Associate Practice Manager, Community Animal Hospital

AWAC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with matching

Flexible spending accounts

PTO and paid holidays

Discounted pet insurance

Job summary

Humane Colorado is seeking an Associate Manager for the CSU Spur Veterinary Hospital. You will lead clinical operations, manage staff, and champion a patient‑centered culture while ensuring high‑quality care and efficient service delivery.

You will collaborate with leadership to optimize workflows, implement procedures, and support a compassionate workplace. Four 10‑hour shifts, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in a veterinary medical environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop staff.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience coordinating payroll, accounting, and daily deposits.

Responsibilities

• Support daily operations and strategic goals of Community Veterinary Services at CSU Spur.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, and develop a high-performing team.
• Foster a positive, mission-driven culture reflecting Humane Colorado values.
• Oversee inventory and resource utilization; optimize SOPs for quality and safety.
• Monitor KPI reports to guide decisions and continuous improvement.
• Support volunteer program and staff training initiatives.

Skills

Veterinary leadership

Staff development

Customer service excellence

Compliance & safety

Communication & collaboration

Education

Associate degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Veterinary practice management software

Job description

Purpose of Position

The Associate Manager serves as an operational leader and culture champion for Humane Colorado’s Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur. This role partners with the Practice Manager, veterinary leadership, and hospital teams to ensure exceptional patient care, outstanding client experiences, operational excellence, and strong employee engagement.

Humane Colorado’s Community Veterinary Services team exists to expand access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care for pets and families experiencing barriers to care. Through urgent care, surgery, dentistry, wellness services, and innovative community programs, we help keep pets healthy, prevent unnecessary suffering, and preserve the bond between people and the animals they love. The Associate Manager plays a critical role in advancing this mission by developing teams, optimizing operations, supporting quality care, and creating an environment where employees, volunteers, clients, and community partners can thrive.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Partner with the Director, Practice Manager, and fellow Associate Managers to support the daily operations and strategic goals of Community Veterinary Services at CSU Spur.
• Manage and develop an effective staff: providing 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.
• Assist with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and developing a high-performing team committed to exceptional patient care, client service, and operational excellence.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and mission-driven culture that reflects Humane Colorado’s values and commitment to Compassion Always.

Operational Excellence

• Support the efficient day-to-day operation of the Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur by ensuring staff, resources, and workflows are aligned to meet patient care and service demands.
• Monitor staffing needs, scheduling adjustments, call-outs, and time-off requests to maintain hospital capacity and operational continuity.
• Manage daily appointment utilization to support access to care while optimizing patient flow and team effectiveness.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures that promote consistency, quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Monitor compliance with safety standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies while supporting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a floor leader, working alongside team members and providing hands‑on operational support as needed to ensure seamless daily operations.

Patient Care & Service Excellence

• Support hospital teams in maintaining high standards of animal care and client service.
• Ensure every interaction with clients, volunteers, staff, and community partners reflects Humane Colorado’s mission, values, and commitment to compassionate care.
• Navigate complex or emotionally charged situations with professionalism, empathy, flexibility, and sound judgment.
• Seek solutions that create the best possible outcomes for pets, families, and the organization while preserving positive relationships and trust.

Resource & Program Management

• Oversee inventory management and resource utilization to maximize value, control expenses, and minimize waste.
• Support administration and optimization of the hospital’s practice management software and related systems.
• Review monthly key performance indicator (KPI) reports to support operational decision‑making and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Facilities and other departments to ensure equipment, workspaces, and hospital resources remain safe, functional, and operationally ready.
• Support departmental administrative and financial processes, including payroll, accounts payable, and daily deposits, as assigned.

Volunteer & Training Program Support

• Support the volunteer program by supporting recruitment, onboarding, training, evaluation, engagement, and recognition efforts.
• Collaborate with the Veterinary Training Specialist and Team Leads to support hospital training initiatives and ongoing staff development.
• Contribute to a learning environment that encourages growth, teamwork, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.

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

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Leadership Core Competencies

• Project and Process Management
• Delivering Results
• People Leadership
• Communication and Influence
• Accountability
• Continuous Learning and Professional Development

Position Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Operational Excellence
• Planning and Prioritization
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Innovation
• Resource Management
• Relationship Building
• Project Management
• Conflict Management
• Successful De‑escalation

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Veterinary Technicians
• Veterinary Assistants
• Customer Service Representatives
• Volunteers

Travel

This position may require travel to different work sites

Shift Details

Four ten hour shifts

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

$62,379-$67,060 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

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. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation.

Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.

Requirements

Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated success working in a veterinary medical environment.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships across diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Ability to think critically, solve problems effectively, and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and operational excellence.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other business technology applications.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with employees, leaders, volunteers, and community partners to achieve shared goals.
• Ability to de‑escalate challenging situations and develop creative, practical solutions that support the best interests of clients and their pets.

Required

Education: Associate degree or equivalent experience

Work Experience: Two years of experience working in veterinary medicine and one year in a supervisory, lead, or management role

Desired

• Experience working as a Veterinary Technician or Assistant
• Experience working with diverse or underserved communities
• Ability to effectively solve problems and make decisions
• Experience developing, facilitating, and evaluating employee training programs.
• Advanced proficiency with veterinary practice management software systems.
• Experience in animal welfare, shelter medicine, or another professional animal care field.
• Bilingual fluency in both English and Spanish
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with multiple levels of leadership to identify challenges, develop solutions, and implement operational improvements.