BENEFITS: Paid time off (160 hours annually), paid sick leave, partial health insurance premium reimbursement, FMLA, four paid holidays, NMWC qualifies as a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, continuing education and professional organization membership dues, relocation expenses negotiable.
OVERTIME: For exempt employees Flex time is applied in lieu of overtime on an hour for hour basis per standard 40-hour work week.
Required Education:
DVM or equivalent
POSITION SUMMARY
As staff veterinarian with New Mexico Wildlife Center, you will be responsible for the health and well-being of the animals in our care, including captive Ambassador Animals and wildlife in rehabilitation. You will provide medical treatment to sick or injured animals, perform routine exams and preventative care, and contribute to the development of long-term health plans. You will also be responsible for maintaining accurate medical records and collaborating with other members of the staff. The ideal candidate will have a passion for animal welfare and a strong desire to learn and grow in their career. They will also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
The Staff Veterinarian is responsible for the medical and surgical care of approximately 800 animals annually as well as the care of 32 on-site captive Ambassador Animals. Assists with teaching and supervision of rehabilitation interns, veterinary students, and volunteer veterinarians, and works to advance the Center’s mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Animals and Care
Ensure animal medical care needs are met and treatments are being appropriately administered.
Maintain highest quality of care standards, refine species protocols, and oversee medical treatment plans.
Collaborate with rehabilitators and education staff to develop and carry out treatment plans and determine final disposition of animals undergoing care.
Keep accurate and detailed animal health records and oversee documentation of daily animal care; coordinate veterinary and diagnostic procedures.
Ensure that animals are being handled in a manner that maximizes human and animal safety and that staff/interns/volunteers are trained in and follow safety procedures.
Assist other hospital staff in the coordination, transport, and release of patients.
Teamwork
Keep Executive Director apprised (in a timely manner) of animal intakes, in-house patients and their status, animal care needs, quality of animal care, patient procedures, and hospital needs.
Assists with teaching and supervision of rehabilitation interns, veterinary students and volunteer veterinarians.
Maintain open communication, including attending staff meetings and hospital staff meetings.
Support Education Team in necessary medical treatments for Ambassador Animals.
Support Administrative Assistant and other staff in answering wildlife-related phone inquiries.
Administration
The position is responsible for the supervision and administration of the hospital's operation.
The Staff Veterinarian works to advance the Center’s mission and achieve established strategic goals and objectives.
Input of accurate medical records of patients in WRMD and EMRs of Ambassador Animals.
Maintain hospital inventory, order supplies in line with hospital budget.
Maintain and keep accurate records of controlled drug use and inventory.
Ensure proper working order of all medical equipment? anesthesia machine, X-ray equipment, microscope, autoclave, and other pieces of equipment, arrange repairs as needed.
Professionalism
Use all hospital equipment in an appropriate and safe manner, follow appropriate guidelines and protocols and obtain needed training. Equipment includes X-ray, diagnostic machines, centrifuge, anesthesia machines, etc.
Represent NMWC in a professional manner at all times.
Maintain professional contact with state veterinarians and follow up to date guidelines regarding biosecurity for infectious disease and public health concerns.
Secondary Responsibilities
Support or initiate rehabilitation research programs according to available time and interest of the staff veterinarian.
In collaboration with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager and Executive Director, assist with maintenance projects in hospital and on outdoor caging.
Participate in and assist with on and off-site special events.
Provide input into annual budget development related to the hospital.
Assist in the development and implementation of grants.
Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
A passion for NMWC’s mission and a keen interest in conservation.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree.
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination series required. Proof of vaccination or adequate titer will be required.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds safely.
Must be legally entitled to work in the USA.
Must be able to humanely perform euthanasia on a regular and routine basis as well as personally and professionally handle the emotional aspects of euthanasia.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to interact effectively with the public, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, veterinarians, and others.
Excellent organizational, detail, planning and time management skills.
Self-motivated, able to work independently with limited supervision and as a member of a team.
Ability to multi-task, manage multiple projects simultaneously and re-prioritize as needed.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Proactive approach in resolving problems with a positive outlook and can-do attitude.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and database management including WRMD.
Skills related to training, coaching, and mentoring personnel are highly desirable.
Must be able to work quickly, efficiently, and calmly under stressful conditions.
Professional Requirements, Required Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:
Current valid New Mexico Veterinary Medical License, or ability to obtain one.
National license to practice veterinary medicine in the United States (NAVLE)
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license for controlled substances, or ability to obtain one (will be reimbursed).
Valid New Mexico driver’s license or ability to obtain one.
Minimum 1-year experience in wildlife rehabilitation medicine. Strong preference will be given to those with experience in avian medicine and surgery.
New Mexico Wildlife Center’s mission is to connect people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation because a world with wildlife is a better world. Since 1986 NMWC has been fulfilling that mission through two areas of operation. The first is our wildlife hospital which admits 800-1,000 wild animal patients annually representing over 130 species. Our staff veterinarian and three professional wildlife rehabilitators work toward the goals of recovery, rehabilitation and release back into the wild. Common wildlife injuries our staff treat include impact with cars, windows and fences; poisonings; gunshot wounds; cat or dog attacks; and orphaning of young through a variety of habitat disturbances or human interference. An important part of our work is treating New Mexico’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). From 2006 through 2021 we cared for 700 animals representing 24 SGCN species.
The second is NMWC’s education program which provides conservation and wildlife education programming to the general public, K-12 schools and a wide array of community organizations. These programs are conducted at our facility, off-site at a variety of venues and virtually.... Assisting our education staff are over thirty non-releasable Ambassador Animals all of which are native species to New Mexico. Approximately 10,000 people annually visit the Center or otherwise take part in our education programming. Funding to support education programming and hospital operations comes almost exclusively from individual donations and non-governmental grants.
