-5627.
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at ;
• Send an email to ; or
• Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726