County Veterinarian

Description Notice of Change : This recruitment will be posted continuously until all positions are filled. SALARY $,. - $,. Annually

New Hire Incentives for incumbents up to the maximum amount of $, may be available depending on the experience and qualifications of the individual.

Please note that New Hire Incentives cannot be guaranteed as part of the offer package and are subject to final approval.

We invite passionate individuals committed to animal welfare and veterinary care to apply for the position of County Veterinarian within the Animal Services program at the Public Health Department! If you are enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact on the well-being of animals and the community, we encourage you to consider joining our dedicated team.

We are actively accepting applications to fill one () full-time Veterinarian in Santa Maria for the Public Health Department.

The primary location is home-based in Santa Maria; however, the incumbent will need to travel throughout the County as this position requires responsibilities at all three shelter locations in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.

Please select ALL LOCATIONS on the job application as areas you are willing to accept work to be considered for the current vacancy.

We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list for future Full-Time, Part-Time, Extra Help and

vacancies for Veterinarian job classification vacancies. Please select the location(s) on your job application where you are willing to accept work for current and future vacancies.

Note : this position requires rotating between shelter locations throughout the County.

Civil Service Rule . Appointment to Fill Vacancy During Leave of Absence. vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave.

A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW :

• Up to $k New Hire incentive
• Flexible Work schedule
• No / on call
• A county vehicle for visiting the other campuses or attending public clinics

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits.

• Health Plans : County contributes towards premiums; HSA offered
• Pension through
• Holidays, Sick Leave days (unlimited accumulation), and to days of vacation (accrual rate based on years of service) per year
• Tuition Reimbursement

Click on the "Benefits" Tab above or to view more information.

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for :

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rate

NOTE : The County may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and, at the discretion of the CEO, can provide flexible relocation assistance, housing and student loan offsets, cash incentives, and / or vacation and sick leave pre-accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization.

Bilingual allowance, when applicable.

The Program

The Santa Barbara County Animal Services Division operates three open admission animal shelters, serving all of Santa Barbara County with the exception of the City of Carpinteria.

We provide field and shelter services, adoption and lost and found programs, affordable spay and neuter services, and have a very robust volunteer program.

Project Pet Safe promotes responsible pet ownership through vaccination, licensing, spay and neuter, and microchipping of pets.

For more information on the Public Health Animal Services Division - .

Why Our Team is Proud to Work Here :

• Exceptional Success Rates : We’re proud of our approximately % live release rate, ensuring that most of the over , pets we serve annually find loving homes.
• Innovative Return to Owner (RTO) Efforts : With a % RTO rate for stray dogs, our Animal Control Officers play a key role in reuniting pets with their families, aided by free microchipping initiatives.
• Strong Foster and Day Trip Programs : Each year, over , pets experience the love and care of foster homes, and we organize over , doggy day trips, giving our furry friends a break from the shelter.
• Robust Financial Support : Our $M agency budget is bolstered by an additional $M+ in support from our generous partners, allowing us to continually enhance our services.
• Collaborative Partnerships : We’ve built innovative partnerships with organizations like ASAP Cats and BUNS, amplifying our impact.
• A Culture of Kindness : Our agency isn’t just about the numbers; we prioritize kindness and a positive work culture, making it a place where our team loves to thrive!

Animal Shelter Locations :

• Santa Maria Shelter, W. Foster Road
• Santa Barbara Shelter, Overpass Road
• Lompoc Shelter, W. Central Avenue

The Position

• Under general direction, plans, organizes, coordinates and performs veterinary medical services, including high volume spay / neuter surgeries and other surgical procedures, in County-operated animal shelters;
• provides medical services dealing with the investigation, prevention, control and eradication of infectious diseases in animals including those transmissible to man;

examines and determines preventative medical care and treatments for shelter animals and stray animal emergency cases; develops policies and procedures consistent with best industry standards and state and federal laws, provides oversight for the security and dispensing of drugs and ensures compliance with all federal and state regulations, and performs other related duties as required.

The work schedule for this position will depend upon the needs of the Department and will include overnight, on-call, weekend, and holidays shifts.

Travel throughout the County will be required.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following :

Provides oversight of daily animal medical care, maintains preventative health programs and animal sterilization; performs spay / neuter surgeries, including some animal preparation and aftercare as appropriate;

may provide consultation and education to pet owners on medical procedures and treatments, and explain possible complications.

