Veterinary Medical Director

Description

Job Title

Veterinary Medical Director (Veterinarian)

Department

Spay & Neuter Clinic / Veterinary Services

Reports To

Chief Operating Officer

FLSA Status

Exempt

Salary Range (D1)

Hiring Range: $190,000 - $215,000 per year

Overview

The Sacramento SPCA is a vibrant, well-established, and respected non-profit animal welfare organization. Through our nationally ranked high-volume spay and neuter clinic (we are ranked as one of the top 10 clinics in the country!), successful adoption program, surrender support and deferment programs and a commitment to excellent animal care, the Sacramento SPCA is giving more than shelter and saving animals one life at a time.

Position Summary

The Veterinary Medical Director (VMD) provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for all veterinary services within the animal shelter, including high-level oversight of the Shelter Medicine Department, the High-Quality High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) Clinic, and Vaccine/Wellness services. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, humane, and evidence-based veterinary care while supporting organizational mission, regulatory compliance, staff development, and optimal animal outcomes.

The Veterinary Medical Director serves as the senior veterinary authority for the organization, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and partnering closely with shelter department managers to align medical programs with shelter operations to meet community needs and exceptional patient care.

Essential Job Functions

Medical & Clinical Leadership

• Provide expert clinical guidance and final decision-making authority for complex, non-routine, or high-risk medical and surgical cases.
• Establish, approve, and periodically review medical, surgical, anesthesia, vaccination, treatment, biosecurity, and recordkeeping protocols across all veterinary programs.
• Ensure consistent standards of care while supporting program-specific efficiency and innovation.

High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) Oversight

• Provide immediate medical oversight of HQHVSN operations, including surgical technique, anesthesia and analgesia protocols, patient flow, infection control, and post-operative care.
• Lead by example through regular hands-on surgical practice, performing a minimum of 50 spay/neuter procedures per week using high-quality, high-volume techniques with low complication rates.
• Monitor surgical outcomes, complication rates, and quality assurance metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure appropriate staffing models, training, and competency of veterinarians and support staff assigned to spay/neuter services.
• Collaborate with clinic leadership to optimize efficiency, safety, and animal welfare in high-volume surgical environments.

High-Volume Vaccine, Wellness & Access-to-Care Programs

• Provide direct medical oversight of high-volume vaccine clinics and community wellness services.
• Ensure safe, efficient delivery of preventive and access-to-care services, including appropriate vaccine handling, documentation, and client communication.
• Oversee access-to-care veterinary programs to ensure services are medically appropriate, ethically delivered, and aligned with community needs and organizational capacity.
• Support development and refinement of scalable clinic models that expand access while maintaining medical quality.

Shelter Medicine Oversight (Strategic & Programmatic)

• Provide high-level medical oversight of shelter medicine operations, including intake processes, population health management, infectious disease prevention, and outbreak response.
• Partner with shelter medicine leadership to support data-driven improvements in animal health outcomes, length of stay, and live-release rates.
• Ensure shelter medicine policies align with current best practices and community-based care models.

Leadership, Personnel Management & Culture

• Provide leadership, coaching, mentorship, and professional development for veterinarians, veterinary department managers, support staff, and veterinary volunteers within all medical programs.
• Participate in recruitment, interviewing, hiring, scheduling, and onboarding of clinic veterinarians and key veterinary staff.
• Complete timely performance evaluations and maintain appropriate documentation for recognition and corrective action.
• Conduct goal-setting and performance planning with clinic and shelter medicine leadership; meet individual goals established with the COO.
• Address personnel issues in collaboration with the COO and Human Resources.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Compliance, Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the California Veterinary Medical Board, DEA, Veterinary Controlled Substance Permits (VACSP), and Cal/OSHA requirements.
• Maintain good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board and serve as the Managing Licensee for the organization’s premise permit(s).
• Maintain active DEA registration and serve as the purchasing veterinarian for clinic-controlled substances and supplies.
• Oversee medical recordkeeping to ensure accuracy, consistency, and legal compliance.
• Lead medical quality assurance initiatives, audits, and corrective action plans.

Operations, Budget & Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Works with clinic and shelter medicine leadership to ensure timely ordering, storage, security, and appropriate use of all medical, surgical, and dental equipment, medications, and supplies to prevent waste and expiration.
• Ensure surgical suites, treatment areas, and medical workspaces are properly maintained and ready for daily operations.
• Collaborate with the Clinic Manager to ensure proper training, support, and engagement of veterinary clinic support staff.
• Assist the COO with monitoring clinic budgets, controlling costs, and developing projections for future budgets.
• Work collaboratively with Shelter Medicine, Animal Care, Behavior, Operations, and other departments to ensure optimal medical outcomes.
• Manage medical-related customer complaints and respond to sensitive issues involving staff, volunteers, supporters, leadership, or the Board with professionalism and discretion.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide recommendations regarding humane euthanasia for shelter and public-owned animals when medically or ethically indicated.
• Report animal behavior concerns to appropriate Animal Care or Behavior leadership.
• Ensure timely follow-up of medical treatments and client communications for animals treated through clinic or shelter medical programs.
• Participate in organizational meetings and cross-departmental planning as needed.
• Provide phone consultation when offsite as scheduling permits.
• Participate in staff training, public education, media engagements, conferences, and professional presentations as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support organizational mission and operations.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter, shelter medicine, and community-based veterinary care.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to analyze outcomes data and drive continuous quality improvement.
• Ability to balance medical ethics, operational realities, and community impact.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively in a high-volume environment.

Education and Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in shelter medicine, HQHVSN, or high-volume clinical practice management and leadership required.
• Current license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California.
• Valid California driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and perform prolonged clinical and surgical duties.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently or up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Allergies aggravated by exposure to animals or cleaning chemicals may be disqualifying.

Working Conditions

• Minimum 40-hour workweek; evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergency response may be required.
• Regular exposure to sick, injured, fractious, or dangerous animals, parasites, and infectious diseases.
• Fast-paced, emotionally charged, mission-driven shelter and clinic environment.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Either employer or employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without notice and without cause.