Veterinarian - Local Animal Welfare Officer

Elanco; Fort Dodge (IA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Multiple relocation packages

8-week parental leave

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

Up to 6% 401K matching

Job summary

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is seeking a Local Animal Welfare Officer in Fort Dodge, IA. You will lead veterinary care for animals in R&D and Manufacturing & Quality, ensuring site compliance and supporting inspections.

As LAWO, you will help develop the site's animal welfare program, review SOPs, train staff, and contribute to accreditation efforts with AAALAC and USDA inspections. Relocation and relocation support may be available.

Qualifications

• DVM from an accredited institution.
• 3+ years in an animal welfare-regulated environment within Animal Health.
• Current US veterinary license with Iowa licensure eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide veterinary leadership and hands-on clinical care for animals in R&D and Manufacturing & Quality.
• Serve as Local Animal Welfare Officer (LAWO), ensuring site regulatory compliance and supporting inspections and AAALAC accreditation.
• Develop and implement the site's animal welfare program, review SOPs, and train personnel.

Skills

Veterinary leadership

Clinical skills

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you'll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights. Making animals' lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Local Animal Welfare Officer

As the Local Animal Welfare Officer, you will be a key member of the Fort Dodge site, serving as a site veterinarian for our Research & Development and Manufacturing & Quality teams. In this critical role, you will be responsible for providing excellent veterinary care, ensuring local compliance with all animal welfare regulations, and supporting our global Animal Welfare organization's mission through policy development and accreditation activities.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide veterinary leadership and hands‑on clinical care for animals in the Research & Development and Manufacturing & Quality departments, including herd/colony health monitoring and emergency treatments.
• Serve as the designated Local Animal Welfare Officer (LAWO), ensuring site compliance with all regulatory guidelines, leading USDA inspections, and supporting AAALAC accreditation visits.
• Drive the development and implementation of the site's animal welfare program, including creating and reviewing SOPs, training personnel on clinical and husbandry procedures, and providing guidance on best practices.
• Support the global Animal Welfare organization by leading and participating in projects related to policy development, programmatic improvements, internal inspections, and third-party accreditation efforts.
• Collaborate with site leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure robust biosecurity, biocontainment, and overall animal welfare program success, including participation in facility design and renovation projects.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications)

• Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from an accredited institution.
• Experience: A minimum of 3 years of experience in an animal welfare-regulated environment within the Animal Health industry, including direct experience with third-party animal welfare accreditation processes (e.g., AAALAC) and a strong understanding of pre-clinical and clinical models.
• Licensure: A current license to practice veterinary medicine in the United States and the ability to obtain licensure in the state of Iowa.
• Technical Skills: Strong field and laboratory clinical skills.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)

• Certifications: Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).
• Experience: Prior experience conducting facility audits and deep familiarity with USDA regulations, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching.
• Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, work independently, and navigate complex situations within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Communication Skills: Advanced verbal and written communication skills, with a particular strength in conflict management.

Additional Information

• Travel: 10-20%
• Location: Fort Dodge, IA - On-Site Work Environment

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:

• Multiple relocation packages
• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
• 8-week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Flexible work arrangements
• Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job-related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ CSR framework – all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet. Learn more at www.elanco.com.