Veterinarian

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES The Veterinarian is responsible for supervising the overall health of all shelter animals and works under the general supervision of the Chief Veterinarian and the Animal Services Director. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS An employee in this class assists in supervisory duties over the veterinary medical team and provides care and treatment to incoming and housed animals within the shelter. In addition to performing all aspects of veterinary care for shelter animals and helping to implement and monitor the effectiveness of infectious disease management strategies, duties can include providing training for shelter staff on all aspects of shelter medical care, disease management and prevention, and proper euthanasia techniques as well as overseeing testing performed by the veterinary medical team. Duties also include educating fosters and adopters regarding the health and welfare of the animals; maintaining medical records of animals seen, medical and surgical procedures done, and medications prescribed; writing and updating policies and procedures related to the medical care of the animals in the Animal Center. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Chief Veterinarian and the Animal Services Director. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Participates in the oversight of the veterinary medical team. Oversees animal health programs and implements the necessary medical protocols at the shelter to provide the best possible care to all animals entering and exiting the shelter, while helping to control the animal population at the shelter. Ensures animals are cared for in accordance with generally accepted sheltering guidelines and standards. Recommends, develops, implements, and manages veterinary processes, programs and systems that address health and disease prevention needs in a shelter environment to reduce euthanasia, enhance life expectancy, and reduce behavioral problems in shelter animals. Contributes to the oversight of veterinary clinic operations that may include budget, procurement, clinic policy and procedure, daily clinic operations, clinic related areas of public programs, statistics, develops and maintains relationships with veterinarians in the community, and attends professional meetings. Additionally, contributes to the coordination of the purchase of all clinic supplies, and equipment while following Guilford County purchasing policies and guidelines. Maintains a clean and sanitary animal shelter clinic at all times. Ensures that any citizen complaints pertaining to the health of shelter animals are processed in a rapid and professional manner, and within Guilford County policies and all applicable laws and standards regarding animal sheltering. Develops a good working relationship in all areas of the media so as to be better prepared to communicate information about special projects, events, and situations to inform the public as necessary. Performs physical examinations, vaccinations, and diagnostics to determine and evaluate health condition of animals at the time of impound or prior to adoption or presentation for surgery. Performs medical treatments and surgical procedures including sterilizing adoptable animals, monitoring anesthesia and recovery of animals, and performing post-surgical evaluation and treatment. Participates in investigations regarding the humane treatment of animals by examining animals at the shelter and documenting findings. Testifies in court or other legal proceedings, prepare written reports and provide expert opinion. Performs or supervises the visual monitoring of impounded animals including those that may be isolated or quarantined for signs of illness or unusual behavior, document finding, and approve release of animals from rabies quarantine. Maintains current DEA licenses and premises permits as required by policy or law; creates and monitors drug logs to comply with federal and state laws. Instructs, trains, and advises staff on proper care, medical treatment, and other animal health related issues, including development of veterinary or animal health handouts. Coordinates with the Animal Services Director regarding the selection of animals for care and euthanasia. Keeps completed medical records and drug records required by the DEA and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Supervises disease prevention, educates and trains staff in proper care and analyzing health issues. Provides rotating emergency on-call services pertaining to both incoming animals and in-house animals with veterinary staff. Supervises the veterinary medical team and assists with day-to-day duties. Holds informational meetings and writes publications for the public on safety and wellbeing of animals in the County. Other duties as assigned. RECRUITMENT STANDARDS Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and assist in adding to policy/procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as fluid rates, medication dosages, discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work, as well as the work operations of Veterinary Technicians. Ability to make frequent decisions of both minor and major importance, either of which that would affect the work operations of small organizational components and the organization's clientele. Ability to perform duties that require very close and continuous attention for control of operations which require a high degree of coordination and/or immediate response. Ability to determine or select the most applicable way of handling situations regarding the organization's administration and operations; also to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved. High order of analytical, interpretative, and constructive thinking in varied situations covering multiple areas of the organization. Skills needed for the use of complex machines and equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software, incinerator, and other equipment, etc.) Ability to perform work free of errors that would affect the organization and/or its prestige and relationship with the public. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and three years of related experience. Must hold or have the ability to obtain a North Carolina license to practice Veterinary Medicine and a DEA Registration. Must be proficient in the use of a personal computer & related software. Must pass a criminal background check with no convictions, no guilty pleas, and/or no contest pleas that are associated with controlled or illegal substances, or any criminal law pertaining to animals. Preferred: One year of management level in veterinary practice. Working Conditions and Physical Demands of Work The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Working conditions are in a kennel environment with frequent exposure to laboratory conditions including hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes and odors, and working with animal body fluids and infectious diseases, and loud noises. Driving Requirements This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria. If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy. Special Note This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities' checklist, which can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions. #J-18808-Ljbffr