Are you a highly skilled, compassionate veterinarian with a passion for helping at-risk cats and kittens? Do you excel in a fast-paced and ever changing work environment? Is working with a dynamic and dedicated team in a mission-driven organization the description of your dream job? If so, you should consider the role of Seasonal Veterinarian at the ASPCA’s Kitten Nursery!
The Kitten Nursery cares for over 1,500 underage kittens and their mothers in a dedicated nursery environment as well as through an expanding foster program. The Kitten Nursery is a seasonal program operating during the feline breeding season. Once these kittens are healthy and happy 8-week-olds, the Kitten Nursery helps them get ready for adoption through the ASPCA Adoption Center and partner shelters.
To succeed in this role, the Nursery Veterinarian will be a skilled clinician with a passion for attending to the welfare of each animal and the entire shelter population equally. S/he must have a solid understanding of shelter medicine principles and be extremely well organized and efficient to operate in a fast-paced, continually changing environment. The Nursery Veterinarian must also be an excellent communicator and collaborator team player, as well as someone who excels at guiding and coaching team members in providing quality medical care for animals.
This is a part time, seasonal role, 24 hours/week with one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday), April through mid-November.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Provide High Quality Patient and Population Care (60%):
Provide high-quality, practical, compassionate and cost-efficient veterinary care to kittens and cats in accordance with ASPCA One-Fund guidelines and shelter medicine principles and best practices
Provide skilled and efficient diagnosis and treatment of patients with timely recognition of, and planning for, conditions requiring care through the ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH)
Maintain regular and close communication with veterinary colleagues in other ASPCA programs, including with AAH regarding care of hospitalized patients, Community Medicine (CM), and Adoption Center staff regarding medical needs and animal flow between the populations
Ensure that in-house and foster animals receive medical exams upon admission and are provided with on-going care as appropriate; ensure veterinary care provided is aligned with, and contributes to, the efficient and humane flow of animals from intake through outcome
Document physical exam findings and a plan in appropriate medical records. Work with appropriate staff, including but not limited to the Medical Supervisor, Medical Staff Manager, and Animal Logistics Manager to ensure timely scheduling and delivery of medical care
Oversee all other aspects of veterinary care including pre and postoperative care, foster appointments, emergency care, restraint and treatment
Collaborate with the Midwest Office Call Center to provide input on and support for overnight emergency processes; rotate on-call coverage with other seasonal veterinary staff and the Medical Supervisor
Play a leading role in daily rounds; ensure individual patients and the population are assessed daily and treatment/intervention recommendations are implemented in a timely fashion
Ensure appropriate use of quarantine and isolation spaces to manage herd health effectively; ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Guide appropriate and timely decisions about euthanasia – with attention to animals’ physical, medical, social and behavioral needs collectively
Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Follow and enforce all written and verbally communicated Kitten Nursery SOPs
Offer input and feedback on medical protocols and standards of care
Obtain continuing education as required by ASPCA and state licensing board
Provide medical information and representation to other ASPCA departments, public and media
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor
Teach and Coach Quality Patient Care (40%):
With the Medical Supervisor, contribute to a culture of learning at the Kitten Nursery, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, active participation in goal setting and monitoring, clear expectations, and regular practice of feedback and after-actions
Model a standard of continual commitment to improvement in all aspects of Kitten Nursery care and handling of cats and kittens
Teach and mentor nursing and animal care staff on shelter medicine principles and Kitten Nursery shelter medicine protocols
Direct patient care provided by medical team members
Ensure the medical team provides timely adoption follow-up and foster support via email, phone and in-person; step in to handle situations that require a higher level of decision-making
Inform and advise relevant internal stakeholders of medical conditions of shelter animals, including outbreaks of infectious disease
Attend all staff meetings and training sessions
Mentor and train externs and interns
Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:
Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
Believes in Team – that we are stronger together
Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals
Our EEO Policy:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.
Qualifications:
Ability to successfully work efficiently and calmly in a high-volume, fast-paced environment and effectively multi-task with a high degree of integrity and accountability and without loss of attention to detail., Ability to teach and coach others., Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively and respectfully with all levels of staff, Able to work standing for 10 or more hours, Basic computer skills, including Excel, Microsoft Office, and email; familiarity with PetPoint or other shelter software systems a plus., Excellent low-stress animal handing and restraint skills., Must be able to lift 40-plus pounds, Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills., Solid veterinary medical knowledge, including familiarity with shelter medicine principles and best practices, Sound clinical judgement, strong critical thinking and multi-tasking skills; able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on patient and Kitten Nursery needs, Strong clinical skills, including efficient diagnosis and treatment of cats and kittens for a variety of medical conditions.
Veterinarian License - Other
Language:
English (Required), Spanish
Education and Work Experience:
Doctorate: Veterinary Medicine (Required)
Minimum 2 years clinical practice involving cats, Prior experience and/or advanced training in shelter medicine strongly preferred, Veterinary Internship Preferred
Internal Number: 2021-10
About ASPCA
Our mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. We offer national programs in humane education, public awareness, government advocacy, shelter support, and animal medical services and placement. Our New York City headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital, behavior center, adoption facility, and Humane Law Enforcement Department. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.Our EEO Policy:The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, ...which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s Human Resources Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).
