Veterinarian

Pima County; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Flexible schedules

Professional advancement

Job summary

Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, AZ is seeking a qualified Veterinarian to join our team. The role focuses on shelter medicine, high‑volume spay/neuter, infectious disease protocols, and compassionate care for underserved animals.

You will work closely with staff across departments, participate in training, and ensure adherence to laws and DEA licensing. This is a full‑time position with competitive benefits and opportunities for professional advancement.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine with a doctoral degree (DVM or VDM).
• Preferred: shelter experience and leadership skills; bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Performs daily observations and examinations of animals.
• Provides veterinary services, diagnoses health issues, prescribes therapy, and performs euthanasia as needed.
• Assess impounded/found animals for rabies, notify authorities as required.
• Performs high‑volume spay/neuter surgeries and related procedures.
• Communicates with staff, volunteers, fosters and adopters to support informed decisions.

Skills

Shelter experience

Bilingual English/Spanish

Leadership experience

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Job description

Job Description Summary

Pima Animal Care Center is seeking a skilled Veterinarian who wants to join our team and make a difference in the lives of thousands of pets and families in Pima County. As the only open‑admission shelter in the county, every day is guaranteed to offer unique and collaborative opportunities to treat pets with varying conditions. Shelter medicine is the ultimate pathway to making a local and national impact in animal welfare through high‑quality, high‑volume spay‑/neuter, infectious disease protocols, and caring for animals who may be neglected and underserved.

Essential Functions

• Performs daily observations and examinations of animals under the care of Pima Animal Care Center.
• Provides the requisite veterinary services necessary to diagnose animal health‑related matters, develops appropriate therapy/treatment regimens, administers veterinary first aid, and performs medical and behavioral euthanasia as deemed necessary for shelter animals.
• Examines and assesses impounded and found animals that have bitten humans for symptoms of rabies, documents the identification of rabies, and ensures proper notification of local/state health agencies and individuals who have been in contact with rabies‑infected animals.
• Performs high‑volume spay and neuter surgeries and other medically necessary procedures to support shelter animal welfare, including dental extractions, enucleations, soft‑tissue and orthopedic surgeries as experience allows.
• Fosters clear and consistent communication across departments and with shelter staff, volunteers, fosters and adopters to support informed decision‑making regarding animal health and medical care needs.
• Assists in the training of staff on proper surgical procedures, animal evaluation and monitoring for pre‑/intra‑/post‑surgical signs and symptoms; on preparation of sterile surgery packs; and on maintenance of sterile surgical fields.
• Assists in the control, security, record keeping and use of controlled drugs by staff, ensuring conformance with federal, state and local laws and regulations and maintaining DEA licenses and permits.
• Informs, advises and trains staff on animal care topics including diagnosis, therapy, prevention, first aid and disease control measures in a shelter environment.
• Trains and advises staff on principles of restraint, chemical capture and the detection, identification and disposition of animal welfare/cruelty cases.
• Participates and offers input into intra‑shelter strategies related to control of infectious diseases within the shelter population.
• Performs comprehensive cruelty workups and serves as a veterinary expert witness in court proceedings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine with a doctoral degree (DVM or VDM) at the time of appointment.
• Qualified education and experience must be clearly documented in the application sections of Education and Work Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum one (1) year experience working or volunteering in an animal shelter.
• Minimum one (1) year experience working with high‑volume, high‑quality spay/neuter procedures.
• Leadership experience in any field.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Licenses and Certificates

• Valid driver license required at time of application; valid Arizona driver license required at time of appointment.
• Current Arizona license to practice veterinary medicine.
• Current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license for prescription and administration of controlled substances.
• Submission to a 39‑month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review and potential background screening.

Special Notice Items

• County requires pre‑employment background checks; successful candidates will receive a post‑offer, pre‑employment background screening.
• Within nine months of appointment, employees must receive the full series of pre‑exposure rabies immunizations.
• Physical/sensory and TB screening required post‑job offer.
• Post‑job offer physical and/or drug screen required.

Physical / Sensory Requirements

• Action Activity: bending, crawling, kneeling, reaching, squatting, stooping.
• Motion Activity: grasping.
• Hearing Activity: in noisy areas, on a radio, behind themselves and equipment alarms.
• Speaking Activity: in person, on a phone, on a radio.
• Vision: operate motor vehicle, distinguish colors, depth perception, peripheral vision.
• Frequently required to lift 50 pounds; push or pull objects weighing up to 100 pounds.

Working Conditions

Working conditions will be determined by the position.

Benefits

Employees enjoy competitive salaries, generous health insurance coverage, and retirement plans. Flexible work schedules, a generous family leave policy, wellness programs and opportunities for professional advancement are also provided.

EEO Information

Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Pima County is committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest or any other characteristic protected by law.