Veterinarian - Part time

City of Aurora; United States; On-site; USD 98,000 - 122,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness center

Competitive total compensation package

Career advancement programs

Job summary

The City of Aurora seeks an experienced shelter veterinarian to lead medical care for shelter animals. You will perform surgeries, examinations, and treatments, and ensure high standards of care are maintained.

You will oversee veterinary staff, maintain medical records, and contribute to program development while working in a fast-paced public shelter environment.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine is required.
• At least 3 years of experience in shelter medicine.
• Veterinary license with clean practice record and DEA license.

Responsibilities

• Lead medical and surgical care for shelter animals.
• Perform surgeries including spay/neuter and dental procedures.
• Maintain accurate medical records and administer euthanasia when required.
• Provide training and oversight to veterinary staff and technicians.

Skills

Surgical skills

Interpersonal skills

Medical records data entry

Case triage

Veterinary communication

Team leadership

Education

Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine

Tools

Chameleon software

Job description

JOB LOCATION 15750 E 32nd Ave Aurora, Colorado 80011-1518 City of Aurora, Colorado It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees.

Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs
• Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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.

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.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

• 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
• 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.

FURLOUGH DAYS

• January 16
• April 10
• July 2
• December 24

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others. Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.

Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity Respect Professionalism Customer Service And we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora? Rewarding public sector work impacting a large and diverse community Growing city and employee population Competitive total compensation package Rich benefits package with low employee costs Generous paid leave program 100% funded Employee and Family Care Leave Program Retirement pension plan and 457b plans available Subsidized recreation center pass, on-site fitness centers and wellness programs Continued education and career advancement opportunities Learn more about city of Aurora benefits.

NOTICE REGARDING AUTOMATED PROCESSING AND FRAUD PREVENTION

As part of our recruiting and application security processes, we may use automated tools and technologies to help detect fraudulent activity, protect applicant accounts, and support the administration of employment applications. These tools may collect and process information associated with your application activity, including: Number of job requisitions applied to External application session duration Geolocation country code IP address Device/browser fingerprinting information (including JA4 fingerprint data) This information may be used by Workday’s Fraudulent Job Application Prevention capabilities to generate an application risk or fraud assessment score. These tools are designed to support application security, fraud prevention, and recruiting operations and may be considered during the processing or review of applications. Meaningful human review remains part of our hiring and recruiting process. For additional information regarding our processing of applicant information, please review our Privacy Notice or contact [e-mail].

BENEFITS

• Rich benefits package with low employee costs
• Generous paid leave program
• 100% funded Employee and Family Care Leave Program
• Retirement pension plan and 457b plans available
• Subsidized recreation center pass, on-site fitness centers and wellness programs
• Continued education and career advancement opportunities