ANIMAL SERVICES VETERINARIAN (PART TIME)

Veterinary Surgeon

This position performs professional work in examining, treating, and performing surgery at the City of Columbia Animal Shelter; monitors and maintains all preventative healthcare programs; provides medical analysis on animal cruelty cases and other cases involving animals; and performs related work as required. The incumbent works within broad policy and organizational guidelines and does independent planning and implementation, reporting progress of major activities through periodic conferences and meetings. The work is considered medium-to-heavy in nature and involves walking, standing, stooping, lifting, climbing, pushing or raising objects and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis and 50 to 100 pounds of force on an occasional basis. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: feeling, grasping, hearing, mental acuity, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking. Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, animals/wildlife, fumes and/or noxious odors, disease/pathogens, toxic/caustic chemicals; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversees the health care of shelter animals, and ensures the maintenance of accurate and complete animal health records;
• Plans and conducts medical exams of animals sheltered by the Animal Services Division;
• Diagnoses animal health problems and initiates appropriate treatment;
• Administers an effective disease prevention program by implementing an inoculation regime and ensuring effective shelter sanitation and disinfection;
• Monitors and maintains all preventative healthcare programs;
• Performs spay and neuter surgeries on a regular basis; performs other surgeries as needed;
• Provides emergency medical treatment to sick or injured animals on a 24-hour on-call basis;
• Evaluates animals victimized by cruelty and neglect; provides court testimony as necessary;
• Euthanizes animals as necessary;
• Provides animal health information and assistance to those adopting shelter animals; provides follow-up medical care as appropriate;
• Orders and maintains all veterinary supplies;
• Provides instruction and leadership of shelter technicians and other staff assisting with veterinary procedures;
• Maintains assigned equipment;
• Provides recommendations and considerations to the director;
• Performs routine administrative / clerical duties as required, including but not limited to preparing forms, reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, etc.;
• Attends training, meetings, conferences, workshops, etc., as necessary to maintain job knowledge, skills and required certifications; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree;
• Two (2) years of relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License;
• Controlled Substance License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic algebra involving variables and formulas and/or basic geometry involving plane and solid figures, circumferences, areas and volumes, and/or computing discounts and interest rates;
• Ability to synthesize or integrate analysis of data or information to discover facts or develop knowledge or interpretations; changes policies, procedures or methodologies based on new facts, knowledge or interpretations;
• Ability to counsel or instruct/train others through explanation, demonstration and supervised practice or making recommendations based on technical expertise;
• Ability to lead, operate or repair complex machinery or equipment that requires extended training and experience, such as medical equipment, surgical equipment and instruments;
• Ability to perform work involving the application of principles of logical thinking or scientific, medical or legal practice to diagnose or define problems, collect data and solve abstract problems with widespread unit or organizational impact;
• Ability to read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports and legal documents; speaking before professional and civic groups, participating in panel discussions and speaking extemporaneously on a variety of subjects; writing complex articles and reports; developing presentations for sophisticated audiences;
• Ability to perform professional-level work requiring the application of scientific, engineering, accounting or legal methods in the solution of technical, administrative or legal problems; requires extensive understanding of operating policies and procedures and ability to apply these to complex problems; or the coordination of sub professional work in these disciplines; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures; and
• Ability to make decisions, affecting a large segment of the organization and the general public; works in a dynamic environment; responsible to assist in developing policy and practices.