Director of Animal Health

Contact at organisation: Kristine Wallace, Guide Dogs of America

Phone: 8188336439

Email: kdwallace@guidedogsofamerica.org

Job Purpose: To provide leadership to the veterinary service program and provide care and oversight of all GDA/TLC dogs.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for ensuring operations comply with all state and federal laws regarding the practice of veterinary medicine on site;
• Provide and manage professional veterinary care, including surgery, radiography, internal medicine, and dental for dogs brought to the veterinary clinic;
• Ensure appropriate staffing, training, retraining, monitoring, evaluation, and recognition of direct and indirect reports and volunteers within the Vet Department;
• Responsible for managing Vet Department staff including timecards, overtime, vacation requests, job performance, scheduling;
• Develop standard operating procedures and clinical protocol as appropriate;
• Participate in strategic planning process;
• Develop and manage local preferred veterinarian networks to provide the desired standard of care and services for the medical needs of all GDA/TLC dogs;
• Confer with outside veterinarians, caring for GDA/TLC dogs to assure that their recommended treatment is consistent with our protocols and other conditions, and that results are appropriately documented and reported;
• Consult with breeder keepers, puppy raisers, graduates and handlers of dogs up for adoption concerning their dogs’ care by phone, email and when appropriate in person.
  After-hours emergency phone consults;
• Manage inventory, storage systems and vendor relations to maintain an appropriate level of all supplies, drugs and equipment; track expenses; process invoices, expense reimbursements and other paperwork related to inventory control;
• Ability to work overtime, nights, holidays and weekends as needed;
• Travel may be required;
•  Clinic environment with multiple dogs;
• Works mainly indoors in campus clinic, in prisons, at puppy raiser groups and elsewhere as needed.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for long periods;
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 60 lbs. and 80 lbs. with assistance;
• Ability to walk, push, pull, reach overhead, crouch, stoop, kneel and bend to the floor;
• Ability to exert 20-50 pounds of force including pushing or moving objects;
• Visual acuity required to render veterinary care, see and read dog’s behaviors, forms, documentation, computer;
• Hearing ability required to interact with dogs, staff, volunteers, clients;
• Working in a kennel environment with multiple dogs;
• Ability to tolerate elevated noise levels – barking dogs.

Qualifications:

• 18+ years of age;
• Valid drivers’ license and insurable;
• Must be a licensed Veterinarian in good standing in the U.S. with eligibility for licensure in California;
• Ability to lead and manage change;
• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, delegate tasks, evaluate and supervise work force;
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with all agents;
• Work well as part of a team and in a team environment.