Location:This position is remote, but includes extensive travel for shelter outreach purposes.

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $130,000-$140,000 salary, depending on experience.

Interviews will occur weekly (recruiter phone screens will occur prior to these).

This is a temporary position expected to go through May 2025.

Position Summary: National Shelter Medicine Veterinarianswill execute the programmatic strategies for the national shelter medicine team to advance Best Friends’ goal to achieve a no-kill nation by 2025. Veterinarians workcollaboratively with shelter partners to improve the health and welfare of shelter petsby sharing expertise on both individual and population level health. Through a combination of training, support, coaching and resources, veterinarians will expand the depth and breadth of shelter medicine to increase lifesaving. Veterinarians will work on-site with assigned agencies as needed, utilizing a combination of work on-site and remote support to achieve goals.Responsibilities also include provision of high-quality high-volume spay neuter in priority communities. National shelter medicine veterinarians also support shelter medicine practice in Best Friends Lifesaving Centers under the guidance of the Medical Director. The work performed in this position is significant and critical to the success of creating a no-kill country by 2025.  

Essential Duties and  Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict. 

• Support external sheltering organizations through on-site and remote consultation work related to shelter medicine. Skillfully collaborate with veterinary staff, operations staff, and leadership in partner shelters to advance lifesaving in those organizations to achieve and sustain no-kill.

• Provision of high-quality veterinary care including medicine and surgery to shelter animals in priority shelters.

• Mentorship for veterinarians working in shelters that are newer graduates or have opportunities for professional development in shelter medicine practice.

• Generate resources and deliver trainings in principles of shelter medicine for use at Best Friends Lifesaving Centers and external shelter partners.

• Promote ongoing development of medical care through continued education; keep abreast of veterinary concerns and trends in animal welfare and shelter medicine and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.

• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.

Skills and Experience:

• Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD)

• At least 5 years of veterinary experience with 3 years of experience working in shelter medicineand/or high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter. 

• Experience in high-quality, high-volume spay neuter including teaching experience preferred but not required.

• Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in at least one state and ability to acquire licensure in additional state(s) as required by the position.  

• Board certification or additional education in shelter medicine (master’s degree) preferred but not required.  

• Veterinarians not yet certified but seeking certification via the ABVP practitioner route in Shelter Medicine Practice are particularly suited for this position.  Additional support for this process is available, should the candidate desire to seek certification.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required. 

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with external shelter staff and leadership, the public, volunteers, and colleagues.

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.   

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.  

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn. 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to:   

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.   

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.    

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.   

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.   

• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of both cats and dogs, including organizations where cats and dogs are currently being killed for space.       

• Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards. 

• Regular travel, percentage negotiable but anticipated at 30%-50%, including weekend travel.  Unplanned or short notice travel may occur in emergency response situations.   

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work.