Lead Veterinarian

Lead Veterinarian -Position Overview

The Lead Veterinarian plays a pivotal role in advancing the Louisiana SPCA’s mission by providing expert leadership in veterinary care while delivering high-quality medical services to shelter animals, community animals, and our community clinic patients.

This position will be a practicing veterinarian, spending 50-75% of time in shelter and community clinic settings, and will report to the Director of Veterinary Services to uphold the vision of the organization.

The Lead Veterinarian ensures excellence in care, supports staff development, and contributes to strategic initiatives that enhance animal welfare and access to care. This role requires strong clinical skills, leadership abilities, and a passion for innovation in veterinary care.

Key Responsibilities

LMA

Partner with the Director of Veterinary Services and leadership team to establish and implement LASPCA’s goals, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and a sustainable financial model.

Leads, manages and mentors a team of veterinarians fostering a sense of collaboration, passion, and commitment to the LASPCA mission.

Provide leadership, oversight, and medical guidance on a wide variety of medical and surgical cases, developing and implementing incremental care plans when appropriate.

In partnership with Veterinary Services Business Manager, oversee scheduling of all veterinarians and relief veterinarians and workload management to ensure optimal efficiency in veterinary services.

Partner with local and national medical leaders to establish and maintain uniform standards of care for all patients and ensure consistency in approach across the organization.

Promote teamwork, high professional standards, and the continuing development of veterinary skills within the team.

Represent the organization publicly and advance LASPCA’s reputation as a leader in veterinary care by sharing our innovation and expertise at local and national meetings and conferences.

Empowers veterinarians to provide an incremental approach and spectrum of care in the delivery of community and shelter medical services.

Veterinary Care

Design, update, and implement medical protocols and standards of care, collaborating with the medical team to ensure consistent practices across all veterinary services.

Provide veterinary care across a wide spectrum, ranging from wellness and shelter care to more complex medical and surgical procedures, by overseeing all aspects of medical management.

Provide compassionate, quality preventive care to patients in underserved areas, overseeing all aspects of veterinary care during clinic days, including examinations, diagnostics, treatment recommendations, and the prescription of medications.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of shelter medicine, animal health protocols, surgical procedures, and best practices, and ensure these are consistently applied in daily operations.

Operational Effectiveness

• Collaborate with the Director of Veterinary Services and senior leadership team to create and manage the annual budget for the veterinary department.
• Assist in developing and maintaining KPIs to monitor and improve the efficiency of the department.

Critically analyze shelter and community clinic data and collaborate with staff to resolve open issues and improve overall operational performance.

Work closely with the Medical Manager and Veterinary Services Business Manager to ensure all medical needs are met effectively and efficiently.

• Manage pharmaceutical protocols ensuring alignenment with best practices.
• Seizes opportunities that present and are within the Clinic team’s capacity to deliver.

Client Relations and Community Outreach

Ensure exceptional client service by fostering a relationship-centered practice that promotes trust and satisfaction.

Coordinate regularly with medical leadership to ensure smooth patient care processes and address any concerns related to medical services.

Investigate and respond to medical concerns and complaints, and report findings, ensuring client and patient concerns are handled promptly and professionally.

Staff Development and Continuing Education

Attract, retain, and develop a diverse team of veterinarians, providing opportunities for growth and professional development.

Oversee and manage the internship and externship program, offering hands-on learning experiences for veterinary students, ensuring they receive quality mentorship and exposure to a wide range of medical and surgical cases.

Teach and train veterinarians and staff about their role in LASPCA’s commitment to improving access to care.

Facilitate regular training sessions and team meetings to educate and train staff on important updates in the medical field.

Conduct regular team meetings to ensure staff are updated on medical protocols, procedures, and shelter management updates.

Utilize LASPCA’s annual professional development programs to help veterinary team members create and achieve personal growth goals.

Qualifications

• DVM from an accredited veterinary medical school or equivalent.
• Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Louisiana, or ability to obtain license.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a full-time practicing veterinarian
• Demonstrated expertise in diagnosing and treating on a variety of medical cases.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and positive environment for staff while ensuring high standards of veterinary care.
• Experience with high-volume spay/neuter procedures and shelter medicine a plus.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working with MS Office and veterinary practice software.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Compassionate and client-focused with a strong desire to improve animal welfare.
• Proactive in embracing new challenges and supporting change.
• Skilled in balancing the demands of both clinical care and organizational leadership.

Compensation

Up to $150,000 annually

Benefits

Comprehensive Package Includes

• Employer-partial paid medical, short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 168 hours of PTO plus 11 paid holidays annually.
• 401(k) plan with up to 3% employer match.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness eligible employer.
• Hill’s Science Diet employee discount (including prescription diets).

Physical & Work Requirements

Able to lift 50+ lbs and perform physically demanding activities such as standing, bending, or restraining animals.

Must be comfortable working with industrial cleaners and in environments with animal allergens, high noise levels, and the potential for animal bites or scratches.