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Guidehouse
Bethesda, Maryland

Animal Facility Veterinarian

VeterinarianFull-Time

Listed compensation

$130k-$216k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Family

Scientist

Travel Required

None

Clearance Required

Ability to Obtain Public Trust

What You Will Do

We are looking for an Animal Facility Veterinarian to support NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VRC) research activities by providing veterinary care for laboratory animals, supporting animal welfare, participating in the VRC Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), and ensuring compliance with applicable animal care and use requirements. This is a full-time position located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Provide routine and emergency veterinary care for laboratory animals in the TRP vivarium, primarily mice and guinea pigs.

  • Conduct regular health assessments and preventive care programs for laboratory animals.
  • Serve as a voting member of the VRC ACUC.
  • Diagnoses and treat illnesses and injuries in laboratory animals.

Maintain accurate and complete medical records, including treatments, examinations, test results, surgeries, outcomes, facility database records, and records required by local and state laws.

Perform surgical procedures on facility animals as needed, including spay and neuter procedures, hernia repair, growth removal, and dental extractions.

  • Provide postoperative care for animals.
  • Perform euthanasia as necessary.
  • Develop and implement animal care protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Ensure compliance with relevant federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines governing animal care and use.
  • Provide training and guidance to research staff on proper animal handling, care, and use.
  • Review and evaluate animal use protocols to promote ethical and humane treatment of animals.
  • Assist with developing and implementing policies and procedures related to animal care and use.
  • Participate in small-animal and non-human-primate experiments as required by the Statement of Work.

Monitor experimental conditions and provide researchers with recommendations regarding appropriate animal care and treatment.

Prepare monthly reports summarizing veterinary services, including health assessments, treatments, and surgical procedures.

  • Document compliance with animal care protocols and regulatory standards daily.
  • Prepare monthly written evaluations and recommendations for animal-use protocols reviewed by the ACUC.
  • Attend and participate in scheduled ACUC meetings and inspections.
  • Develop training materials and maintain training records for research staff on animal care and use.
  • Meet with laboratory members on an ad hoc basis to present updates.

What You Will Need

DVM degree from an accredited institution.

Current license to practice veterinary medicine in a U.S. state.

  • Minimum of SIX (6) years of experience in laboratory animal medicine.
  • Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines governing animal care and use.
  • Proficiency working with small laboratory animals, specifically mice and guinea pigs.

Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including standing or walking for more than 25 of 30 minutes, repeated bending and kneeling, reaching above shoulder level, repetitive activities, and lifting or carrying less than 25 pounds.

Ability to work around high noise levels, machinery with moving parts, slippery or uneven surfaces and to use required personal protective equipment.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Federal or DoD “public trust”; candidates must receive approved adjudication prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an active public trust or suitability are preferred.

What Would Be Nice To Have

Board certification or eligibility in laboratory animal medicine through the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience using Microsoft Suite products.
  • Educational background or additional study in biology or zoology.

The annual salary range for this position is $130,000.00-$216,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits Include

  • Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
  • Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
  • Care.com annual membership

Employee Assistance Program

  • Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
  • Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse.

Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event.

Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.

Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

Key Responsibilities

The Animal Facility Veterinarian provides routine and emergency veterinary care for laboratory animals while ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations and institutional protocols. They also serve as a voting member of the Animal Care and Use Committee and provide training to research staff on proper animal handling.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a DVM degree from an accredited institution and possess a current license to practice veterinary medicine in a U.S. state. A minimum of six years of experience in laboratory animal medicine is required, along with the ability to obtain a public trust clearance.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Protocol developmentMedical record maintenanceSmall animal handlingACUC participationData managementRegulatory reporting

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$173k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $165k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 83% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Maryland?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$130k–$216kVeterinary Medicine median $133k (middle half $120k–$145k)15 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$165k in purchasing powerMaryland index 105.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Maryland50 active3,180 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 83% no call · 80% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusUS healthcare professional listings: 49% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 10% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings983 in the last 30 days518 the 30 days before (+90%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+1.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

12 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

7 jobs · 6 employers
1
$120k
3
$170k-220k
1
$220k
2
$304k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution

12 jobs · 6 employers
0
1-2
0
3-4
0
5-6
3
7-8
9
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Vetco Total Care Hospital Relief Veterinarian - Quincy, ILContract

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$135-$146/hr
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Senior Veterinarian

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+ 10 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 1.5
Below most Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,149 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
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About Guidehouse

Business Consulting and Services
McLean, Virginia
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account
Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Living in Bethesda

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.02M≈ 7.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,971/mo≈ 27% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.