Medical Director, Veterinarian

King County, WA; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement & pension plans

Paid holidays and leave

Flexible schedules and telecommuting (

Job summary

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) seeks an experienced Animal Shelter Veterinary Medical Director to lead our veterinary services program and shape the future of one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier municipal animal service organizations.

The role requires leadership of shelter medicine, high‑volume spay/neuter activity, and strategic collaboration with internal teams and external partners to advance animal welfare and public service excellence.

Qualifications

• Lead veterinary clinic operations and shelter medicine programs.
• Supervise veterinarians, licensed techs, and clinic volunteers.
• Establish strategic goals, policies, and performance measures.
• Oversee surgery, diagnostics, vaccination, disease prevention, and humane euthanasia.
• Lead infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
• Manage foster medical programs and population health.
• Develop and manage clinic budgets, grants, contracts, and controlled substance inventory.
• Partner with welfare organizations, veterinarians, universities, and community groups.
• Participate in labor relations and leadership initiatives.
• Promote Lean, continuous improvement, and evidence-based decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead all veterinary clinic operations, shelter medicine programs, and medical staff.
• Supervise veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and clinic volunteers.
• Establish strategic goals, policies, and performance measures.
• Oversee surgery, diagnostics, treatment, vaccination, disease prevention, and euthanasia.
• Lead infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
• Manage foster medical programs and animal population health.
• Develop and manage clinic budgets, grants, contracts, and controlled substance inventory.
• Partner with animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, universities, and community organizations.
• Participate in labor relations, organizational planning, and leadership initiatives.
• Promote Lean continuous improvement, innovation, employee engagement, and evidence-based decision making.

Skills

Collaborative leadership

Shelter medicine

Population management

Timely decision‑making

Coaching & development

Partnership building

Data‑driven

Customer service & equity

Education

DVM or equivalent

Washington license or ability to obtain

DEA registration or ability to obtain

Tools

Chameleon software

Job description

Summary

Are you a visionary shelter medicine leader committed to advancing animal welfare, public service, and organizational excellence? Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is seeking an experienced Animal Shelter Veterinary Medical Director to lead our veterinary services program and help shape the future of one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier municipal animal service organizations.

About RASKC

RASKC provides animal sheltering, animal control services, pet licensing, adoptions, foster care, and community programs for 25 cities and unincorporated King County. We are committed to protecting public health and safety while promoting the humane treatment of animals.

Job Duties

In order to be considered minimally qualified for this role, you must demonstrate knowledge, skill and ability to perform the following:

• Lead all veterinary clinic operations, shelter medicine programs, and medical staff.
• Supervise veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and clinic volunteers.
• Establish strategic goals, policies, and performance measures.
• Oversee surgery, diagnostics, treatment, vaccination, disease prevention, and humane euthanasia.
• Lead infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
• Manage foster medical programs and animal population health.
• Develop and manage clinic budgets, grants, contracts, and controlled substance inventory.
• Partner with animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, universities, and community organizations.
• Participate in labor relations, organizational planning, and leadership initiatives.
• Promote Lean continuous improvement, innovation, employee engagement, and evidence-based decision making.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• A collaborative and forward-thinking leader.
• Experienced in shelter medicine and population management.
• Comfortable making timely medical and operational decisions.
• Passionate about coaching and developing employees.
• Skilled at building partnerships and communicating with diverse stakeholders.
• Data-driven and committed to continuous improvement.
• Dedicated to exceptional customer service, equity, and animal welfare.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent.
• Unrestricted Washington veterinary license (or ability to obtain).
• DEA registration (or ability to obtain).
• Progressive supervisory or management experience in veterinary medicine.
• Experience performing high-volume, quality spay/neuter surgery and shelter medicine.

Preferred Qualifications

• Shelter medicine leadership.
• Budget development and management.
• Grant administration.
• Public sector or nonprofit leadership.
• Experience with Chameleon software.
• Lean or continuous improvement experience.

Why Join Us

• Lead a highly respected regional animal services program.
• Help open and shape a new animal shelter.
• Influence the future of shelter medicine in King County.
• Work alongside a collaborative leadership team committed to innovation, employee development, and exceptional service

Supplemental Information

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Benefits

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01

Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.

02

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff

• Required Question