Job Description

WHO WE ARE

For over a century, Associated Humane Societies has provided compassionate care and shelter to animals in need. As the largest animal welfare organization in New Jersey, we are committed to expanding access to veterinary care for underserved communities. Our mission includes developing sustainable, high-quality, and accessible medical programs that improve both animal welfare and public health.

TALENT + CULTURE AT AHS

At AHS, we strive to create an environment where both people and animals feel safe, supported, and valued. We recognize that access to veterinary care is a critical equity issue and are committed to building programs that reduce barriers for underserved populations. Our team values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in a challenging but deeply rewarding field.

WHO WE NEED

AHS is seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and operationally driven veterinarian or veterinary leader to develop and implement a High-Volume High-Quality (HVHQ) surgical program serving low-income communities.

This individual will be responsible for designing, building, and operationalizing a scalable, efficient, and financially sustainable spay/neuter and surgical services program. The role will require expertise in shelter medicine, HVHQ workflows, anesthesia protocols, and program development, as well as the ability to translate clinical excellence into high-efficiency systems.

The Director will work closely with leadership to establish a program that maximizes access, safety, quality, and throughput, while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO DO

Program Development & Implementation

• Design and launch a HVHQ surgical program tailored to a low-income, high-need population.
• Develop operational workflows to support high-efficiency surgical throughput without compromising quality of care.
• Assess and optimize facility layout, equipment needs, and surgical flow (intake → prep → surgery → recovery → discharge).

Medical Protocol & SOP Development

• Develop and implement comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for:
  • Pre-operative assessment and patient selection
  • Anesthesia protocols (dogs, cats, kittens, puppies)
  • Intraoperative monitoring and surgical standards
  • Post-operative recovery and discharge criteria
  • Pain management and analgesia protocols
• Ensure protocols reflect current best practices in HVHQ and shelter medicine.
• Standardize care to ensure consistency, safety, and efficiency across providers and staff.

Operations & Capacity Planning

• Determine daily surgical capacity targets based on:
  • Staffing models
  • Facility constraints
  • Case complexity
• Develop scheduling systems to optimize:
  • Case flow
  • Staff utilization
  • Patient throughput

Financial Modeling & Program Sustainability

• Develop pricing models for low-income clients, including:
  • Pricing packages
  • Collaborate with leadership to ensure financial sustainability while maintaining accessibility.

Facility & Equipment Planning

• Identify and procure necessary:
  • Surgical equipment
  • Anesthesia machines and monitoring tools
  • Recovery and housing infrastructure
• Design workflow-optimized spaces for:
  • Intake and triage
  • Surgical prep
  • Operating suite
  • Post-operative recovery

Medical Planning

• Draft SOP frameworks for:
  • Pre-op intake & patient selection
  • Anesthesia protocols (species + age-based)
  • Surgical standards
  • Post-op recovery & discharge
  • Analgesia protocols

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Establish metrics to monitor:
  • Surgical outcomes
  • Infection rates
  • Complications
  • Implement continuous quality improvement processes.
• Ensure compliance with:
  • State veterinary regulations
  • DEA and controlled substance requirements
  • Animal welfare standards

Training & Team Development

• Train veterinary staff and technicians in:
  • HVHQ surgical techniques
  • Efficient anesthesia protocols
  • Patient safety and monitoring
• Foster a culture of:
  • Collaboration
  • Psychological safety
  • Continuous learning

Perform other duties as assigned by leadership

WHAT YOU NEED

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) from an accredited institution
• Valid veterinary license in New Jersey (or ability to obtain)
• 3–7+ years of experience in:
  • Shelter medicine OR
  • High-volume spay/neuter programs
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • HVHQ surgical protocols
• Anesthesia management across species and age groups
• Strong operational and organizational skills
• Experience developing SOPs and clinical protocols
• Ability to analyze workflow, efficiency, and capacity
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and departments
• Passion for increasing access to veterinary care

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience launching or managing a HVHQ clinic
• Experience in low-cost or nonprofit veterinary care models
• Background in program development or healthcare operations
• Experience with budgeting and financial modeling

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