Veterinarian

Salary : $120,081.75 - $151,407.42 Annually
Location : Riverdale Animal Shelter, 12155 Park Blvd, Brighton, CO
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 07633
Department: Animal Shelter & Adoption Ctr
Division: Animal Shelter
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 9/21/2026 4:30 PM Mountain
Our Mission: To responsibly serve the Adams County community with integrity and innovation.
EEO: Adams County is an equal opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.
Position classification: Onsite -- Job duties and expectations require employee to be regularly scheduled onsite.


What Success Looks Like In This Job
Riverdale Animal Shelter (RAS) a seeking a skilled and compassionate, full-time Veterinarian to help ensure quality medical care for shelter animals. Reporting to the Managing Veterinarian, the Veterinarian will serve on the Health Care team, working closely with other veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians providing a range of medical and surgical care services. The ideal candidate will have a genuine interest in shelter medicine, experience with high-volume spay-neuter, and possess strong medical, surgical, as well as interpersonal skills.

What you will love about us:

Riverdale Animal Shelter (RAS) provides safe housing and compassionate care for thousands of homeless companion animals to include many cats, dogs, exotics, and the occasional goat or pig. We are an open admissions shelter and operating within a Socially Conscious/PACT framework to support the best outcomes for animals and our community. Our newly constructed facility is located just 15 miles from downtown Denver and includes a bright and spacious veterinary clinic. Our team is highly professional, yet also down-to-earth; and our supportive work culture allows employees to grow, use their skills, and truly be themselves.
Benefits are fantastic to include robust medical and retirement plans with strong matching, generous vacation and sick leave,12 paid holidays, plus a floating holiday, paid self-care (admin) days, paid parental leave, onsite wellness rooms, free fitness centers, PSLF eligibility, professional memberships, uniforms, and CE support just to name a few.
Schedules are flexible to include the possibility of intermittent remote options.
About you :


Direct experience and/or genuine interest in animal welfare and practicing shelter medicine


Strong clinical and people skills


Highly organized and creative problem solver
Enjoy leading and mentoring others

Examples of Duties for Success

• Complete examinations, daily rounds, and provide treatment plans for shelter animals.
• Perform surgical procedures, including spay/neuter, dentals, enucleations, cherry eye, entropion repairs, mass removals, dental extractions, soft tissue repairs, and orthopedic procedures/amputations.
• Conduct emergency triage and stabilize ill and injured animals.
• Maintain patient records through consistent, accurate, and timely documentation, utilizing shelter's operating software (Chameleon).
• Communicate medical-related information to new adopters, clinics, and transfer partners.
• May provide supervision for veterinary technicians and students.
• Attend staff meetings, training, and events as needed.
• Provide examination, documentation, and expert testimony (as needed) in cases involving animal neglect or abuse.
• Assist with medical guidance and support for the shelter's foster care program.
• Assist the Managing Veterinarian on the regular review and development of veterinary care and disease control protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Foster positive working relationships with animal control officers, local public health departments, local veterinarians, volunteers, rescues, and shelter partners.
• Assist with public vaccination clinics.
• Prepare rabies samples for submission and testing as requested by partnering agencies.
• Perform humane euthanasia and assist with staff training and certification of euthanasia.
• Maintain appropriate licensing and continuing education requirements.
• Oversee the secure use of record keeping for controlled substances in accordance with DEA, state, and federal regulations.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May be responsible for direct supervision of healthcare staff to include technicians, interns, and/or students.

