Career Opportunity

Senior Shelter Veterinarian (2293) - Animal Care and Control

Recruitment: RTF0158341-01128090

Published: July 16, 2025

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Application Opening: July 16, 2025

Application Closing: Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Friday, August 1, 2025 and will close any time thereafter.

Compensation: Range from $80.6375 - $105.4125 hourly

The San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control (SFACC) is a taxpayer-funded, open-admission animal shelter. Since 1989, SFACC has provided housing, care, and medical treatment to wild, exotic and domestic stray, lost, abandoned, sick, injured, and surrendered animals. SFACC’s doors are open to all animals in need regardless of species, medical, or behavioral condition.

SFACC also enforces all state and local Animal Control and Welfare laws and is the lead agency for animals in natural disasters and citizen emergencies.

• SFACC shelters homeless, neglected, and abused animals and provides humane education and many other services to the community.
• SFACC is the local agency that investigates animal cruelty, enforces animal welfare laws, rescues injured and orphaned wildlife and birds, and aids domestic animals in distress.
• SFACC aims to adopt, re-home, or reunite domestic animals with their guardians and to release wildlife to their native habitat.

Role description

1. Directs, coordinates and performs the screening, diagnosis, and basic and emergency medical treatment of all impounded animals; develops a comprehensive program of health care services for the animal shelter, and establishes medical standards and procedures for the maintenance of healthy, safe and sanitary facilities.

2. Provides and participates in training for subordinate staff and other staff regarding ongoing cleaning and disinfecting of all equipment and areas of the animal shelter where animals are housed; assures that special medical dietary requirements are met and that proper, humane care is provided for all shelter animals.

3. Provides ongoing training for staff throughout the department to rapidly identify animals requiring isolation or veterinary care.

4. Develops a comprehensive disease prevention program for the animal shelter; supervises the visual monitoring on a daily basis of impounded animals, including those that may be isolated or quarantined, for signs of illness or unusual behavior; assures that problems are promptly reported; determines and directs appropriate action as required; serves as a consultant to Shelter Veterinarians on difficult and complex cases.

5. Provides the training of appropriate staff in administering first aid and vaccinations to animals, tranquilization, the performance of euthanasia by injection and other paramedical duties; performs euthanasia as required.

6. Advises staff and the public on matters within the veterinary medical field; participates in the inspection of animals used in fairs, parades and other events.

7. Provides professional assistance in the investigations of mistreatment or neglect of animals and occasionally testifies in court as the medical expert in the investigation of animal cruelty and neglect cases.

8. Assists with emergency and disaster response services.

9. Directs the ordering, maintenance and control of drugs, medical equipment, food and supplies used in the veterinary division; estimates veterinary requirements for the budget, and monitors expenditures.

How to qualify

Education:

Possession of a doctor’s degree in veterinary medicine from a college or university recognized by the California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine; AND

Experience:

Three (3) years of verifiable veterinary experience working in an animal shelter, kennel, or Veterinary Hospital Facility. This includes experience in soft tissue surgery with dogs and cats; examples include laceration repair, mass removal, enucleation, and particularly spay/neuter surgery; AND

License and Certification:

1. Requires a valid license issued by the California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine to practice as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; AND

2. Possession of a DEA license within six (6) months of appointment. Must maintain a valid DEA license while employed.

What else should I know?

Additional information

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Human Resources analyst, Jason Wong at jason.wong3@sfgov.org or call (415) 554-1722.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Mailed, hand delivered or faxed documents/applications will not be accepted.

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Qualified applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation in the selection process must contact the Agency by phone at (415) 554-6000 or, if hearing impaired at (415) 554-6015 (TTY).

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.