Physician - care surgeon

WHO WE ARE For over a century, Associated Humane Societies has provided compassionate care and shelter to animals in need. As the largest animal welfare organization in New Jersey, we are committed to expanding access to veterinary care for underserved communities. Our mission includes developing sustainable, high-quality, and accessible medical programs that improve both animal welfare and public health.

At AHS, we strive to create an environment where both people and animals feel safe, supported, and valued. We recognize that access to veterinary care is a critical equity issue and are committed to building programs that reduce barriers for underserved populations. Our team values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in a challenging but deeply rewarding field.

AHS is seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and operationally driven veterinarian or veterinary leader to develop and implement a High-Volume High-Quality (HVHQ) surgical program serving low-income communities.
This individual will be responsible for designing, building, and operationalizing a scalable, efficient, and financially sustainable spay/neuter and surgical services program. The role will require expertise in shelter medicine, HVHQ workflows, anesthesia protocols, and program development, as well as the ability to translate clinical excellence into high-efficiency systems.

The Director will work closely with leadership to establish a program that maximizes access, safety, quality, and throughput, while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.

Program Development & Implementation
Design and launch a HVHQ surgical program tailored to a low-income, high-need population.
Develop operational workflows to support high-efficiency surgical throughput without compromising quality of care.
Assess and optimize facility layout, equipment needs, and surgical flow (intake → prep → surgery → recovery → discharge).

Medical Protocol & SOP Development
Anesthesia protocols (dogs, cats, kittens, puppies)
Intraoperative monitoring and surgical standards
Ensure protocols reflect current best practices in HVHQ and shelter medicine.
Operations & Capacity Planning
Determine daily surgical capacity targets based on:
Facility constraints
Financial Modeling & Program Sustainability
Collaborate with leadership to ensure financial sustainability while maintaining accessibility.

Facility & Equipment Planning
Surgical equipment
Anesthesia machines and monitoring tools
Recovery and housing infrastructure
Surgical prep
Medical Planning
Anesthesia protocols (species + age-based)
Surgical standards
Quality Assurance & Risk Management
Surgical outcomes
Implement continuous quality improvement processes.
State veterinary regulations
Animal welfare standards

Training & Team Development
Train veterinary staff and technicians in:
HVHQ surgical techniques
Efficient anesthesia protocols
Patient safety and monitoring
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) from an accredited institution

• Valid veterinary license in New Jersey (or ability to obtain)
• Shelter medicine OR
• HVHQ surgical protocols

Experience launching or managing a HVHQ clinic
Experience in low-cost or nonprofit veterinary care models
Background in program development or healthcare operations
Experience with budgeting and financial modeling
Employment Type: Full Time
Bonus/Commission: No