Supervises staff including Registered Veterinary Technicians, contract veterinarians, veterinary medical staff, and animal control, clerical, and / or other staff as assigned, including assigning and evaluating work.

Provides estimates of veterinary requirements for the department budget and provides input on census management.

• Conducts and evaluates treatment plans, disease control measures, hands-on medical treatment and progress of animals housed at the shelter, including sterilization and facility sanitation within shelter guidelines, operating philosophy, and shelter medicine industry best practices, including instructing and providing technical direction to clinic staff.
• Administers injections, provides training in and supervision of, and is responsible for humanely euthanizing animals in accordance with California State Law and Department guidelines and policies.
• Investigates, prevents, controls and eradicates infectious diseases of animals including those transmissible to humans, with particular emphasis on organized disease control programs such as parvovirus, distemper, calicivirus, feline leukemia, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, and rabies.
• Maintains animal medical and sterilization records and care recommendations for all shelter animal admissions and ensures those recommendations are completed.
• Provides staff training, prepares operational reports, and prepares other required records, reports, and correspondence.

May travel for conference and / or training opportunities with national organizations and industry leaders as required

• Maintains proper inventory, storage, handling and documentation of all controlled substances, supplies and functioning of all medically related equipment within the department.
• Develops and enforces compliance with standard operating procedures for animal medical and health operations.
• Negotiates contracts with veterinarians, veterinary pharmaceutical suppliers, reference laboratories and local veterinary hospitals as required.
• Participates in humane investigations, including performing cursory necropsies, prepares written veterinary statements, and testifies in court as appropriate for animal welfare / cruelty cases.
• Consults with department, private, non-profit and other public veterinarians and animal owners on disease problems and to identify and fill gaps in resources and community services;

educates the general public, members of animal welfare groups, and staff, including volunteers, about care and treatment of animals, including fostering and adopting animals.

• Conducts vaccination clinics, provides medical consultations and services during special events.
• Assists with emergency and disaster services as required.

Employment Standards

Possession of the following :

• An active license to practice as a veterinarian issued by the State of California Veterinary Medical Board. Registration as a Licensed Veterinarian issue by another state will be accepted in lieu of this requirement providing the candidate applies for a Reciprocity Temporary License from the California Veterinary Medical Board prior to starting employment and completes the requirements to convert to a permanent license within one year (during the first year probationary period); AND
• Two () years of experience working in shelter medicine or a high-volume veterinary clinic or rescue.

Additional Qualifications :

• Possession of a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate / license for the prescription of controlled medications will be required within the first six months of appointment.
• Possession and maintenance of a current, valid National Accreditation Number (NAN) issued by the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) within days of appointment.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver license upon appointment.
• Ability and willingness to provide veterinary premise license for each County shelter.
• Ability and willingness to provide standby call coverage on weekdays, weekends, and holidays as well as being available for consultation after regular business hours.

Desirable Qualifications : Two years of supervisory or management experience is highly desirable, as is a veterinary degree with a focus on shelter medicine.

Possession of a Human-Animal Bond Certification from the North American Veterinary Community is also desirable.

• Knowledge of : current veterinary best practices relating to the treatment and cure of injured and sick animals; State, Federal and local laws and ordinances pertaining to the humane treatment of animals;
• principles and practices of current veterinary medicine, including disease identification, prevention, control and eradication;
• preoperative, surgical and postoperative procedures involved in performing spay and neutering surgeries; safety policies, procedures and practices as they relate to veterinary medicine;
• appropriate equipment required in performing specific medical procedures; computer applications related to veterinarian services;

principles of quality control management; principles and techniques of management and supervision; and standard English grammar and usage.

• Ability to : work under minimal supervision; provide surgical and medical services and care for a variety of well, sick, and injured animals, including a high volume of spay and neutering operations;
• ability to work with uncooperative animals safely and compassionately; ability to lift / carry animals weighing up to lbs;
• perform proper diagnosis and postmortem procedures; make sound decisions, including prescribing medications and euthanasia;
• establish and enforce quarantine of animals; understand quality control practice to assure compliance with safety and accreditation standards and regulations;
• prepare clear, complete, and technical reports; communicate clearly and follow oral and written instructions; analyze critical situations accurately and take decisive and effective action;
• evaluate program quality, cost and overall effectiveness to recommend and implement changes and improvements; create and implement policies and procedures;
• establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted through the course of work, including co-workers, volunteers and the public;

train shelter staff and volunteers; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.