Description:
For more than a century, Humane Colorado has been a trusted leader in animal welfare, serving the Denver community since 1910. Today, that legacy continues through innovative, high impact veterinary care that reaches the animals who need it most.
As a Relief Veterinarian, you will provide flexible, mission driven veterinary support across our organization while practicing beyond the boundaries of traditional clinics. From high quality, high volume surgery to treating complex medical and cruelty cases, your work directly shapes outcomes for vulnerable pets across Colorado. Your expertise will help support both shelter medicine and community veterinary services, ensuring animals continue receiving exceptional care when teams need additional support.
This opportunity offers meaningful clinical variety and the ability to make an immediate impact through short term or as needed coverage. You will collaborate closely with veterinary, shelter, and investigative teams while contributing to a compassionate and highly mission focused environment.
Few relief opportunities offer this level of purpose, flexibility, and impact. Here, you will be part of a mission that has served the Denver community for over a century and continues to evolve to meet today’s most urgent challenges in animal welfare.
If you are looking for flexible veterinary work that is deeply meaningful, this is where your expertise can make a lasting difference.
Responsibilities
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Provide outstanding veterinary care to homeless and owned pets, including physical exams, diagnostics, treatment plans, shelter and owner requested euthanasia, and necropsies.
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Perform surgical procedures on a regular basis including HQ/HV spay/neuter, dentistry, and various soft tissue and possibly orthopedic procedures.
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Lead the management of cases, advocating for the best outcome for individual animals within Humane Colorado’s scope of care.
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Practice incremental medicine, using critical thinking and decision-making skills within the Humane Colorado’s scope of care.
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Participate in euthanasia and euthanasia decision making through a compassionate, thoughtful approach within the shelter and with patrons seeking end of life services for their pet.
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Effectively and compassionately communicate with owners of pets and the community.
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Partner with other departments to effectively and efficiently coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease animals.
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Contribute to and support a culture of learning generally, and specifically for colleagues, veterinary interns and externs, and veterinary support staff.
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Work with investigations staff regarding the evaluation, documentation, and testimony about the condition of animals involved in cruelty and neglect cases, including testifying if needed.
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Consult and provide assistance to patrons and external veterinarians regarding animals cared for by Humane Colorado.
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Assist with delivering organizational specific training programs regarding veterinary care as requested.
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Contribute to and help maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork within Veterinary Services and across the Organization.
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Contribute to initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
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Manage and maintain accurate medical and surgical records.
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Remain current on trends in veterinary medicine, and in shelter medicine in particular.
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Work, when requested, with Humane Colorado's Community Veterinary Services team, providing urgent care services for owned pets, HQ/HV spay/neuter services and vaccination clinics.
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Assume periodic overnight on call responsibilities for shelter and foster animals, by phone, in support of overnight staff.
People Care
People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and Humane Colorado business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.
Competencies
Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.
Organizational Key Competencies
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Integrity and Ethics
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Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
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Customer and Community Focus
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Emotional Intelligence
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Excellence
Position Key Competencies
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Analytical Thinking
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Critical Thinking
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Team Player
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Conflict Management
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Community Partnerships
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Strong Leadership
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Fiscal Responsibility
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Innovation
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Strategic Thinking
Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
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Interns
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Externs
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Volunteers
Travel
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This position requires travel to our satellite shelters.
Relief Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.
Compensation: $52.88 - $60.00 per hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity). Veterinarians in a relief employment status also receive a shift differential of $20.00 per hour.
Work Conditions and Physical Requirements
Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation.
Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.
Requirements:
Position Qualifications
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
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Strong interpersonal communication skills
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High emotional intelligence
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Ability to effectively communicate in writing
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Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
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Ability to work well within a fast-paced environment
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High attention to detail
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
Required
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Education: Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine.
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Work Experience: Experience practicing veterinary medicine in a full service or shelter environment.
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Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License. If driving a Humane Colorado vehicle, valid driver’s license and insurable driving record are required.
Desired
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Shelter medicine experience
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Skilled HQ/HV spay/neuter surgeon
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Proficiency with Chameleon
