Hybrid Veterinary Services Manager bei Foothills Animal Shelter

Description

Foothills Animal Shelter seeks a veterinary services manager who is committed to providing strategic leadership for our veterinary team and excited to advance high-quality medical care for the thousands of animals we serve each year through innovative program development and comprehensive team oversight. 

Who We Are 

As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for almost 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet we serve. 

What You Bring 

• You are an experienced veterinary professional with a strategic mindset who thrives on developing systems, policies, and programs that enhance both animal care and team effectiveness.  

• You are a natural leader who ecels at developing others. You enjoy mentoring staff and creating frameworks that empower teams to deliver exceptional care consistently. 

• You are a systems thinker who sees the big picture while understanding operational details. You love creating order from complexity and developing sustainable solutions that improve outcomes for animals, staff, and the organization.  

• You are comfortable with budget management and vendor relationships. Numbers don't intimidate you, and you understand how strategic financial decisions directly impact animal care quality and staff success. 

• You have excellent communication skills and enjoy collaborating across departments. You can represent veterinary services at the leadership level while maintaining strong working relationships throughout the organization.  

• You understand regulatory compliance and risk management in veterinary settings. You take ownership of ensuring all operations meet or exceed standards while maintaining operational efficiency. 

• You are adaptable and solution-focused. You can step into daily operations when needed while maintaining your strategic perspective and long-term planning focus.  

• You understand the emotional aspects of shelter medicine and can create supportive environments that help teams navigate challenging situations with resilience and compassion. 

• You believe in our mission. You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are committed to advancing organizational excellence in support of these powerful relationships. 

What You'll Do 

• Provide leadership for the veterinary support team, developing programs, policies, and long-term plans that advance animal care outcomes and organizational goals.  

• Design comprehensive training frameworks and oversee professional development programs that enhance team capabilities and ensure consistent care standards. 

• Manage the department budget, including personnel deployment and vendor relationships, to maximize resources while maintaining care quality.  

• Ensure regulatory compliance with PACFA, DEA requirements, radiation safety, and all applicable veterinary and sheltering regulations. 

• Collaborate with senior leadership and other departments to integrate veterinary services into organizational strategic planning and community outreach initiatives.  

• Oversee clinical protocols, quality assurance programs, and medical outcome monitoring to continuously improve care standards. 

• Maintain operational proficiency to provide coverage and support during busy periods or staff absences across the seven-day operational schedule. 

What We Offer 

• Let's start with the obvious: we offer truly meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of thousands of animals each year.  

• You will work with a team of veterinary and behavior support professionals who work hard, care deeply, and are 100% dedicated to the well-being of our shelter animals. 

• We strive for a healthy work-life balance, and we offer generous time off including six paid holidays, additional floating holidays (awarded annually on your employment anniversary), three weeks of accrued vacation, and paid sick leave.  

• We offer a full spectrum of employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and a retirement plan with 4% employer match and immediate vesting. Currently, two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage. 

• Additional benefits for this position include a continuing education stipend of $750 annually, paid time to attend CE, and reimbursement of job-specific licensing, certification, and/or renewal fees.  

• The pay rate for this position will be $65,000 - $80,000 annually, depending on education, certification, and the depth and breadth of relevant experience. 

• Foothills Animal Shelter is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer. 

Schedule 

• Tuesday – Saturday with variable hours

View full job description here.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with two years of personnel leadership experience 
  or 
  Certified Veterinary Practice Manager 
  or 
  Three years of personnel leadership experience in an open-admissions shelter which included oversight of veterinary support personnel  

• Experience in a shelter setting that includes high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter preferred 

• Fear Free Shelter certified or ability to become Fear Free Shelter certified within 60 days of employment.    

• Euthanasia certified or capable of certifying within 90 days of employment. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.   

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.  

• Data management, analysis, and reporting experience.  

• Knowledge of animal care, treatments, disease, and fear-free restraint techniques.  

• Demonstrated ability to lead people in the accomplishment of organizational goals.   

• Actively contributes to a supportive team and environment by demonstrating resilience and optimism while undertaking challenging tasks to accomplish our mission. 

• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations.   

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office including word processing, spreadsheets, meeting software, and email; proficient with animal management software and shelter data bases.  

• Working knowledge of animal sheltering practices; highly supportive of open admissions practices.   

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with volunteers within an animal care environment and communicate in a respectful, appreciative manner.  

• Basic understanding of animal learning theory with emphasis on positive reinforcement and force-free training.   

• Must be able to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia, and support employees, volunteers, and patrons in high-emotion circumstances. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

• Ability to work 8 to 10-hour shifts; must maintain flexibility in work schedule to respond to emergencies or work as needed  

• Noise, odors, chemical fumes, animal hair/dander are encountered due to equipment and animals. 

• Subject to animal bites and scratches  

• Occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs. 

• Ability to be outdoors in all weather conditions year-round.  

EQUIPMENT USED 

• Animal handling equipment and assessment tools: slip leads, catch poles, nets, etc.  

• Basic office equipment: telephone, computer, projector, printer, copier 

• Cloud-based data management software  

• Vehicle use (company provided and personal) 

• Chemicals and cleaning tools to provide care for the animals 

About Foothills Animal Shelter: Foothills Animal Shelter is an open admission shelter serving the Jefferson County community. We are a Fear Free Certified Shelter, adhering to force free and positive reinforcement philosophies, and are a Socially Conscious Animal Shelter, seeking the best possible outcomes for the animals at our shelter and our community. Each year, we shelter almost 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals with the help of our skilled and experienced teams of staff and volunteers. In addition to adoptions, we offer a wide range of services including lost and found pet reunification, pet licensing for Jefferson County, and supportive programs like Better Together, which helps keep pets and families together during times of hardship. Foothills Animal Shelter operates under an intergovernmental agreement between Jefferson County and the cities of Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge. 

Benefits: Foothills Animal Shelter offers a competitive total compensation package. Full-time employees  become eligible for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and an array of supplemental benefits after 60 days of employment. Foothills offers coverage of the premiums for employee-only medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability plans. Full-time employees earn sick and vacation time each pay period, plus six recognized holidays. After six months of employment, employees who complete eligibility requirements may enroll in a 401K retirement plan that we will match up to 4%. Additional benefits for this position include a continuing education stipend of $750 annually, paid time to attend CE, and reimbursement of job-specific licensing, certification, and/or renewal fees. Foothills Animal Shelter is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer.