Lead Sanctuary Veterinarian

American Animal Hospital Association, Inc.; Kanab (UT); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great benefits

Job summary

Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah is seeking a Lead Veterinarian to guide sanctuary-based veterinary teams, uphold our medical standards, and provide hands-on care across shelter medicine, wellness, hospitalizations, emergency care, and high-volume spay-neuter surgeries.

The role shapes regional strategies toward no-kill by 2025, offers leadership to staff veterinarians, mentors students and technicians, and collaborates with leadership to improve animal welfare in a rural community.

Qualifications

• DVM with leadership experience in a veterinary team.
• Minimum 5 years as a practicing veterinarian, shelter medicine preferred.
• Licensed with state veterinary board; DEA license application.
• Ability to handle dogs and cats, plus exposure to exotics, birds, and equines is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as medical leader, fostering collaboration among veterinarians and staff.
• Examine, diagnose, and treat program animals; perform high-volume spay/neuter.
• Provide on-call support, mentor staff, and coordinate with shelters.
• Lead continuous improvement and ensure Best Friends' medical standards.
• Deliver superior customer service to visitors, adopters, volunteers.

Skills

Leadership experience

Shelter medicine knowledge

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Multilingual (optional)

Education

DVM degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Shelter software

Job description

Location: 5001 Angel Canyon Road; Kanab, UT 84741

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $155,000 to $175,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

While staff veterinarians work as a team to provide for all veterinary needs across departments, there are multiple areas within which you can grow or apply your passions in the role. This role provides leadership to the vet team in our efforts for continual growth and improvement.

We’re seeking veterinarians who have professional interests that include:

• Shelter medicine – Dogtown and Cat World help save animals from under-resourced shelters across the region and the country. They provide care and treatment with the goal of finding a loving, adoptive home as efficiently as possible.
• Exotics – From Parrot Garden and Bunny House to Wild Friends with a full wildlife rehabilitation and education program, the Sanctuary cares for an incredible variety of species for adoption, release to the wild, or lifetime care when needed
• Large animals – Horse Haven is home to horses, but also goats, pigs, and the occasional donkey. With a new, state-of-the-art headquarters and veterinary clinic, Horse Haven is a world-class equine medicine experience.
• High-volume, high-quality, spay and neuter surgeries – spay and neuter surgeries are critical in our work to Save Them All.
• Urgent care and general practice – Best Friends veterinary team responds to the routine and urgent needs of the animals in our care and others within the clinic facility, ensuring animals receive the care they need in this beautiful rural community.

Position Summary: The Lead Veterinarian serves a key role as a medical leader for Sanctuary-based staff veterinarians, ensuring consistent treatment and care to Best Friends’ organizational standards while providing hands‑on veterinary care. Working in conjunction with Best Friends’ medical director and leadership, the lead vet influences excellence and efficiency in veterinary medicine throughout all Sanctuary veterinary services areas including shelter medicine, wellness, hospitalizations, emergency care, high‑quality‑high‑volume spay and neuter surgeries, and other surgeries while providing care for Best Friends’ animals, lifesaving partners, staff, and public clients. In collaboration with division leadership the lead vet is a valued contributor in supporting Sanctuary-based regional and national strategies to achieve no‑kill nationally by 2025.

Culture Statement and Responsibility: We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well‑being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.
• Serves as a medical leader, fostering collaborative environment between veterinarians as well as between veterinary and animal care staff, assisting with complex medical cases, decision‑making, and problem solving.
• Responsible for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of program animals; uphold medical standards of care; perform a variety of procedures as needed including high‑volume spay and neuter; maintain knowledge of shelter medicine including common infectious diseases and conditions and their treatment; conduct diagnostic procedures.
• Support on call and emergency response; ensure a safe and effective clinic environment, educate, mentor, and coach veterinary students, technicians, assistants, and volunteers; communicate with shelters, outside veterinarians, and clinics regarding cases including referrals or post‑adoption support.
• Promote continuing development of medical care through continued education; keep abreast of veterinary concerns and trends in animal welfare; and uphold the highest standards of professionalism; provide onboarding and training relating to veterinary medicine and Best Friends operating procedures.
• Lead by example in delivering superior customer service in our operations, where we relate to all visitors, adopters, fosters, and others in a friendly, informational, and professional manner.
• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.
• Lead and maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and addressing or communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills and Experience:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with experience leading teams, preferably within a collaborative veterinary team.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working as a practicing veterinarian, including professional experience with shelter medicine.
• Licensed in good standing with state veterinary board, license or application for license with Drug Enforcement Agency.
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats. Additional experience with a variety of species, including exotics, birds, equines, etc. is a plus.
• Bilingual or multi‑lingual skills preferred but not required.
• Customer‑centric, non‑judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with well‑developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Resourceful, get‑it‑done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion. Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, on‑call shifts, nights, and holiday work.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.