Shelter Veterinarian

Heartland Animal Shelter; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

At-cost veterinary services

License reimbursement

Job summary

Heartland Animal Shelter in Chicagoland is seeking a Veterinarian to lead the small medical team and establish HQHV surgical practices in shelter medicine. You will supervise examinations, treatment, and policy development, collaborating with staff, volunteers, and contract vets to ensure humane and high-quality care.

This role offers a flexible schedule, potential after-hours work, and opportunities to shape shelter medicine programs with a focus on animal welfare.

Qualifications

• Current Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and licensed to practice in IL (or willingness to get IL license ASAP).
• Solid veterinary medical foundation and knowledge of shelter medicine principles.
• Attain and uphold a DEA license at Heartland’s expense within 30 days of employment.
• Proficiency in HQHV spay/neuter techniques or eagerness to learn.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead the medical team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and practice high quality shelter medicine and surgery.
• Perform veterinary medical functions including examinations and treatment of shelter animals.
• Manage a varied in‑house and foster‑based patient caseload and perform spay/neuter surgeries.
• Develop, implement and monitor veterinary medical programs in a shelter environment.
• Stay up to date on best practices in shelter medicine and HQHV surgery.
• Maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork among the entire team.
• Coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease and affected animals with clinic and shelter management.
• Assist in development and review of SOPs and train staff/ volunteers.

Skills

Shelter medicine

HQHV surgery

Leadership

Communication

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Illinois veterinary license eligible

Tools

Shelterluv

Google Workspace

Job description

Heartland Animal Shelter (Heartland) is dedicated to helping dogs and cats in need by providing sheltering, placement, and prevention services to reduce animal homelessness and unnecessary euthanasia. As an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Heartland has been helping people and animals in Chicagoland and beyond since 2002. It all started with Dr. Herbert Preiser, DVM and founder of Heartland Animal Shelter. Dr. Preiser wanted to make a difference by saving the lives of unwanted cats and dogs who might not otherwise be given a chance to find a home. From there, Heartland’s reach grew as the organization developed strategic partnerships with local, regional and national organizations. Today, Heartland’s primary focus is saving animals who are most at risk of euthanasia at open-admission shelters. Even while rescuing some of the most vulnerable populations of animals such as these, we have continued to achieve an exceptional 96+% live release rate for more than 1,000+ dogs and cats annually

This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a dedicated and results-oriented team who values collaboration, open communication and a positive workplace culture. We do our best to leverage each other’s strengths and strive to create opportunities for the work to be fun, rewarding, and to meet our individual and collective organizational goals. We take our mission of providing excellent and life‑saving care to the most vulnerable dogs and cats seriously. We envision a humane community where pets and people thrive together in Chicagoland and beyond, and we’re dedicated to making that vision a reality. Are you an energetic and experienced veterinarian with a passion for helping shelter animals? Do you thrive in collaboration and get excited by program and capacity‑building? If your answer is YES, we invite you to apply to be our Veterinarian!

Qualifications And Duties

The Shelter Veterinarian will direct the small medical team to establish best practices in shelter medicine and High Quality, High Volume (HQHV) surgical practices. Working in collaboration with our senior staff, establishes appropriate veterinary policies for all shelter operations. Adheres to the highest ethical standards and ensures that veterinary care is provided in a safe, competent, professional, and humane manner. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the shelter medicine program, including herd management and HQHV spay/neuter. This role requires collaboration and teamwork with two veterinary assistants, contract relief veterinarians, staff and volunteers. Interacting with the public is also required on occasion.

Responsibilities

• Lead and practice high quality shelter medicine and surgery
• Perform veterinary medical functions including examinations and treatment of shelter animals
• Manage a varied in‑house and foster‑based patient caseload and perform an array of non‑spay/neuter surgeries, including soft tissue, dental and orthopedic procedures
• Develop, implement and monitor veterinary medical programs that achieve and maintain the highest standard of animal and veterinary care in a shelter environment
• Stay up to date on best practices in shelter medicine and HQHV surgery
• Maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork among the entire team
• Work with the med team and other departments to effectively and efficiently coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease and affected animals
• Work with the clinic and other shelter management on animal pathway planning
• Supervise the use, control and recording of controlled drugs used in accordance with federal, state and Heartland regulations and procedures
• Triage all incoming medical cases as needed
• Participate in euthanasia decision making
• Train and certify staff to perform euthanasia procedures
• Assist in the development and review of SOPs and ensure they are updated and practiced with staff and volunteers
• Participate in inter‑department meetings and discussions to support and develop Heartland initiatives as needed.
• Commit to ongoing education on veterinary medicine and animal welfare
• Remain abreast of veterinary and shelter medicine scientific literature and best practices.
• Assist with grant and funding applications in relation to veterinary and/or shelter medicine.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and licensed to practice in IL (or willingness to get IL license ASAP)
• Solid veterinary medical foundation and knowledge of shelter medicine principles
• Attain and uphold a DEA license at Heartland’s expense within 30 days of employment
• Passion for providing access to care for animals and making a difference in the community
• Flexibility in learning new techniques and skills to meet the growing shelter needs
• Proficiency in high quality, high volume spay/neuter techniques (or eagerness to learn)
• Must be able to (or desire to work toward) performing at least 20 spay/neuter surgeries per day, including pediatric spays/neuters, abdominal/inguinal cryptorchid castrations, and non‑routine spays
• Patients are a mix of shelter and foster cats and dogs
• Proficiency and/or desire to learn dental and oral surgery
• Willingness and ability to work in close quarters in a shelter clinic setting
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to support and lead the medical team is a must
• Location: Residence in Chicagoland (or willingness to relocate)
• Computer skills: Proficient with Shelterluv and Google Workplace Suite (or willingness to learn) and digital record keeping
• The Shelter Veterinarian reports to the Executive Director and will work closely with the Shelter Operations Manager

Expectations

Willingness to answer questions via text/call/email (based on vet preference) during shelter business hours

Would consider coming to shelter for true emergency situations.

HAS understands the Veterinarian will likely have many commitments and we are willing to provide a flexible work schedule

Hours

At this time we believe we can make either a full‑time or a part‑time position work depending on the skills and experience of the applicant, so we are open to interviewing qualified candidates for either arrangement. A full‑time (40 hours a week) position will be a salaried position. A part‑time position can be negotiated and will be an hourly position. Both part‑time and full‑time options require fielding phone calls after hours and may include weekends, nights and holiday work.

Compensation

The salary range is $110,000-$130,000. Starting salary is dependent upon experience. Benefits are offered to full‑time positions and include paid time off, health insurance, and at‑cost veterinary services.

Full‑time positions receive paid IL veterinary licensure, continuing education support and annual membership to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.