Lead Veterinarian, Teacher/ Program Leader

About the Role

A well-established animal health organization is seeking an experienced veterinarian to lead a nationally recognized surgical education program focused on high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter techniques. This individual will oversee the strategic direction, day-to-day management, and continued growth of the training program while serving as a primary surgical instructor for licensed veterinarians in a fast-paced, fully onsite educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of veterinary professionals delivering advanced spay/neuter and surgical training programs while maintaining exceptional standards of patient care and clinic operations.
• Direct program development efforts, including curriculum design, training initiatives, operational planning, and continuous improvement activities.
• Serve as a primary instructor for licensed veterinarians participating in continuing education programs focused on sterilization procedures and surgical best practices.
• Provide oversight of patient care throughout the perioperative process, including preoperative evaluation, anesthesia, surgery, recovery, and post-operative management.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with animal shelters, rescue organizations, humane societies, and other community animal welfare groups.
• Mentor and develop veterinary and support staff through training, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Ensure adherence to established medical, surgical, and safety protocols.

Surgical Training Areas

Preoperative Management

• Patient assessment and candidate selection for routine sterilization procedures.
• Identification and management of higher-risk surgical patients.
• Anesthesia and analgesia protocols, monitoring, and patient safety.
• Surgical preparation and operating room workflow.
• Surgical team coordination and efficiency.

Surgical Techniques

• Anatomy and surgical principles relevant to sterilization procedures.
• High-quality, high-volume surgical methods and workflow optimization.
• Surgical instrument utilization and pack standardization.
• Tissue handling, ligation techniques, incision planning, and closure methods.
• Sterile technique maintenance in high-volume settings.
• Ergonomics, surgeon efficiency, and injury prevention.

Postoperative Care

• Recognition and management of surgical complications.
• Pain management strategies.
• Recovery monitoring and patient support.

Community Cat Programs

• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) methodologies.
• Humane trapping practices.
• Postoperative care and release considerations.

Qualifications

Required

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent) with an active veterinary license, or eligibility for licensure in the state of employment.
• DEA registration or willingness to obtain one, as required.
• Demonstrated expertise in high-volume spay/neuter surgery.
• Proven leadership experience within a veterinary clinical environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, hands-on surgical setting.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive surgical procedures throughout the day.
• Ability to safely handle and lift animal patients, with assistance when appropriate.

Preferred

• Significant shelter medicine experience, particularly in animal shelters, municipal shelters, humane societies, rescue organizations, or high-volume community medicine programs.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, or providing clinical instruction to veterinarians or veterinary students.
• Familiarity with spectrum-of-care veterinary medicine principles.
• Experience developing educational programs, surgical curricula, or professional training initiatives.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with animal welfare organizations and community partners.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a skilled surgeon, educator, and leader who is passionate about expanding access to high-quality spay/neuter services while advancing veterinary education. Candidates with a strong background in shelter medicine and high-volume surgical practice will be particularly attractive for this opportunity.

Schedule

This position is fully onsite and requires flexibility to accommodate occasional adjustments in training and surgical schedules.