Staff Veterinarian

Are you passionate about working in an animal shelter that goes “above and beyond” to treat cats and dogs and give them a second chance at life?

Do you enjoy working with cross-functional teams and developing innovative, evidence-based practices to better care for shelter pets and move them into homes quicker?

Do you thrive delivering community-based, culturally-responsive veterinary care to pet owners in historically excluded communities?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, we would like for you to join the Arizona Animal Welfare League in Phoenix, Arizona as our Staff Veterinarian!

AAWL – Who We Are 

Arizona Animal Welfare League was founded in 1971 and has a long history of being the largest and oldest no-kill shelter in the state of Arizona. We started as a small sanctuary for homeless animals and have grown over the past 53 years to become a statewide animal welfare organization providing a full range of community services from adoptions and behavioral support to low-cost veterinary services and volunteer/foster opportunities.

With an annual combined budget of approximately $6.7 million, AAWL is a private shelter (w/o any government contracts) devoted to providing excellent care, protection, and loving compassion for the lives of the animals entrusted to us. AAWL rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes 4,000 dogs and cats annually that are abandoned or that have been surrendered by their owners. We do this primarily by rescuing them from other shelters across Arizona where they are likely to be euthanized due to the lack of time and resources to care for them. At any one time our shelter will hold 140 cats and 190 dogs. 

Our staff includes 68 full-time staff members and 21 part-time employees. We pride ourselves in leveraging the time and talents of volunteers (over 350+ volunteers and 90+ fosters) who commit to assisting with all aspects of shelter operations.

AAWL is investing in developing new shelter intervention and “Access to Veterinary Care” programs to help us accomplish our long-term goals to provide affordable, accessible veterinary care to underserved, historically excluded communities near the shelter and to decrease the number of animals who enter the shelter system altogether. As part of those shelter intervention efforts, we also plan to expand behavioral resources for both AAWL adopters and pet owners in the community to help keep pet families together. In addition to working to keep animals out of the shelter system, we also are working hard to build an inclusive and welcoming culture at AAWL that reflects the rich diversity of pet families and individuals we serve.

Position Overview

The Staff Veterinarian reports to the Medical Director and will help deliver medical and surgical treatments for both unowned shelter animals and owned animals. Veterinary services include reviewing and following preventative care protocols, performing spay/neuter surgeries, dentals, and other surgical procedures, managing infectious disease management, and providing care for clients and their pets (through AAWL’s Community Vet Clinic). This is a full-time, exempt position based in Phoenix.

A key responsibility of the Staff Veterinarian will be to help mentor both relief veterinarians and shelter veterinary fellows working toward their U.S. veterinary licenses.

Because we are making a long-term investment in building an affordable, accessible community veterinary medicine program that supports pet owners in under-served communities, we expect the Staff Veterinarian to commit to working at least two Saturday shifts per month in our Community Vet Clinic or on our community-based mobile, which is prioritizing serving Latinx pet owners in the community of East Maryvale.

For escalated case management questions, the Staff Veterinarian is expected to be on-call one weekend (a month). On-call duties are shared by the Practice Manager, Lead Vet Tech and Medical Director. Shelter operating hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Monday through Sunday and AAWL Community Vet Clinic hours are 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturdays.

As a member of the AAWL Medical Team, the Staff Veterinarian also will be responsible for embracing AAWL’s core values (collaboration, integrity, empathy, and innovation) and working to create a positive, inclusive workplace culture by being a strong communicator and collaborator across all departments.

Responsibilities

Practice in accordance with state practice act and principles of veterinary medical ethics.

Deliver medical and surgical treatments in accordance with AAWL’s medical standards.

Assist in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive health care program and treatment plans for shelter animals/CVC patients.

Perform high volume spay/neuter surgeries and additional surgeries for shelter/owned animals.

Provide emergency medical care as needed including dressing wounds; collecting blood, urine or other body fluids for examination and analysis.

Inoculate shelter/CVC owned patients against various diseases.

Operate diagnostic equipment including radiographs +/- ultrasound.

Foster an effective veterinary support team by communicating medical standards, ethical practices, and sharing your veterinary knowledge and experience.

Promote a caring attitude toward all animals and to always treat animals humanely and with compassion, regardless of circumstances including those that are sick, injured, feral, or aggressive.

Ensure accurate recordkeeping in the computerized medical records system.

Treat people (staff, volunteers, and the public) with respect and courtesy and foster a spirit of teamwork.

Work cooperatively with other veterinarians, the CEO, and medical staff and department managers.

Communicate and educate shelter/CVC personnel regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care and medical conditions of shelter patients.

Other duties as assigned, including helping with staff needs at AAWL’s Community Vet Clinic.

Qualifications

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree required.

Arizona veterinary license in good standing, or ability to obtain.

A minimum of two years veterinary experience; shelter medicine experience (preferred).

Ability to speak and write Spanish (preferred).

A history of communicating effectively in writing and verbally, including media skills.

Proven experience overseeing the development of operating procedures and managing data and medical records; Experience with Daysmart and PetPoint (preferred).

Ability to collect and analyze data and present to management/board.

Demonstrated interest in incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs into all aspects of AAWL’s work.

Strong work ethic and the ability to interact effectively with volunteers from divergent geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team, and to have excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.

Ability to work in a high-pressure environment and to multi-task.

Creative, result-oriented, self-starting, willing to learn, and able to manage an aggressive schedule.

To Apply for This Position

Please submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references, including their email, phone and relationship, to: Practice Manager Megan McWherter at: View email address on us.fitly.work. Please reference “Staff Veterinarian” in your email. No phone calls or walk-ins.

Employment Details

AAWL offers compensation that is commensurate with experience and competitive with non-profit and animal welfare salaries. The starting salary for this position is $140,000-$150,000.

Benefits include the opportunity to be part of an innovative and exciting shelter medicine program and join a growing team that is focused on implementing a culturally-competent access to care program that is more patient- and client- centered and addresses the diverse needs of residents from historically marginalized communities. AAWL staff members also receive formal training opportunities on how to incorporate an equity lens in applying project management practices, how to nurture relationships on your team, how to give/receive feedback and how to “manage up.”

Finally, AAWL values work-life balance. In terms of the schedule, the Staff Veterinarian will be expected to work a full-time schedule of at least 30 hours per week, either a 4-day or 5-day per week schedule.

Other benefits include:

Arizona Veterinary Medical and DEA license fees paid.

American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Arizona Veterinary Medical Association and Veterinary Information Network membership fees paid.

Liability and malpractice insurance paid (AVMA PLIT).

100% employer-paid medical and life insurance, and partial employer coverage of dental and vision insurance.

Generous paid 3-week vacation/sick time off, and 12 paid holidays per year

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes counseling visits, in-person/virtual capability, personal coaching sessions, and wellness app

$2,000 C.E. allowance and paid professional development opportunities to attend veterinary conferences (negotiable)

Qualified Employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program