Staff Veterinarian

Kelly Services-Portugal; Muskegon (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mykelly in Muskegon, Michigan is seeking a Staff Veterinarian to provide clinical and preventive care for animals used in research studies, ensuring high welfare and adherence to regulatory standards. The role includes direct clinical responsibilities, surgical support, collaboration with veterinary technicians and study teams, and supervision of other staff.

Strong knowledge of GLPs, DEA registration, and regulatory compliance is essential.

Qualifications

• DVM degree from an accredited U.S. veterinary college or equivalent with U.S. equivalency.
• Active Michigan veterinary license and Michigan controlled-substance license.
• Ability to obtain DEA registration for controlled substances.
• Strong knowledge of anesthesia principles for laboratory animals.
• Experience with study design, research protocols, and laboratory animal clinical care.
• Experience with targeted-delivery surgical interventions in laboratory animals.
• Knowledge of GLPs and federal regulations governing lab animal care.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work under time constraints and respond to urgent animal-care needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn new software systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide preventive, routine, diagnostic, surgical, and emergency veterinary care throughout animals’ lifecycles.
• Assess clinical cases, diagnose, prescribe treatments, and perform interventions as needed.
• Develop treatment plans with veterinary technicians assisting with triage and delegated treatments.
• Conduct health examinations including physical, neurologic, and ophthalmic assessments.
• Support anesthesia, analgesia, surgery, necropsy, and related activities.
• Establish humane endpoints with study teams and IACUC.
• Mentor and train veterinary technicians and research personnel.
• Communicate health status and study protocols with directors and teams.
• Interpret diagnostic tests and imaging, including CNS MRI findings.
• Create and maintain SOPs and clinical documentation.
• Maintain medical and drug-use records per regulations and standards.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, AAALAC, OLAW, GLP, and other standards.
• Maintain veterinary licenses and regulatory credentials.
• Supervise and support development of direct reports if applicable.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Lab animal care experience

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Active Michigan veterinary license

Michigan controlled-substance license

Ability to obtain DEA Controlled Substances Registration

Tools

Surgical equipment management

Job description

Staff Veterinarian

Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Job Type: Full-time
Compensation: $140,000–$160,000 annually
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with rotating after-hours, weekend, and holiday on-call coverage

Position Overview

A research organization in Muskegon, Michigan, is seeking a Staff Veterinarian to provide clinical and preventive veterinary care for animals involved in research studies. This is a hands‑on role focused on animal welfare, clinical medicine, surgical support, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with veterinary technicians, research teams, study directors, the IACUC, and senior leadership.

The veterinarian will have primary clinical responsibility for one of two sites—large animal or a combination of small and large animal—based on experience and professional interests.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide preventive, routine, diagnostic, surgical, and emergency veterinary care throughout the animals’ lifecycles and research participation.
  
• Assess clinical cases, establish diagnoses, prescribe treatments, and perform surgical or other medical interventions as needed.
  
• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with veterinary technicians, who assist with triage and delegated treatments.
  
• Conduct and document physical, neurologic, ophthalmic, and study-specific health examinations.
  
• Support anesthesia, analgesia, surgery, necropsy, behavioral management, and other animal‑care activities.
  
• Establish and enforce humane endpoints in collaboration with study directors, research teams, the IACUC, and the Attending Veterinarian.
  
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and training to veterinary technicians and research personnel.
  
• Communicate with study directors and research teams regarding animal health, study protocols, and responsible research conduct.
  
• Interpret diagnostic testing, including magnetic resonance images of central nervous system structures.
  
• Create and maintain standard operating procedures and clinical documentation.
  
• Maintain accurate medical and drug-use records in accordance with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and internal requirements.
  
• Support compliance with USDA, AAALAC, OLAW, GLP, and other applicable animal‑welfare and research standards.
  
• Maintain required veterinary and controlled‑substance licenses.
  
• Supervise and support the development of direct reports, if applicable.

Animal Species

The primary species are nonhuman primates, with additional experience involving:

• Swine
  
• Sheep
  
• Canines
  
• Rabbits
  
• Rats
  
• Mice

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited U.S. veterinary medical college, or an equivalent degree with U.S. equivalency examination completed.
  
• Active Michigan veterinary license.
  
• Michigan controlled-substance license.
  
• Ability to obtain DEA Controlled Substance Registration.
  
• Strong knowledge of general anesthesia principles for laboratory animals.
  
• Experience with study design, research protocols, and laboratory animal clinical care.
  
• Experience with targeted-delivery surgical interventions in laboratory animal patients.
  
• Knowledge of GLPs and federal regulations governing the care and use of laboratory animals.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Ability to work effectively under time constraints and respond to urgent animal‑care needs.
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn additional software systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years of industry, contract research organization, or laboratory animal clinical medicine experience.
  
• USDA Category II accreditation.
  
• Board certification or eligibility in DACLAM, DACVS, DACVAA, DACAW, or a related specialty.
  
• Experience with nonhuman primates and/or large animal species.
  
• Previous experience training or guiding veterinary technicians and research staff.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position is approximately 30% office-based and 70% vivarium-based. The role involves exposure to animal pathogens, chemicals, animal tissue, and zonotic organisms. Personal protective equipment—including N95 masks and respirators—must be worn as required.