Veterinarian - Part time

Colorado Veterinary Medical Association; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 98,000 - 123,000; Part time

Job summary

Colorado Veterinary Medical Association seeks a veterinary surgeon to lead shelter medical and surgical care for Aurora’s animal services. Responsibilities include examinations, treatments, spay/neuter, dentistry, euthanasia, and staff training within a busy shelter setting.

Candidate must have a Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine, a valid veterinary license, and three years in shelter medicine, with strong record-keeping and leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine
• At least three years of experience in shelter medicine
• Membership in a veterinary medical association or veterinary alliance
• Veterinary License with clean practice record
• Euthanasia Certification
• DEA license
• Driver's License

Responsibilities

• Serve as the division’s lead medical and surgical staff member
• Perform medical examinations and treatments on shelter animals
• Perform surgical procedures including spay/neuter, dentistry, and other surgeries
• Performs euthanasia and provide training and certification
• Maintain and manage medical records and pharmaceuticals

Skills

Surgical skills

Interpersonal skills

Animal handling

Customer service

Data entry

Shelter software usage

Education

Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine

Tools

Chameleon software

Job description

Salary to be commensurate with experience

The hiring range for this position is $70.89 - $88.61/hourly

This is classified as VHNE (Variable Hour Non-Benefit Employee), where the selected candidate will work less than 29 hours per week. This position does not provide medical benefits. This position earns sick leave in accordance with the Healthy Families and Workplace Act.

The deadline to submit applications is October 30, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT

Housing and Community Development Services consists of four divisions: Neighborhood Support, Animal Services, Housing and Community Development, and Community Engagement. The mission of the Housing and Community Development Department is to maintain community appearance and enhance the quality of life in Aurora’s neighborhoods. This is accomplished through a combination of community outreach, education, code enforcement, and numerous neighborhood improvement programs and services. The staff is dedicated to forming partnerships with neighborhoods, residents, and community groups to strengthen and enhance both the social fabric and physical aspects of Aurora neighborhoods.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the division’s lead medical and surgical staff member
• Perform medical examinations and treatments on shelter animals as requested
• Perform surgical procedures including but not limited to: spay/neuter, umbilical hernia repairs, dentistry, cherry eye repair, soft tissue damage, and orthopedic procedures/amputation as requested
• Performs euthanasia and provide training and certification of euthanasia to Animal Services staff
• Performs necropsies and decapitations as needed
• Provides examination, documentation, and expert testimony in cases of animal neglect or abuse when needed for Aurora Animal Services Division
• Provide oversight and direction to veterinary technicians and support staff
• Aids patrons and veterinarians with questions about shelter-related illness regarding animals adopted from the Aurora Animal Shelter
• Foster relationships with local veterinary clinics and local shelter veterinarians
• Provide medical training to division staff to include but not limited to rabies vaccination, other appropriate vaccinations, physical examinations, implanting animal microchips, treatments and contagion identification
• Represents the division, perform medical procedures at vaccination clinics and other shelter events
• Provide instruction to veterinary and/or veterinary technicians students on dentals, vaccinations, and various shelter medical treatments
• Maintain appropriate licensing and continuing education course requirements
• Contribute to the organization protocols, policies and procedures pertaining to shelter medicine, treatment and care of shelter animals
• Manage and maintain accurate medical records
• Responsible for ordering, logging and all record keeping for pharmaceuticals and prescription foods using the state-issued Colorado Veterinary License.
• Allow designated shelter staff to order legend pharmaceuticals, excluding Sodium Pentobarbital, using the contract veterinarian’s name and Colorado Veterinary License number
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education

• Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine

Experience

• At least three (3) years of experience in shelter medicine

Licenses and Certifications Required

• Membership in a veterinary medical association or veterinary alliance
• Veterinary License with clean practice record
• Euthanasia Certification
• DEA license
• Driver's License

Knowledge

• Current veterinary standards and practices, dog and cat breed characteristics
• Standard contagion practices in a shelter environment
• Possess an excellent understanding of animal behavior and uses positive reinforcement techniques to interact with shelter animals

Skills

• Strong surgical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Possess safe animal handling and restraint techniques
• Provide good customer service with strong interpersonal skills
• Skilled in Chameleon software or other shelter related software
• Skill in data entry of medical records and logging of controlled substances and medical treatments
• Motivation to always improve standard of care

Abilities

• Effectively communicate in writing
• Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
• Work well in fast-paced environment
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and citizens
• Handle difficult or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy
• Provide humane care and treatment for a variety of animals
• Pay high attention to detail
• Assist in daily surgical procedures
• Perform in a high pace and high stress environment
• Assist with performing euthanasia on a daily basis
• Operate a City vehicle

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel

When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands

• Heavy physical work requiring ability to lift and carry animals and/or objects weighing up to 100 pounds with or without assistance
• Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds with or without assistance
• Regular walking and standing
• Full range of body movements including pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, stooping/crouching, and climbing
• Foot/eye coordination to operate equipment and motor vehicle
• Vision to read reports, manuals, written materials, instruments, and gauges
• Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees, citizens and animals
• Work is subject to bodily injury when dealing with animals
• Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care
• Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation

Work Environment

• Works both indoors and outdoors in an animal shelter with exposure to dust, water, noise, vicious and/or sick animals, odors, cleaning chemicals, animal dander, feces and fumes
• Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments
• Subject to animal bites or scratches
• Work is often performed in high noise level areas necessary

Equipment Used

• Uses a variety of tools and equipment common to veterinary, kennel and cleaning operations
• Motor vehicle for transporting animals to off-site animal hospitals
• Uses a variety of hand tools and equipment common to animal control operations such as a snare, syringe for euthanasia, tranquilizer gun
• Wire cutters and shovel
• Uses two-way radio and telephone
• Personal computer with related software
• This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment