Surgery Manager: Lead High-Impact Shelter Surgery

Cincinnati Animal CARE; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Growth and development opportunities

Job summary

Cincinnati Animal CARE is seeking a Surgery Manager to lead our high-volume surgery program and advance shelter medicine within a caring, mission-driven team. This role will supervise anesthesia and surgery staff, set goals, and develop staff through education while managing daily operations to ensure optimal patient care.

You will lead quality initiatives, coordinate with medical leadership, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement to expand lifesaving services for the

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of leadership experience in veterinary medicine or animal welfare.
• Minimum five years of veterinary clinical experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising teams.
• Experience managing workflow in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office and shelter software.
• Ability to analyze operational data and implement process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise surgery staff, anesthesia staff, surgery assistants, surgery coordinators, and volunteers.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, accountability, and performance evaluations.
• Develop staff through continuing education, cross-training, and leadership opportunities.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented team culture.
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and disciplinary processes.
• Develop future leaders within the surgery department.
• Oversee all daily surgical operations and workflow.
• Ensure efficient scheduling of veterinarians, staff, volunteers, and surgery cases.
• Coordinate daily surgery assignments based on patient needs and staffing.
• Maintain smooth patient flow from intake through recovery and discharge.
• Ensure animals receive timely surgical care to meet adoption, transport, medical, and behavioral goals.
• Assist clinically during surgery or anesthesia as operational needs require.
• Maintain the highest standards of anesthesia safety and patient care.
• Ensure compliance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures.
• Monitor anesthesia records and surgical documentation for accuracy.
• Lead quality assurance reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor surgical complication rates and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Promote Fear Free handling and low-stress patient care throughout the surgical process.
• Evaluate workflow and develop strategies to increase surgical efficiency.
• Lead initiatives to reduce surgical backlog.
• Develop new programs that expand access to lifesaving surgery.
• Collaborate with medical leadership to introduce progressive surgical techniques and best practices.
• Assist in developing departmental policies and SOPs.
• Oversee all surgical inventory, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while controlling costs.
• Coordinate servicing and maintenance of anesthesia machines, autoclaves, oxygen systems, and surgical equipment.
• Ensure controlled substance documentation complies with DEA and Ohio regulations.
• Oversee surgery scheduling and surgical records.
• Ensure anesthesia logs, invoices, medical records, and reporting are accurate.
• Complete monthly surgery reports and grant reporting requirements.
• Analyze surgery metrics and provide recommendations to medical leadership.
• Monitor departmental budgets and purchasing.
• Coordinate surgical services with rescue organizations, transport partners, community veterinarians, and TNR programs.
• Maintain strong communication with external veterinary partners.
• Support community access-to-care initiatives and surrender prevention programs.
• Ensure OSHA compliance within the surgery department.
• Maintain AAHA-inspired standards where applicable.
• Ensure proper sterilization and infection prevention protocols.
• Monitor compliance with controlled substance regulations.
• Ensure all surgery staff follow biosecurity and disease-control protocols.
• Lead with integrity and professionalism.
• Inspire a culture of accountability.
• Develop others through coaching and mentorship.
• Make timely, evidence-based decisions.
• Adapt quickly in a high-volume environment.
• Anticipate operational challenges before they occur.
• Communicate effectively across all departments.
• Maintain a calm and organized presence during high-stress situations.

Skills

Leadership

Veterinary medicine experience

Team supervision

Data analysis

Communication

Budget management

Education

RVT/LVT/CVT certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Shelter software

Job description

Cincinnati Animal CARE is seeking a Surgery Manager to lead our high-volume surgery program and advance shelter medicine within a caring, mission-driven team. This role will supervise anesthesia and surgery staff, set goals, and develop staff through education while managing daily operations to ensure optimal patient care.

You will lead quality initiatives, coordinate with medical leadership, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement to expand lifesaving services for the