Veterinarian

Animal Care Centers of NYC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO: vacation, personal days, sick pay

Health, dental, vision insurance

401K and Pension

Life Insurance

PSLF loan forgiveness

Job summary

Animal Care Centers of NYC seeks a veterinarian to lead medical care for NYC shelter animals. You will guide population-based health programs, manage diverse cases, and collaborate with a large veterinary team in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires NYS veterinary licensure, USDA accreditation eligibility, strong surgical skills, and the ability to lift 50 lbs. It offers a nonprofit setting with comprehensive benefits and a team‑oriented culture.

Qualifications

• Licensure in NYS to practice veterinary medicine.
• USDA accreditation or eligibility.
• Strong surgical and diagnostic skills.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Work with VP Animal Health & Welfare to develop and update a shelter medical plan focused on population-based preventative care.
• Perform disease identification and surveillance with daily rounds and health monitoring.
• Triages and examines a variety of species in shelter and foster care.
• Stabilize and manage a variety of trauma cases.
• Manage varied surgical case-load with oversight of staff during pre, intra and perioperative periods.
• Issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection.
• Document cruelty cases with veterinary statements and expert witness testimony.
• Communicate with pet owners, foster parents and adopters when needed.
• Option to work in urgent access public-facing clinic.
• Collaborate with other departments to promote animal movement toward outcomes.
• Mentor teammates and participate in trainings.
• Assist in placement and euthanasia decisions.
• Attend strategy and department meetings and population rounds.
• Maintain complete medical records.
• Promote team unity by leading by example.

Skills

Surgical skills

Diagnostic skills

Physical strength

Education

Licensure in NYS to practice veterinary medicine

USDA accreditation or eligibility

Job description

Full Time, Flexible – Queens & Manhattan Shelter

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life‑saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

Animal Care Centers of NYC is on the prowl for a multi-tasking, big‑picture‑thinking, problem solving, puppy kissing, cat cuddling, Veterinarian with super‑hero medical and surgical skills to embrace the multitude of challenging cases facing our NYC homeless pet population. Must be a social butterfly, as every shelter animal has a person (likely whole departments) attached to the end of their leash. It takes a village to raise a shelter animal and put them on the path to success.

ACC NYC is one of the nation’s largest open‑admission animal shelters whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We are more than a shelter for unwanted animals, we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human‑animal bond intact. Our progressive lifesaving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals. We have a 90% placement rate.

The veterinary team plays an integral part in ensuring positive outcomes and the team requires a strong doctor to navigate challenges that arise every day. Our doctors are always one step ahead, using their critical thinking to anticipate problems and proactively provide solutions. With a 25,000 annual intake, the environment is fast paced and requires someone who can nimbly manage and field multiple things coming at them from multiple directions – and do it with a smile.

Under the guidance of the VP, Animal Health & Welfare, our doctors maintain standards of patient care that we continually try to advance every single day. At ACC we treat our colleagues with the same compassion as we do our animals. Therefore, a successful candidate inspires the team to want to come to work every day and shows them how they make a difference in the lives of every animal that enters through our doors. You motivate, collaborate, initiate, stimulate, communicate, appreciate, and sometimes commiserate with your team and colleagues. And you do doctor things… the variety of our case load pales in comparison to every day practice. You won't be bored, you will be stimulated, challenged and you will have a stellar support team to assist you in making sometimes difficult decisions. Ones you can live with.

Your input and perspective is encouraged in strategic development as the organizations evolves to meet the mission.

The animals that come through our doors have nowhere else to go, we serve the neediest of needy in NYC. This job will never be just another “day at the office”. You will go home each day, tired, dirty and challenged by what you see every day. It will be your best job ever.

Required Qualifications:

• Licensure in NYS to practice veterinary medicine.
• USDA accreditation or eligibility.
• Strong surgical and diagnostic skills.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid‑time‑off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on‑the‑job training for 2‑4 weeks, periodic all staff training to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax‑free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

*No contract or non‑compete clause*

Please use this link for more details on our benefits package.

Responsibilities:

• Working with the VP Animal Health & Welfare contribute to the process of continuous revision and execution of a shelter medical plan focused on population based preventative health care.
• Disease identification and surveillance, including daily rounds and health monitoring.
• Triage and examination of a variety of species both in the shelter and in foster care.
• Efficiently stabilize and manage a variety of trauma cases.
• Manage a varied surgical case‑load with oversight of support staff during pre, intra and perioperative period.
• Issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection.
• Recognition and documentation of cruelty cases, including preparation of veterinary statements and expert witness testimony.
• Prepare to liaise with pet owners, foster parents and adopters when needed.
• Option to work in urgent access public‑facing clinic.
• Work with all other departments to promote animals moving on the pathway to a successful outcome.
• Participate in team trainings as a mentor and a student.
• Assist in placement and euthanasia decisions.
• Attend strategy planning sessions, departmental meetings and population rounds.
• Maintain accurate and complete medical records.
• Promote unity and team cohesion through leading by example.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous clinical experience, particularly in shelters, preferred but not required.
• Equally good in dealing with animals AND people!
• Interest in and understanding of shelter medicine, epidemiology, and herd health.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Critical thinking and problem‑solving skills, able to multi‑task and prioritize.
• Dependable, reliable, and efficient.

At ACC it's all hands‑on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. Animal Care Centers houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.

ACC offers many low‑cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end‑of‑life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Reports To:

Sr.VP Animal Health & Welfare

Overtime: This position is exempt from overtime.