Veterinarian

Wildlife Conservation Society; New York (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildlife Conservation Society seeks a Veterinarian to provide high-quality medical and surgical care for animals at the Bronx Zoo and other NYC WCS sites. Based at the Wildlife Health Center, you will join a multi-veterinarian team delivering daily care to over 13,000 animals and offering support to free-ranging wildlife as needed.

The role demands a DVM/VMD/DMV, NYS license, USDA accreditation, and a flexible schedule, with opportunities for continuing education and professional involvement

Qualifications

• Must hold a veterinary degree (DVM, VMD, DMV, or equivalent) and NYS veterinary license.
• USDA accreditation (Category II) and a valid driver's license.
• Board certification or eligibility in ACZM or ECZM/ABVP desirable.
• Minimum 3 years full-time zoo veterinary experience.
• Completion of zoological medicine/residency preferred.
• Proficient reading/writing/communication in English.
• Flexible schedule including non-traditional hours, holidays, on-call, weekends/evenings.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Wildlife Health Center (WHC) and curatorial staff to provide medical, surgical, and preventive care to animals across NYC zoos and aquariums.
• Implement and maintain preventive medicine programs at the zoos.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely medical records.
• Assist with communications, scheduling and procedures related to animal shipments.
• Supervise and mentor clinical residents, students, volunteers, and interns.
• Update standard operating procedures and perform administrative duties as assigned.
• Represent WCS in conferences, workshops, and professional activities; support research and publications.

Skills

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

DVM/VMD/DMV or equivalent

New York State Veterinary License

USDA accreditation (Category II)

DEA registration eligibility

Job description

Job Description

Position: Veterinarian

Reports to: Director of Clinical Medicine

Positions Managed: Clinical residents, Students, and Interns

Location: Bronx Zoo; In-Person

Scope: Based at Bronx Zoo; Frequent multi-site work within NYC at other WCS Parks

Position Type: Full-time

Pay Range: $115,000 - $130,000

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world‑class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

Position Summary

The Veterinarian plays a pivotal role in providing high quality medical and surgical care to the animals in WCS Zoos and Aquarium. Based at the Bronx Zoo's Wildlife Health Center (WHC), this position joins the Clinical Department, a complex multi-veterinarian and multi-technician health care team. The team provides daily medical care for over 13,000 animals at the 4 WCS Zoos in NYC (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo) and supportive care to animals at the NY Aquarium as needed. It also provides veterinary assistance to free‑ranging wildlife as indicated by supervisors.

Principal Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the WHC and curatorial staff to provide excellent medical, surgical, and preventive medical care to the WCS animal collections at all four NYC-based zoos.
• Implement and maintain preventive medicine programs at the WCS zoos.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely medical records.
• Assist with communications, scheduling and veterinary procedures associated with animal shipments.
• Contribute to the supervision and mentoring of clinical residents, students, volunteers, and interns.
• Assist with maintaining and routinely updating standard operating procedures, and other administrative functions as assigned.
• As time and other responsibilities permit, represent WCS via participation in conferences, workshops, professional organizations, local and/or international projects and activities, research, and publications/ presentations.
• Fulfill continuing education and all other requirements for maintaining required licenses and registrations
• Perform related tasks and duties as required.
• Must be able to work effectively in a complex, multi-veterinarian, multi-technician health care setting.
• Must be able to work effectively as part of a collaborative team that interacts closely with other departments, including Administration, Animal Care, and Facilities teams.
• Be able to work effectively outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and physical environments to administer appropriate veterinary care to the animal collection.
• Ability to represent WCS in a professional manner in all activities and to provide a positive example to all staff.
• Assures safety of self, staff, animals, and guests through regular participation in safety training and activities; compliance with standard operating procedures; and proper operation and maintenance of equipment.
• Commitment to WCS’s mission and vision.

Qualification Requirements

• Must hold a veterinary degree (DVM, VMD, DMV, or equivalent); have, or be eligible for, a New York State Veterinary License, USDA accreditation (Category II, including cervid TB testing), and a valid Driver's License.
• Must understand and comply with federal and NYS DEA regulations and be eligible to hold a DEA registration.
• Board certification or eligibility in the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) or other relevant Veterinary College (ECZM, ABVP, etc.) is desirable.
• Minimum 3 years full time zoo veterinary experience.
• Completion of a zoological medicine and surgery, aquatic, avian, or wildlife residency preferred.
• Proficient in reading, writing, and effectively communicating in English with excellent written, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including working non-traditional hours, holidays, scheduled on‑call, emergency responses, and weekends or evenings as needed.

Physical Requirements

• This role requires frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and repetitive hand and wrist movements.
• Employees will frequently sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, and lift/carry up to 50 pounds.
• Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, with occasional exposure to inclement weather, noise, travel, driving, and independent work.
• The position requires constant collaboration and close interaction with others.

Workplace Conditions And Environment

• This position works with wild animals on a routine basis, and incurs risks associated with working with animals, including potential for traumatic injury and exposure to pathogens.
• This position must be available to be on-call and respond to emergency needs on a rotating regular schedule.
• This position must be available to work weekends, non-traditional hours, and holidays as assigned.
• This position must be able to work a flexible schedule.

Equal Employment Opportunity Disclaimer

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities.

Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.

Salary Range

$115,000 - $130,000