Director, Shelter Medicine and Animal Health

Description

Purpose of Position: Serve as Humane Colorado’s lead veterinary and surgical and behavioral authority, establishing policies and standards that guide all aspects of animal care within shelter operations. Develop innovative, evidence-based approaches to ensure the medical and behavioral needs of every animal sheltered at Humane Colorado are met. Provide strategic direction to optimize resources and ensure that veterinary and behavior operations are aligned with Humane Colorado’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for all shelter veterinary and behavior operations, working collaboratively across departments to enhance organizational effectiveness and deliver integrated, high-quality care.
• Practice, teach and direct incremental medicine, using critical thinking and decision-making skills within the organization’s scope of care. Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of veterinary policies and programs that improve the standard of care for all sheltered animals.
• Oversee management of medical, behavior, and complex animal cases to ensure best outcomes for animals in a timely, efficient process.
• Develop shelter management policies, create corresponding SOPs, and ensure they are updated, understood, and practiced with staff and volunteers.
• Oversee contagion management, including isolation practices, sanitation standards, and disease-prevention workflows.
• Develop, implement, and oversee anesthesia protocols to ensure safe, consistent, and high-quality perioperative care for all surgical patients.
• Ensure animals receiving medical or behavioral investment meet established adoptability criteria.
• Lead and direct the shelter veterinary and behavior services team to ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to staff, volunteers, patrons, donors, partners, and vendors.
• Develop medical and recordkeeping protocols to ensure consistency, safety, and compliance with state and federal regulations.   
• Adhere to mandated standards (e.g., PACFA) and ensure a safe and sanitary environment for animals and people.
• Perform the duties of a shelter veterinary services (SVS) veterinarian including public appointments, physical exams, diagnostics, High Quality/High Volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN), dentistry, soft tissue and orthopedic procedures, owner requested euthanasia, and necropsies.   
• Partner with departmental managers to develop, monitor, and control departmental budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility. Oversee appropriate utilization of department resources to maximize the value, control expenses, and minimize waste.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness across the department, including statistical analysis and report creation and presentation. Implement improvements, ensuring efficient use of resources and effective operations. 
• Remain informed and up to date with relevant industry trends and practices to keep the organization at the leading edge of animal welfare, medical and behavior practices and building toward the future. Continuing education in behavior science, enrichment, and welfare assessment.
• Maintain highly effective relationships with all other directors to ensure successful allocation of resources and coordination of activities in support of strategic objectives. Communicate regularly with other directors, VPs, and the CEO when necessary.
• Participate in euthanasia decision making. Oversee the euthanasia training program to ensure it meets state regulations. Create and provide trainings, maintain licenses and monitor DEA compliance. Certify staff to perform euthanasia procedures. Collaborate with shelter leadership on euthanasia training and SOP development.
• Collaborate with shelter teams to support and manage the appropriate flow of companion animals through each department.
• Work with animal protection team for evaluation, documentation, and testimony about the condition of animals involved in investigation cases.
• Consult and provide assistance to patrons and external veterinarians regarding animals at or adopted from Humane Colorado.
• Serve as a liaison promoting the organization’s philosophy and goals to veterinarians, vendors, the public, and other animal welfare related organizations.
• Deliver Humane Colorado specific training programs regarding veterinary medicine and animal behavior as requested. 
• Manage and develop an effective staff: provide effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determine staff qualifications and competency; recruit, interview, select, hire, train, orient, mentor, evaluate, coach, counsel, discipline, and reward. Establish and monitor staff safety and regulatory compliance.
• Work in collaboration with the Development and Communications teams to support fundraising efforts and campaigns, such as providing impact stories and reports resulting in financial support.
• Participate in donor events, meetings, and tours.
• Ensure program grant compliance, and quality of services and evaluations.
• Integrate Veterinary Professional Associates (VPA), externs, and interns into the workforce, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and development while ensuring effective collaboration and skill-building opportunities.
• Oversee relationships with external vendors, including negotiating and managing contracts for vaccines, medical supplies, equipment purchases, and other essential resources. Ensure cost-effectiveness, timely delivery, compliance with organizational policies, and quality standards.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Job Knowledge
• Excellence
• Adapting to Change / Agility
• Dependability
• People Care

Leadership Core Competencies

• Project and Process Management 
• Delivering Results
• People Leadership

Position Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking 
• Community Partnerships
• Conflict Management
• Financial Acumen
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Innovation
• Strong teaching and mentorship skills 
• Strategic Thinking

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers
• Manager, Veterinarians
• Manager, Shelter Veterinary Services
• Manager, Behavior 
• Associate Manager, Shelter, Behavior and Veterinary Services

Travel

• This position may require travel to different work sites

Full-Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical
• Holiday Pay
• Employee discounts
• Discounted Pet Insurance
• and more!

Compensation: Starting at $150,000 - $170,000 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on December 25, 2025. 

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Position Qualifications 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to effectively lead a team
• Demonstrated excellent surgical skills
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• High emotional intelligence
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
• Ability to work well within a fast-paced environment
• High attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Required

Education: Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine

Work Experience: 

• Five years of clinical experience post-graduation which includes surgery in high volume environment
• Two years of experience in shelter medicine 
• Three years of experience in leadership directly managing a team

Special Training, Certification or Licensure: 

• Current Colorado veterinary license 
• Current DEA license or ability to obtain DEA license

Desired

• Experience performing orthopedic surgeries
• Advanced coursework or degrees in animal behavior, psychology, or related fields
• Leadership or management experience in clinic, hospital, or shelter environment
• Experience as a teacher or mentor of veterinary professionals or students