Clinic Surgical Veterinarian

Job Description

Job Description

Clinic Surgical Veterinarian

Focus on the surgery you enjoy while helping local pets receive the care they need.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a skilled and compassionate Clinic Surgical Veterinarian to join our ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics team.

Our clinics offer a different kind of veterinary experience. We are locally operated, community-focused clinics serving Des Moines-area pet owners who are looking for trusted, affordable veterinary care. As part of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, our clinics are privately operated by a nonprofit organization and are driven by the needs of pets and families that comes with being privately owned. 

In this role, you will spend most of your time providing surgical care for privately owned pets, including spay and neuter procedures, dentistry, mass removals, and other soft-tissue surgeries. You will have the opportunity to practice meaningful surgical medicine in a collaborative environment without emergency, overnight, or on-call responsibilities.

Schedule

• Schedules are typically four 10-hour days.
• The ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are open Monday through Friday.
• Veterinarians participate in rotating half-day Saturdays.
• No emergency, overnight, or after-hours care is required.

About the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics

The ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are local veterinary clinics operated by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization.

With two Des Moines locations, our clinics help pet owners access high-quality, compassionate care at an affordable cost. We believe financial barriers should not prevent families from caring for the animals they love, and our services are designed to help pets remain healthy, comfortable, and in their homes.

Clinic services include preventive and wellness care, on-site bloodwork, radiographs, dentistry, and surgery. Our veterinarians are supported by dedicated veterinary technicians, assistants, receptionists, and operational leaders who share a commitment to strengthening the bond between pets and their people.

What You’ll Do

• Perform surgical procedures such as spay and neuter surgeries, dental procedures, mass removals, and other soft-tissue surgeries.
• Conduct pre-operative examinations and determine whether patients are appropriate surgical candidates.
• Develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and oversee post-operative care.
• Maintain high standards for anesthesia, pain management, patient monitoring, surgical safety, and medical documentation.
• Partner with veterinary technicians and assistants to maintain safe, organized, and efficient surgical schedules.
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with clients regarding procedures, risks, aftercare, and follow-up needs.
• Provide limited wellness, preventive, or general medical services when needed to support clinic operations.
• Contribute to the development and consistent use of clinic medical and surgical protocols.
• Support a respectful, collaborative, and learning-focused clinic culture.
• Help identify practical ways to expand access to veterinary care within the Des Moines community.

What We’re Looking For

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM, or equivalent degree from an accredited veterinary school.
• Active Iowa veterinary license in good standing or the ability to obtain licensure before beginning employment.
• A strong interest in surgery and a commitment to safe, high-quality patient care.
• Experience with spay and neuter procedures, dentistry, and soft-tissue surgery is preferred.
• Ability to perform multiple procedures while maintaining thoughtful medical judgment and strong patient outcomes.
• Confidence making independent medical decisions while working collaboratively with a veterinary support team.
• Strong communication skills and a commitment to providing clients with clear, respectful education.
• A community-minded approach to veterinary medicine and an understanding of the barriers some families face when seeking care.

Veterinarians who are comfortable with foundational surgical procedures and interested in continuing to develop their skills are encouraged to apply.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL offers competitive, market-driven compensation without production-based compensation requirements. Full-time employees may also be eligible for:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurance options, including short-term disability, supplemental life, accident, and critical illness coverage
• A 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Potential student loan reimbursement opportunities
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• A predictable schedule that supports work-life balance
• A mission-focused workplace where medical decisions are centered on patients and the community

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in a veterinary clinic and surgical environment. It may require standing for extended periods, performing repetitive surgical procedures, and safely handling animals of varying sizes, health conditions, and temperaments.

The role may involve exposure to animals, animal dander, cleaning and disinfecting products, anesthetic gases, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, and other conditions commonly found in veterinary practice. Employees are expected to follow established medical and workplace safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

At the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics, you can practice locally focused veterinary medicine and see the direct impact your work has on pets, families, and the Des Moines community.

You will have the opportunity to focus on surgery, work alongside a committed veterinary team, and provide care within a privately operated nonprofit clinic that values quality, accessibility, and compassion. There are no corporate production quotas, emergency shifts, or after-hours calls—just meaningful medicine and the opportunity to help pets receive care they may not otherwise be able to access.

If you enjoy surgery and want to use your veterinary skills to make a difference close to home, we would love to welcome you to our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.