GUILFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT
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Description
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
The Veterinarian is responsible for supervising the overall health of all shelter animals and works under the general supervision of the Chief Veterinarian and the Animal Services Director.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
An employee in this class assists in supervisory duties over the veterinary medical team and provides care and treatment to incoming and housed animals within the shelter. In addition to performing all aspects of veterinary care for shelter animals and helping to implement and monitor the effectiveness of infectious disease management strategies, duties can include providing training for shelter staff on all aspects of shelter medical care, disease management and prevention, and proper euthanasia techniques as well as overseeing testing performed by the veterinary medical team. Duties also include educating fosters and adopters regarding the health and welfare of the animals; maintaining medical records of animals seen, medical and surgical procedures done, and medications prescribed; writing and updating policies and procedures related to the medical care of the animals in the Animal Center. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Chief Veterinarian and the Animal Services Director.
Examples of Duties
Duties And Responsibilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Participates in the oversight of the veterinary medical team.
- 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.
- Contributes to the oversight of veterinary clinic operations that may 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, contributes to the coordination of 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 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, prepare written reports and provide 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, document finding, and approve 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 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 rotating emergency on-call services pertaining to both incoming animals and in-house animals with veterinary staff.
- Supervises the veterinary medical team and assists with day-to-day duties.
- Holds informational meetings and writes publications for the public on safety and wellbeing 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 fluid rates, medication dosages, 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 that 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.
Typical Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Education & Experience:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree
- At least three (3) years of related professional experience
- Licensing & Certification:
- Current North Carolina licenset o practice Veterinary Medicine
- ValidDEA Registration
- Skills:
- Proficiency with personal computers and related software
- Background Check:
- Must pass a criminal background check
- No convictions, guilty pleas, or no contest pleas related to:
- Controlled or illegal substances
- Any criminal law involving animals
Preferred Qualifications
- At least one (1) year of management-level experience in a veterinary practice
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions and Physical Demands of Work
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.
Guilford County is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to employees and applicants for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or political affiliation. The County is committed to complying with all applicable federal, state and local laws that pertain to employment, and to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination of any kind. If you need an auxiliary aide, make the request forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time the accommodation is needed by calling 336-641-3324.
We are excited about the opportunity of having you as a prospective new employee!
You probably already know our county is a wonderful county to live in, but did you know it is also a wonderful place to work?
Below are a few of the reasons why we love working for Guilford County.
We offer Health Insurance (
UnitedHealthCare) to all benefitted employees working a minimum of 20 hours per week. The shared cost of the premium is based on scheduled/budgeted hours. If you are a full-time employee working 40 hours a week you can expect to pay less than $35 a month for medical coverage, dental coverage for $4 a month and vision coverage for $5 a month. That's less than $45 a month for medical, dental & vision coverage; that's unheard of.
Telehealth UHC Virtual Visits are available to you with no copay or out of pocket expense.
We are excited to inform you Guilford County has an
Employee Wellness Center (24/7 access) with strength training equipment, cardio machines and a group exercise room with virtual or in person coaching from our Wellness Specialist!
Employee Assistance Program, 100% funded by the county. A superb benefit for you and your family absolutely free. Confidential help with personal or work-related issues.
13 paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 12 vacation days a year. That's 37 paid days a year, totaling almost 2 months of paid time off.
Employer contributes
5% into your 401(k) - no match required.
Enrollment in the
State Retirement Plan by contributing 6%.
Longevity pay beginning at five years of service.
We provide a $10,000
Life and AD&D benefit to eligible employees.
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside tax-free dollars for health care and dependent care.
Voluntary Life, AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.
01
Please select the highest level of education you have completed
All education and certifications must be listed in the Education section of the employment application. Transcripts may be required to verify educational qualifications.
- No formal education
- Some High School, No Diploma/GED
- High School Diploma or GED
- Some College, No Degree
- Associate's Degree (AA, AS)
- Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BS)
- Some Graduate Coursework, No Degree
- Master’s Degree (MA, MS, MBA, etc.)
- Professional degree (JD, MD, DVM, etc.)
- Doctoral Degree (PhD, EdD, etc.)
02
How many years of experience do you have in the diagnosis and treatment of animals in a shelter or clinical setting? (Must be detailed in application.)
- Less than 3 years
- 3 to less than 5 years
- 5 to less than 7 years
- 7 or more years
03
How many years of management experience do you have in a clinical or shelter setting? (Must be detailed in application.)
- Less than 1 year
- 1 to less than 3 years
- 3 to less than 5 years
- 5 or more years
04
Are you currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of North Carolina, or are you eligible to obtain such a license? Please include your license number in your application if currently licensed.
05
Please indicate your current registration status for the procurement and clinical use of controlled substances:
- I hold a current DEA Registration
- I hold a current NC DHHS Controlled Substances Registration
- I do not hold any registration for the procurement and clinical use of controlled substances
06
In 3-5 sentences, briefly your experience as it related to the diagnosis and treatment of animals. In your response be sure to clarify the setting where you performed these duties.
07
In 2-3 sentences, briefly describe your experience performing surgery on animals.
08
Do you acknowledge that this is an hourly, non-benefited position?
09
Have you thoroughly reviewed your application before submitting? Please ensure that all required documents are attached and that the information provided is accurate and complete. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified.
