Veterinarian - Variable Hour Benefit Eligible

City of Aurora, Colorado

About the role

Housing and Community Development Services consists of four divisions: Neighborhood Support, Animal Services, Housing and Community Development, and Community Engagement. The mission of the Housing and Community Development Department is to maintain community appearance and enhance the quality of life in Aurora’s neighborhoods through community outreach, education, code enforcement, and neighborhood improvement programs and services. The staff partners with neighborhoods, residents, and community groups to strengthen both the social fabric and physical aspects of Aurora neighborhoods.

This position serves as the division’s lead medical and surgical staff member for the Aurora Animal Shelter.

Responsibilities

• Perform medical examinations and treatments on shelter animals as requested
• Perform surgical procedures including but not limited to: spay/neuter, umbilical hernia repairs, dentistry, cherry eye repair, soft tissue damage, and orthopedic procedures/amputation
• Perform euthanasia and provide training and certification of euthanasia to Animal Services staff
• Perform necropsies and decapitations as needed
• Provide examination, documentation, and expert testimony in cases of animal neglect or abuse for Aurora Animal Services Division
• Provide oversight and direction to veterinary technicians and support staff
• Assist patrons and veterinarians with questions about shelter-related illness regarding animals adopted from the Aurora Animal Shelter
• Foster relationships with local veterinary clinics and local shelter veterinarians
• Provide medical training to division staff (e.g., rabies vaccination, other vaccinations, physical examinations, microchip implantation, treatments, and contagion identification)
• Represent the division and perform medical procedures at vaccination clinics and other shelter events
• Provide instruction to veterinary and/or veterinary technician students on dentals, vaccinations, and various shelter medical treatments
• Maintain appropriate licensing and continuing education course requirements
• Contribute to organizational protocols, policies, and procedures pertaining to shelter medicine, treatment, and care of shelter animals
• Manage and maintain accurate medical records
• Order, log, and maintain records for pharmaceuticals and prescription foods using the state-issued Colorado Veterinary License
• Allow designated shelter staff to order legend pharmaceuticals (excluding Sodium Pentobarbital) using the contract veterinarian’s name and Colorado Veterinary License number
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine
• At least three (3) years of experience in shelter medicine
• Membership in a veterinary medical association or veterinary alliance
• Veterinary License with clean practice record
• Euthanasia Certification
• DEA license
• Driver's License

Skills & Qualifications

• Current veterinary standards and practices, including dog and cat breed characteristics
• Standard contagion practices in a shelter environment
• Excellent understanding of animal behavior and use of positive reinforcement techniques
• Strong surgical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and safe animal handling/restraint techniques
• Good customer service with strong communication skills
• Proficiency in Chameleon software or other shelter-related software
• Data entry skills for medical records and logging controlled substances
• Motivation to improve standard of care
• Effective written communication and time management skills
• Ability to triage cases and workload in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and citizens
• Ability to handle difficult or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy
• High attention to detail
• Ability to assist in daily surgical procedures and perform in high-stress environments
• Ability to perform euthanasia on a daily basis
• Ability to operate a City vehicle

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• Paid time off accrual
• 11 paid holidays
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• On-site fitness center and employee well-being programs
• Internal educational programs for career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $70.89 - $88.61/hour.

Schedule

This is a Variable Hour Benefit Eligible (VHBE) position, where the selected candidate can work up to 40 hours per week.

Working Conditions

• Essential Personnel: May be required to work during local emergencies or disasters.
• Physical Demands: Heavy physical work, including lifting and carrying animals/objects up to 100 pounds (with or without assistance), frequent lifting up to 50 pounds, regular walking/standing, full range of body movements (pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, stooping, climbing), foot/eye coordination for equipment operation, vision for reading reports/manuals, and speech/hearing for communication.
• Work Environment: Works indoors and outdoors in an animal shelter with exposure to dust, noise, vicious/sick animals, odors, cleaning chemicals, animal dander, feces, and fumes. Subject to animal bites/scratches and high noise levels.
• Equipment Used: Veterinary tools, kennel/cleaning equipment, motor vehicles for animal transport, euthanasia syringes, tranquilizer guns, wire cutters, shovels, two-way radios, telephones, personal computers, and related software.

This position may require occasional use of personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools). The City of Aurora will implement four unpaid furlough days in 2026 (January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24).