Chief Veterinarian

Riverside County is seeking a dedicated Chief Veterinarian to join the Department of Animal Services (DAS). This pivotal role involves overseeing a team of 50 veterinary professionals in the Veterinary Services Team, which delivers crucial services such as spay and neuter surgeries, shelter medicine, and public pet wellness programs. Additionally, the Team plays a vital role in public health by managing animal bite reporting, prevention, and disease surveillance.

The Chief Veterinarian is responsible for ensuring the comprehensive health and well-being of shelter animals in County facilities through expert medical oversight, surgical care, and effective leadership of veterinary operations. This includes performing and overseeing spay and neuter surgeries, diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions affecting shelter animals, and providing oversight for anesthesia and medication administration. The Chief Veterinarian develops and implements medical protocols, treatment plans, and guidelines in accordance with best practices established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, ensuring consistent, high-quality care focused on disease prevention, treatment, and the promotion of animal welfare. This role collaborates with shelter directors and managers to maintain sanitary conditions, uphold animal welfare standards, and oversee humane euthanasia practices. The Chief Veterinarian manages the health and well-being of the animal population to increase adoptions, reduce unnecessary euthanasia, and minimize returns, while also providing medical supervision for the County's animal foster care program. As a key member of the department's management team, the Chief Veterinarian supervises and trains staff veterinarians, veterinary technicians, interns, and externs; collaborates with the clinic manager and shelter leadership to develop and deliver training programs for veterinary staff and euthanasia procedures; and manages medical inventory, equipment, and budgets. The position ensures compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing animal health, welfare, and the use of controlled substances, maintaining required veterinary premise permits, DEA licenses, and accurate drug logs. The Chief Veterinarian assists in the investigation of animal cruelty cases and may serve as an expert witness in legal proceedings. Additionally, the position advises shelter management on medical programs and policies, liaises with diagnostic laboratories and other agencies, provides guidance to the public on animal health issues, represents the County at public meetings and inter-agency events, and responds to emergencies and natural disasters as required.

The Chief Veterinarian is also tasked with maintaining the DAS Premise Permit and DEA Licenses.

If you possess strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and a compassionate approach to animal welfare, we encourage you to join this dedicated team and make a meaningful impact in the community. Apply now to lead efforts in ensuring the health and well-being of our shelter animals and contribute to public health initiatives.

This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (6) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the Director of Animal Services.

This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311(B) of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

jfc : 29113100

• Manage, coordinate, supervise, and maintain veterinary medical facilities and services at all Department of Animal Services' shelters; consult with the Director of Animal Services in developing, implementing and evaluating County veterinary programs; create animal welfare, disease control and prevention training materials for the Department of Animal Services, and lead training exercises at all County facilities.
• Perform and / or oversee physical and postmortem examinations on a variety of animals to make diagnoses or pathological findings, and to determine and evaluate community health conditions; instruct, train and advise both staff and the public in the proper and humane care and treatment of pets and other animals.
• Administer and / or oversee anesthesia and / or other medication as needed; provide surgical and medical care for a variety of sick and injured animals; oversee the administration of immunizations on animals for purposes of disease control; coordinate with the State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and others for evaluation and recognition of possible biological threats.
• Supervise subordinates to ensure clinic and mobile unit work is effectively organized and operationally efficient; assign and review work of subordinate staff; respond to inquiries from the public and department employees relative to medical activities.
• Interpret for other departments, governmental agencies, public or private organizations and interested individuals the state and local laws, rules and regulations related to animal health and disease; oversee proper records management pertaining to medical activities.
• Respond to cruelty cases and instruct in the proper care and treatment of animals; represent the County as an expert witness during cruelty case legal proceedings.
• Serve in an official capacity as Director of Shelter Medicine and County Veterinarian; tactfully and diplomatically deal with sensitive political and community concerns under stressful circumstances; prepare and monitor the Veterinary Services Division budget; attend local, state and federal conferences as the County Veterinarian, taking the lead to ensure adherence to animal services policy; perform legislative analysis for possible implementation; prepare reports and compose correspondence.
• Oversee protocols pertaining to controlled substances, logs and medical records; develop new medical protocols and continue to evaluate and improve existing protocols.
• Perform surgeries; provide shelter animals with physical exams, vaccinations, treatment and diagnosis, and temporary relief for Veterinary Surgeons, as required.Education : Possession of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited U.S. college or university of veterinary medicine at the time of appointment is required.

Experience : A minimum of three years of performing veterinary medicine, which must have included shelter medicine, supervision of shelter staff and veterinary program responsibility.

Knowledge of : Principles and practices of current veterinary medicine; animal diseases and their prevention, control and eradication; current veterinary practices and techniques relating to the treatment of injured animals; County, state and federal animal health laws and regulations; animal regulation procedures and problems; County customer service objectives and strategies.

Ability to : Administer, oversee and coordinate Countywide animal medical and regulatory programs; provide surgical and medical services and care for a variety of well, sick and injured animals, including a high volume of spay and neutering operations; analyze critical medical and administrative situations and take effective action; provide state-of-the art, high quality animal medical services in the most efficient manner; evaluate program quality, cost and overall effectiveness to recommend and implement changes and improvements; hire, train, supervise, and evaluate subordinate veterinarians and technical personnel; use team-building skills to ensure that Veterinary Services staff maintains high morale and works well with other public and private organizations; establish effective working relationships with management, employees, employee representatives, and the public representing diverse cultures and backgrounds; treat County employees, representatives of outside agencies and members of the public with courtesy and respect in stressful and sensitive situations; assess the customer's immediate needs and ensure customer's receipt of needed services through personal service or referral; exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and / or recommendations; effectively communicate orally and in writing. Other Requirements

License : A valid license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

What's Next?

Open to All Applicants

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

For questions regarding this recruitment

Contact Danilo Lozano at DaLozano@rivco.org with any questions regarding this recruitment.