Veterinary Services Manager

Foothills Animal Shelter seeks a veterinary services manager who is committed to improving the emotional experience of animals in the shelter environment and excited to lead our veterinary support team in providing exceptional medical care to the thousands of animals we serve each year.

Who We Are

As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for over 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet we serve.

What You Bring

• You are an experienced veterinary professional who understands the unique challenges and opportunities of shelter medicine, particularly in a high-volume setting.
• You are a natural leader who thrives on developing others. You enjoy training and coaching individuals of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. You are friendly, outgoing, and have a way of putting people at ease.
• You enjoy a fast-paced, physical work environment. Sitting at a desk is not for you! You like to be on your feet, and you are constantly on the move. You believe there is no such thing as downtime – there is always something that you can do to improve the employee or animal experience.
• You are reliable. You are on-time or early for your commitments, and your team knows they can count on you.
• You are accountable. You know that leading a team means adapting to the unexpected, resolving conflict while minimizing drama, and taking ultimate accountability for the work of the team.
• You understand the emotional aspects of shelter medicine and can support your team through challenging situations while maintaining a positive, solution-focused approach.
• You think clearly under pressure and respond swiftly and effectively in an emergency.
• You are a compassionate caregiver who is committed to both the emotional and physical wellbeing of your patients.
• You believe in our mission. You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are proud to support the formation and continuation of these powerful relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop a team of veterinary technicians and assistants, providing comprehensive training, mentorship, and performance coaching to ensure excellent care delivery.
• Create and implement training programs that enhance the skills and capabilities of our veterinary support staff.
• Manage schedules and operations to ensure efficient delivery of services across surgery and health care programs.
• Develop and update standard operating procedures to maintain high-quality care and service standards.
• Oversee inventory management, DEA compliance, and biological risk management protocols.
• Collaborate with other departments to support comprehensive animal care, including behavior services, foster programs, and public vaccine clinics.
• Participate in budget development and management to ensure effective use of resources.
• Support the emotional and professional growth of your team while maintaining a positive, collaborative work environment.

What We Offer

• Let’s start with the obvious: we offer truly meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of thousands of animals each year.
• You will work with a team of veterinary and behavior support professionals who work hard, care deeply, and are 100% dedicated to the well-being of our shelter animals.
• We strive for a healthy work-life balance, and we offer generous time off including six paid holidays, additional floating holidays (awarded annually on your employment anniversary), three weeks of accrued vacation, and paid sick leave.
• We offer a full spectrum of employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and a retirement plan with 4% employer match and immediate vesting. Currently, two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage.
• Additional benefits for this position include a continuing education stipend of $750 annually, paid time to attend CE, and reimbursement of job-specific licensing, certification, and/or renewal fees.
• The pay rate for this position will be $60,000 – $80,000 annually, depending on education, certification, and the depth and breadth of relevant experience.
• Foothills Animal Shelter is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer.

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in veterinary technology from an accredited institution.
• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in the State of Colorado.
• Two years of experience in a shelter setting that includes HQHVSN (high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter).
• Two years of personnel leadership experience.

Schedule

• Tuesday – Saturday with variable hours.