GUILFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT
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GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
The Animal Services Chief Veterinarian is responsible for supervising the overall health of all shelter animals and works under the general supervision of the Animal Services Director.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
Develop, implement, and monitor medical programs that facilitate effective outcomes with a strong focus on the animal's quality of life. Collaborate with medical staff and leadership to ensure Guilford County Animal Services' operations are conducted using appropriate and up-to-date medical practices. Supervise and mentor staff Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians to help maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork among the medical team. Promote Guilford County Animal Services' goals to community veterinarians, the general public, and other animal welfare-related organizations.
Perform spay/neuter surgeries and other surgical procedures that are needed. Perform euthanasia when an acceptable quality of life is unachievable. Develop SOPs and ensure they are updated and practiced with staff and volunteers. Assist with development of the annual budget. Monitor and evaluate departmental/area processes and procedures to maximize efficient uses of resources. Participate in inter-departmental meetings and discussions to support and develop Guilford County Animal Services' initiatives. Be a positive representative of Guilford County Animal Services; some public speaking required.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Duties and Tasks
- Directly supervises Veterinary Technicians. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Guilford County policies and applicable laws.
- Oversees animal health programs and implements the necessary medical protocols at the shelter to provide the best possible care to all animals entering and exiting the shelter, while helping to control the animal population at the shelter.
- Ensures animals are cared for in accordance with generally accepted sheltering guidelines and standards.
- Recommends, develops, implements, and manages veterinary processes, programs, and systems that address health and disease prevention needs in a shelter environment to reduce euthanasia, enhance life expectancy, and reduce behavioral problems in shelter animals.
- Oversees veterinary clinic operations to include: budget, procurement, clinic policy and procedure, daily clinic operations, clinic-related areas of public programs, statistics, develops and maintains relationships with veterinarians in the community, and attends professional meetings. Additionally, supervises and coordinates the purchase of all clinic supplies and equipment while following Guilford County purchasing policies and guidelines.
- Maintains a clean and sanitary animal shelter clinic at all times.
- Ensures that any citizen complaints pertaining to the health of shelter animals are processed in a rapid and professional manner, and within Guilford County policies and all applicable laws and standards regarding animal sheltering.
- Develops a good working relationship in all areas of the media so as to be better prepared to communicate information about special projects, events, and situations to inform the public as necessary.
- Performs physical examinations, vaccinations, and diagnostics to determine and evaluate the health condition of animals at the time of impound or prior to adoption or presentation for surgery.
- Performs medical treatments and surgical procedures including sterilizing adoptable animals, monitoring anesthesia and recovery of animals, and performing post-surgical evaluation and treatment.
- Participates in investigations regarding the humane treatment of animals by examining animals at the shelter and documenting findings. Testifies in court or other legal proceedings, prepares written reports, and provides expert opinion.
- Performs or supervises the visual monitoring of impounded animals including those that may be isolated or quarantined for signs of illness or unusual behavior, documents findings, and approves the release of animals from rabies quarantine.
- Maintains current DEA licenses and premises permits as required by policy or law; creates and monitors drug logs to comply with federal and state laws.
- Instructs, trains, and advises staff on proper care, medical treatment, and other animal health-related issues, including the development of veterinary or animal health handouts.
- Coordinates with the Animal Services Director regarding the selection of animals for care and euthanasia.
- Keeps completed medical records and drug records required by the DEA and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
- Supervises disease prevention, educates and trains staff in proper care and analyzing health issues.
- Provides emergency on-call services pertaining to both incoming animals and adopted animals.
- Supervises the Veterinary Technicians and assists with day-to-day duties.
- Holds informational meetings and writes publications for the public on the safety and well-being of animals in the County.
- Other duties as assigned.
RECRUITMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and assist in adding to policy/procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
- Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work, as well as the work operations of Veterinary Technicians.
- Ability to make frequent decisions of both minor and major importance, either of which would affect the work operations of small organizational components and the organization's clientele.
- Ability to perform duties that require very close and continuous attention for control of operations which require a high degree of coordination and/or immediate response.
- Ability to determine or select the most applicable way of handling situations regarding the organization's administration and operations; also to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved.
- High order of analytical, interpretative, and constructive thinking in varied situations covering multiple areas of the organization.
- Skills needed for the use of complex machines and equipment (desktop/laptop computer and software, incinerator, and other equipment, etc.)
- Ability to perform work free of errors that would affect the organization and/or its prestige and relationship with the public.
- Software skills including basic proficiency in alphanumeric data entry, contact management, word processing/typing; and intermediate proficiency in PetPoint, Microsoft Word, Excel, Kronos, and Lawson Enterprise Software.
Minimum Requirements
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and three years of related experience and/or training with a minimum of one year of management experience. Must hold a North Carolina license to practice Veterinary Medicine and a Controlled Substance Certification. Must be proficient in the use of a personal computer & related software. Must pass a criminal background check with no convictions, no guilty pleas, and/or no contest pleas that are associated with controlled or illegal substances, or any criminal law pertaining to animals.
The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Working conditions are in a kennel environment with frequent exposure to laboratory conditions including hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes and odors, and working with animal body fluids and infectious diseases, and loud noises.
May Require Driving
This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county-related functions. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria. If a personal vehicle is operated for county business, proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy.
Special Note: This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities checklist, which can give further details about that one specific position. Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.
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