Veterinary Services Supervisor

Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial in the colorful State of Colorado. We employ a total of 200 employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for supervising the veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians at HSPPR Pueblo, providing training, support, and assistance with overseeing the medical and surgical patients in the shelter. Ensuring a high level of patient care for all animals.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with Staff Veterinarians and the Veterinary Services Manager in developing and adhering to current treatment, surgery, vaccine, and medical protocols.
• Assist the veterinarians as required with treatments and medication orders.
• Assists in compiling and arranging the surgery list.
• Supports and oversees staff preparing patients for surgical procedures. Supports and oversees patients undergoing surgical procedures.
• Maintains medical/surgical treatment records and reports in an accurate and timely manner and in accordance with HSPPR procedures.
• Communicates with customers and other shelter staff concerning the health of animals in the shelter. Answers general questions about HSPPR procedures and veterinary care of animals. Includes providing information to the community regarding euthanasia decisions.
• Ensures health care areas are maintained in a neat and organized manner.
• Maintain a regular presence on the floor to provide staff support, ensure appropriate work distribution, and provide direction to the team based on the schedule for the day.
• Oversee workflow and foresee problematic issues. Provide solutions and work with the Veterinary Service Manager to solve and improve procedures.
• Adjust the schedule and staff assignments as needed to accommodate special events such as meetings, early closures, and trainings.
• Monitor workload and adjust to minimize overtime as much as possible. Report trends to the Veterinary Service Manager.
• Participate in staff meetings by presenting updates and topics for discussion.
• Promote open communication and work to handle internal and external conflict.
• Provide feedback and coaching to staff members regarding job duties and skills.
• Works with and provides training as required for volunteers.
• Oversee and participates in the training of new employees.
• Provide communication with accredited programs for students to be involved at the shelter.
• Operates as a drug technician and trains other staff members to be drug technicians.
• Assist with drug and medical supply inventory and ordering.
• Assist with maintenance of equipment. Training other staff members to assist in regular maintenance and report issues appropriately.
• Provide support to other department managers as needed.
• Oversees proper medical documentation, client communication, and education regarding surgical
• procedures and other medical conditions.
• Handles client complaints and follows through with appropriate steps to resolve concerns and complications.
• Oversees and reports issues regarding the medical patient population in the shelter to the
• Veterinary Service Manager
• Experience and medical knowledge base to appropriately direct questions, triage inquiries, and provide sound medical advice to the public.
• Assists with Euthanasia as required, including authorizing and performing euthanasia.
• Makes claim calls to the interested party when necessary
• Support and oversee the medical patient population in the shelter.
• Administers treatment to shelter animals, provides excellent patient care, and ensures proper diets are provided to animals.
• Cleans kennels and provides animal care as directed by the Veterinary Services Manager.

Other:

• Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of HSPPR.
• Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

• Assists Veterinary Services Manager with hiring, supervising, and evaluating direct reports in the performance of their job responsibilities
• Coaches staff by providing ongoing feedback and timely performance evaluations.
• In conjunction with the Veterinary Services Manager, sets performance standards; directs and motivates employees.
• Consults with Veterinary Services Manager regarding discipline and terminations.
• Ensures adequate staffing levels are maintained in the department.
• Manages workflow by determining daily surgery, return for treatment exams, and hospital treatment schedules.
• Consults with staff veterinarians and Veterinary Services Manager on medical and surgical problems of animals as well as medical protocols and procedures.
• Supervises and coordinates cleaning procedures of surgical and hospital areas.
• Supervises and oversees proper and periodic maintenance of surgical and healthcare equipment.
• Oversees and ensures hazardous materials are being handled properly.
• Communicates safety requirements to staff.
• Coordinates on-the-job training for staff, volunteers, and externs.
• Responds to customer phone calls and requests for assistance.
• Assists Veterinary Technicians and support staff to respond to customer service situations and consults with the staff veterinarians
• Answers general questions dealing with the veterinary care of animals.

Physical Demands

• Regularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight.
• May be occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
• Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
• Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
• Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Periodically drives a HSPPR Vehicle to perform duties

Schedule Requirements

Sunday - Wednesday, 7:30am - 6:00pm. Schedule may include weekend and evening work.

Education/Experience Necessary

• Associate degree in veterinary technology from an accredited institution preferred.
• Possession of current Veterinary Technician license preferred.
• Successful completion of a veterinary technician internship or one-year prior experience in a full-service veterinary hospital or animal shelter environment.
• Prior experience in a leadership role preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Self-starter with the ability to work, make decisions, and problem-solve independently or with minimal guidance.
• Positive attitude and professional demeanor.

**Application Deadline: April 10, 2025, or until position filled**

Benefits include:

Health Insurance ~~ 401K with employer matching up to 4% of salary ~~ Dental and vision* Insurances ~~ Supplemental Group Insurance* ~~ Short and long term disability Insurance ~~ Paid time off ~~ Holidays ~~ Direct Deposit ~~ Personal Pet Perks

(*) Employee pays the full premium

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer. To learn more about this program, go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.

The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.

Core Values Statements-

• Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect and compassion.
• Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.
• Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.
• Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.
• Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.
• Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.

As a condition of employment with HSPPR, you will be required to authorize HSPPR and ProScreening to conduct a background check before confirming an employment start date. The background check will include a criminal investigation, verification of citizenship/immigration status, and a motor vehicle record. By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that any offers of employment will be contingent upon completion of the background check to the satisfaction of HSPPR.

In consideration of any offers of employment made as a result of your interest in this position, by applying for this position, you hereby waive any and all claims that you may have against HSPPR for invasion of privacy in respect to drug testing and background checks as listed above.

Salary : $23 - $25