Notice of Change: This recruitment will be posted continuously until all positions are filled.
SALARY: $147,567.68 - $179,370.88 Annually
New Hire Incentives for incumbents up to the maximum amount of $90,000 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 (1) 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 1414* 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 1414: Appointment to Fill Vacancy During Leave of Absence. 1414 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 1414 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 $90k New Hire incentive
- Flexible Work schedule
- No 24/7 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 SBCERS
- 13 Holidays, 12 Sick Leave days (unlimited accumulation), and 12 to 25 days of vacation (accrual rate based on years of service) per year
- Tuition Reimbursement
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.
Why Our Team is Proud to Work Here:
- Exceptional Success Rates: We're proud of our approximately 91% live release rate, ensuring that most of the over 6,000 pets we serve annually find loving homes.
- Innovative Return to Owner (RTO) Efforts: With a 49% 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 2,300 pets experience the love and care of foster homes, and we organize over 2,300 doggy day trips, giving our furry friends a break from the shelter.
- Robust Financial Support: Our $6M agency budget is bolstered by an additional $2M+ 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, 548 W. Foster Road (map)
- Santa Barbara Shelter, 5473 Overpass Road (map)
- Lompoc Shelter, 1501 W. Central Avenue (map)
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:
- 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 (2) 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 60 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 75 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.
Supplemental Information:
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:
- Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
- Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and auto-scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.
Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider, or learning institution.
Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee will also be subject to a post-offer medical examination. Appointee must satisfactorily complete a (12) twelve-month probationary period.
The Public Health Department (PHD) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the PHD Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations. A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.
Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:
The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.
We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.
We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.
We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: This recruitment will be posted continuously until all positions are filled. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
Farrah Medrano, Talent Acquisition Lead
Public Health Department, PHDRecruiter@sbcphd.org
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