Senior Clinical Veterinarian

Duties & Responsibilities

The Senior Clinical Veterinarian provides expert clinical support and specialized veterinary oversight for VCU’s diverse biomedical research program. While serving as a senior veterinary authority within the clinical team, the incumbent operates under the direction of the Associate Director of Veterinary Services. This role is focused on the high-level delivery of veterinary care, surgical consultation, and the implementation of clinical "Best Practices" across all DAR vivaria.

The Senior Clinical Veterinarian will work closely with the Associate Director to achieve proficiency in VCU’s complex USDA-regulated surgical models and decentralized operations.

• Specialized Clinical & Surgical Support
• Delivers comprehensive clinical care and preventive veterinary programs for a diverse species portfolio, including rodents, rabbits, swine, and aquatic models.
• Provides surgical and anesthetic consultation to Principal Investigators (PIs), assisting with protocol refinements and perioperative management.
• Under the mentorship of the Associate Director, develops expertise in and provides clinical oversight for complex USDA-regulated surgical protocols.
• Conducts mandatory veterinary observations of surgical procedures as required by institutional and regulatory mandates.
• Exercises professional authority to manage individual animal health cases and welfare interventions in alignment with institutional standards.
• Clinical Team Leadership & Mentorship
• Provides clinical mentorship and guidance to the junior Clinical Veterinarian and the Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) team to ensure consistent veterinary standards.
• Identifies clinical risks in decentralized facilities through regular site assessments and provides technical training to staff as needed.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director to ensure veterinary authority is consistently applied at the cage-side and procedural level.
• Regulatory & Scientific Consultation
• Serves as a voting member of the VCU IACUC, providing expert veterinary protocol reviews and participating in post-approval monitoring (PAM).
• Assists the Associate Director and Attending Veterinarian with AAALAC International accreditation maintenance and USDA/OLAW regulatory reporting.
• Acts as a "Partner in Science" for faculty, offering veterinary expertise on experimental design to ensure both scientific rigor and animal welfare.
• Clinical Continuity
• Participates in the rotation for 24/7 on-call emergency veterinary coverage.
• Serves as a clinical lead for veterinary and welfare matters as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• DVM/VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution.
• Board Certification (DACLAM) is required.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in laboratory animal medicine post-DACLAM certification, OR a significant demonstration of specialized experience in veterinary medicine in combination with DACLAM board certification.
• Ability to obtain a Virginia Veterinary License and DEA registration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Documented proficiency in the clinical and surgical management of rabbits and swine.
• Proven experience with veterinary health surveillance in large-scale rodent programs.
• Experience working effectively within a decentralized, multi-site academic research environment.

Salary Range

$135,000-(final compensation commensurate with experience)

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Paid annual and holiday leave
• Moderate tuition benefits
• Retail savings options
• Tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs
• Employee discounts
• Well-being resources
• Abundant opportunities for career development and advancement
• More