Qualifications for Success

• Demonstrated surgical and medical assessment skills.
• Ability to perform high-volume spay/neuter procedures, while maintaining excellence in patient care.
• Skill, interest, and experience performing dental cleanings and extractions.
• Training and ability to perform safe and humane animal handling and restraint.
• Ability to balance herd and individual health, including responsible euthanasia decision-making where appropriate to meet the needs of the organization and the community.
• Working knowledge of animal behavior and fear free training techniques.
• Highly organized and detail-orientated with efficient time management the ability to prioritize tasks and triage emergencies.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills; ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to use sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• Ability to manage a fast-paced and fluid environment..
• Must be willing to support and communicate Riverdale Animal Shelter and Adams County policies and decisions.
• Ability to learn and use shelter operating software (Chameleon ®) to accurately record medical notes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

More Qualifications for Success

• Education and Training : Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
• Experience :
  • At least two (2) years of experience as a practicing Veterinarian required
  • At least one (1) year practicing shelter medicine in a high volume spay/neuter environment or in a clinic with a heavy surgical volume strongly preferred
  • Interest and experience with dentistry strongly preferred.
  • Interest and experience with team leadership and supervision preferred.
• License or Certificate :
  • Current Colorado veterinary license in good standing (or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire).
  • DEA license (or ability to obtain license) preferred.
  • Membership in a veterinary medical association or veterinary alliance strongly preferred.
  • Must obtain fear-free certification within 60 days of hire. (training provided)

Even if you feel you do not meet all preferred qualifications but are interested in this role, please apply!

• Background Check : Must pass a criminal background check.
• Work Environment:
  • Work is performed in shelter surgery suite, throughout shelter and in internal office settings
  • Exposure to high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, potentially fearful/fractious animals and/or animal bites/scratches.
  • Exposure to cleaning agents, fumes, dust, dander, and feces.
  • Work can be emotionally taxing.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Frequent lifting and restraining of animals of various sizes and weight.
  • Frequent computer use.
  • Potential for standing, walking, sitting for extended periods of time. Bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, pulling, pushing, and cleaning.
  • Regular animal handling and restraint; handling surgical instruments, syringes, and needles.
  • Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care.
• Salary is dependent upon qualifications.
  
  
  Work Schedule : Four 10-hour shifts or five, 8-hour shifts per week. One weekend day generally required. Rotating on-call for some holidays, evenings, closures as needed.

Adams County and the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office complies with Colorado's Job Application Fairness Act ("JAFA"). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant's age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.
Adams County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees that goes above and beyond what is offered at most organizations.

Benefits You Expect:

• AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance
• Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Dental/Vision/Medical Plans
• Generous Vacation/Sick leave
• Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan
• Short-Term Disability

Plus some you might not expect:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Fitness Center
• Employee Health Clinics
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Recreation Center Discounts
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Wellness programs
• Lactation friendly certified workplace

01


Please be aware that your cover letter and resume will not be accessed in the initial screening process, so you must complete your application and supplemental questions with as much detail as possible. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your cover letter and resume will then be accessible to the hiring team. Information provided on the application is used to determine if a candidate meets minimum qualifications. Only information provided at the time of the application being completed will be considered and additional information that is not listed on the application will not be considered when deciding if a candidate meets or does not meet the qualifications. Applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to include all information and details on their application. I understand and agree that only information provided at the time of my application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum requirements for this position.

• Yes, I understand and agree
• Yes, I understand but disagree.

02


This role requires a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

03


At least two (2) years of experience as a practicing Veterinarian is required for this role. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

04


This role requires a current Colorado veterinary license in good standing, or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire. Do you or can you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

05


At least one (1) year practicing shelter medicine in a high volume spay/neuter environment or in a clinic with a heavy surgical volume is strongly preferred for this role. Do you meet this preference?

• Yes
• No

06


If yes to the above question, please describe your scope of responsibilities, surgical volume, and how long you worked in high volume spay/neuter environment(s). If none enter N/A.
07


Please describe your humane euthanasia philosophy and your approach to making humane euthanasia decisions for animals.
08


Do you have any specific leadership or supervisory training or experience? If yes, please describe your leadership or supervisory training or experience. If none, enter N/A.
09


What special skills or areas of interest do you have pertaining to veterinary medicine?
Required Question