Veterinarian

Job Summary

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) plays a central leadership role in advancing the mission of our nonprofit animal shelter by ensuring the highest standards of medical care, compassion, and welfare for all animals entrusted to us. This position is responsible for delivering and overseeing comprehensive veterinary services, maintaining strict adherence to cleanliness and sanitation protocols, and ensuring that all clinic operations reflect our commitment to humane, ethical, and communityfocused care.

 

The DVM provides direct medical treatment to shelter animals, supports population health management, and upholds rigorous standards of safety and cleanliness throughout the clinic. This role includes administrative oversight of clinic operations, training and supervision of clinic staff, and stewardship of lowcost community veterinary services that expand access to care for local pet owners. Through professional expertise and dedication to our mission, the DVM helps create a safe, healthy, and compassionate environment for every animal we serve. This position requires occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed.

Key Responsibilities Include, but are not limited to:

Shelter Clinical Care & Surgery

• Provide comprehensive medical care for shelter animals, including diagnostics, treatment planning, preventive care, and humane euthanasia when medically or behaviorally indicated.
• Perform high-quality spay/neuter surgeries for shelter animals and community-owned pets.
• Evaluate and manage post-surgical recovery and address complications as needed.
• Conduct daily evaluations of animals in the shelter to assess health, pain, stress, and overall well-being.
• Establish and oversee pain management, vaccination, parasite prevention, and treatment protocols.
• Provide medical assessments and treatment recommendations for injured, ill, or at-risk animals.

Clinic Leadership & Supervision

• Serve as the clinical authority for the shelter and clinic, setting medical standards and protocols.
• Supervise and support veterinary technicians, assistants, and clinic support staff, including training, performance feedback, and workflow oversight.
• Provide guidance and oversight to volunteer or relief veterinarians when they are onsite to ensure consistency with clinic protocols and standards of care.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful clinic culture grounded in MCFA’s core values of compassion, integrity, and collaboration.
• Communicate regularly with the Executive Director on clinic matters.

Clinic Operations & Coordination

• Oversee responsible clinic scheduling, surgical flow, and daily operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and quality of care.
• Coordinate closely with the Shelter Operations Manager regarding intake assessments, medical holds, quarantine protocols, spay/neuter timing, and animal flow.
• Maintain accurate and timely medical records using Shelterluv, Clinic HQ, or other designated systems.
• Monitor clinic inventory, medications, and medical supplies; anticipate needs and report supply issues proactively.
• Participate in operational planning and problem-solving related to animal health, capacity, and resource allocation.

Compliance, Data & Community Engagement

• Ensure compliance with all Tennessee state and federal veterinary regulations, including licensing, DEA requirements, and controlled substance management.
• Maintain federal accreditation and professional licensure as required.
• Track and provide clinic data to support grant reporting, program evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Serve as a liaison to community veterinarians, partners, and supporters as appropriate.
• Support MCFA’s mission by contributing clinical expertise to outreach, education, and special initiatives as needed.

Requirements

• Graduation from an AVMA-accredited School of Veterinary Medicine.
• Current, valid Tennessee license to practice veterinary medicine.
• Federal accreditation and current DEA license, maintained as a condition of employment.
• Demonstrated experience in shelter medicine, spay/neuter surgery, or high-volume clinical settings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with shelter operations staff, volunteers, and leadership.
• Commitment to humane, compassionate, and practical veterinary care in a shelter environment.
• Occasional nights and weekends as needed to support animal care and mission-related events.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry animals, crates, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds or more.
• Ability to spend the majority of the workday standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and reaching.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced clinic and shelter environment with frequent interruptions.
• Regular exposure to animal waste, cleaning agents, noise, allergens, sharp instruments, and medical equipment.
• Must be able to ensure cleanliness of clinic facilities.
• Must be comfortable handling animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
• Must remain calm, focused, and composed in high-stress or emotionally challenging situations.
• Some desk and computer work required, though the role is primarily hands-on and clinical.
• Flexibility to adjust schedule as needed for clinic demands, special events, or operational needs.

This role requires a strong nonprofit animalshelter mindset, grounded in compassion, patience, and a commitment to serving both animals and the community. Candidates should be motivated by mission-driven work, comfortable operating in a resource-conscious environment, and dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing, dignity, and humane treatment of every animal in our care. Success in this position comes from teamwork, empathy, adaptability, and a genuine desire to support lifesaving efforts rather than focusing solely on traditional commercial metrics.