Medical Director/Lead Veterinarian
West Valley Humane Society
Job Description
West Valley Humane Society is seeking a compassionate and experienced veterinarian to serve as our Medical Director & Lead Shelter Veterinarian.
This full-time leadership position provides high-quality veterinary care to animals in our shelter while overseeing the medical standards, protocols, compliance, and overall operations of the shelter clinic. The Medical Director will work closely with clinic staff, shelter leadership, animal care employees, foster families, and community partners to support the health and well-being of animals in our care.
The ideal candidate is comfortable balancing hands-on veterinary medicine with medical leadership and administrative responsibilities in a fast-paced shelter environment.
Schedule
Full-time, salaried position Monday through Friday
Occasional flexibility may be required for urgent animal care needs or special shelter circumstances.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide medical examinations, diagnoses, treatment plans, and ongoing care for shelter animals.
Perform routine and emergency surgical procedures, including high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgeries.
Provide preventive care, vaccinations, parasite treatment, wound care, pain management, and other necessary medical services.
Diagnose and treat infectious diseases, injuries, chronic conditions, and other medical concerns commonly seen in shelter animals.
Determine appropriate treatment plans while considering animal welfare, available resources, length of stay, and quality of life.
Provide timely veterinary assessments for animals entering the shelter or presenting with medical concerns.
Maintain accurate, complete, and timely medical records.
Assist with humane euthanasia decisions and procedures when medically or behaviorally appropriate.
Support outbreak prevention, disease control, sanitation practices, and population health management.
Medical Leadership and Oversight
Provide medical direction and oversight for all veterinary and shelter medical services.
Develop, review, and maintain medical protocols, standing orders, treatment guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
Establish consistent standards of care for shelter animals, foster animals, and animals receiving community veterinary services.
Provide guidance and clinical support to veterinary technicians, assistants, animal care staff, and shelter leadership.
Oversee medication administration practices, controlled substance handling, medical inventory, and pharmacy procedures.
Help prioritize medical cases and allocate resources based on urgency, animal welfare, and organizational capacity.
Participate in the training and development of clinic and animal care staff.
Promote a collaborative, respectful, and solutions-focused clinic environment.
Support the continued development and expansion of shelter and community veterinary programs.
Administrative and Regulatory Responsibilities:
Maintain all veterinary licenses, permits, registrations, and professional credentials required for the position.
Oversee DEA registration requirements and ensure compliant handling, documentation, storage, and disposal of controlled substances.
Ensure clinic operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, veterinary regulations, and professional standards.
Maintain required drug logs, medical records, inspection documentation, and regulatory records.
Assist with regulatory inspections, licensing reviews, and corrective actions when necessary.
Monitor changes in veterinary laws, shelter medicine standards, and regulatory requirements.
Support clinic budgeting, medical purchasing, inventory management, and vendor relationships.
Provide veterinary input regarding clinic staffing, equipment, supplies, and operational needs.
Review medical data and outcomes to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Qualifications:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited veterinary school.
Current license to practice veterinary medicine in Idaho or the ability to obtain an Idaho license before beginning employment.
Current DEA registration or the ability to obtain and maintain registration.
Eligibility to perform all duties required under applicable state and federal regulations.
Experience in shelter medicine, high-volume spay and neuter, emergency medicine, general practice, or a related veterinary setting is strongly preferred.
Previous medical leadership, supervisory, or clinic management experience is preferred.
Knowledge of population health, infectious disease prevention, animal welfare, and shelter medicine best practices.
Strong surgical, diagnostic, and clinical decision-making skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with limited resources and changing priorities.
Strong communication, organization, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to make compassionate and objective decisions regarding treatment, prognosis, quality of life, and humane euthanasia.
Commitment to fear-free, humane, and respectful animal handling practices.
Ability to work collaboratively with employees, volunteers, foster families, adopters, rescue partners, and community members.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to safely handle and restrain animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform surgical and clinical procedures.
Ability to lift and carry animals or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with assistance when appropriate.
Ability to work around animal hair, dander, cleaning products, medications, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases.
Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
West Valley Humane Society is committed to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals while fostering compassion, promoting responsible pet ownership, educating the community, and ensuring every animal receives a second chance.
The Medical Director / Shelter Veterinarian plays an essential role in advancing this mission by providing compassionate veterinary care, supporting shelter employees, and helping build sustainable medical programs that serve both shelter animals and the surrounding community.
West Valley Humane Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Benefits:
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Relocation assistance
Vision insurance
This is a full time job
Contact Information
Job Contact Details
Closing Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Posting Date:
Closing Date:
