Veterinarian - Part-Time – Extra Help (Open) - County of San Mateo

Are you passionate about serving and making a difference in the community? Are you looking to join a progressive and committed veterinarian program? If the answer is yes, please join us!
 
San Mateo County Health's Public Health Policy & Planning (PHPP) Division has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Veterinarian to work in Animal Control and Licensing as a member of the team.
 
The current vacancy is extra help part time 20-hours per week in the Public Health, Policy and Planning Division. The position is stationed in San Mateo, CA, but will travel/drive throughout the County to perform duties of the position.
 
Scheduling is flexible. Daily reporting hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department. Evening and weekend work may be required based on the needs of the organization. This position is a hybrid of remote work as well as field-based at clinics.



 
The Veterinary Wellness Program provides veterinary services to the pets of the unhoused, those in transitional housing, and very low-income San Mateo County residents who are receiving services from San Mateo County. This position works with San Mateo County Health and cross collaborates with other programs within the County. Technical expertise, as well as knowledge of veterinary public health practices, are preferred.
 
San Mateo County is unique in that most of our homeless shelters allow residents to bring their pets with them, not just an emotional support or service animal. One of the barriers for homeless people to get into a shelter with their pets is that their pet must be current on their vaccinations. Within 10 days of a new resident moving into a shelter with a pet, the County veterinarian will meet with the owner and their pet to provide a general exam, the necessary vaccinations and flea control. This position will visit various sites throughout the County on a regular basis, providing vaccines, flea control, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and general exams. In addition, the Veterinarian will travel to various homeless encampments to provide these services and to offer and encourage spaying and neutering of the pets.
 
When pets need additional care, this position will coordinate with local veterinary clinics we contract with for services. These contracts allow us to provide spay and neuter services, dental services, and many other procedures that the pet owner would not otherwise be able to afford. These vital veterinary services keep pets from being relinquished to animal shelters and provides peace of mind for the pet owner. In addition, our veterinary program partners with our Street Medicine Program to provide health care services to the pet owners, which advances San Mateo County’s One Health Concept.
 
This Veterinarian position will be providing technical/subject matter expertise on issues relating to the spread of zoonotic, epizootic, and exotic diseases, as well as consulting on cases of rabies in domestic and wild animals. The position will also act as a liaison between the veterinary community, Veterinary Public Health, California Department of Public Health, and residents of the County.
 
Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide lead direction to staff responsible for following prescribed treatment and maintaining treatment records for animals treated.
• Ensure that the highest level of service and care are provided and that changes in animals’ conditions are recorded and properly addressed.
• Examine and evaluate animals, and perform veterinary medical treatments, including vaccinations and preventative treatment as appropriate. 
• Coordinate with local veterinarians and clinic/shelter professionals to arrange spay and neuter surgeries and medical procedures.
• Arrange for care at a contracted veterinary hospital for severely injured, sick or diseased animals and provides full orders for care.
• Establishes and maintains medical records and drug use logs to standards of veterinary practices.
• Ensure that records are in order and complete and prepare written reports as needed; ensures that all State and Federal laws, regulations, accepted standards, are adhered to. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of shelter animal health protocols, surgical procedures, and companion animal health issues.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with the staff, community, local veterinarians, State Veterinarian. 
• Assist in the monitoring of inventory and ordering of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
• Serve as technical/subject matter expert to answer questions from the County Health Officer, medical community and the general public regarding issues related to/involving animals—including but not limited to researching, recommending, implementing and/or maintaining measures to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases, epizootic diseases, exotic diseases and disease outbreaks. 
• Serve as a consultant in suspect cases of rabies in domestic and wild animals as well as complex issues deriving from animal bites.
• Review pertinent legislation, regulations, and policies to provide recommendations, especially with regards to vaccination of domestic animals, rabies vaccine exemptions, quarantine/euthanasia of animals exposed to rabies.
• Disseminate relevant information to the local veterinary community as well as to residents of the county. 
• Assist with emergencies and disaster services.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

 
Ideal candidate will possess:
•       Experience working one – two years as a Veterinarian.

• Experience in diagnosing and treating disease, illness, and injuries of dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals. 
• Ability to test animals for disease and administer vaccines.
• Ability to evaluate condition and coordinate maintenance of equipment and supplies.
• Ability to help ensure the safe storage, access, and use of medications.
• Ability to develop and provide guidance on sanitary protocols, feeding, preventative medicine, and general care to promote the health of all animals.
• Ability to research and prepare medical reports for guidance of management upon request.
• Ability to write grant proposals for funding.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and residents of the community.
• Attend meetings and other meetings as requested or required.
• Obtain continuing education as required and be committed to staying up-to-date technically with industry best practices and applying learned knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with partner and contract providers.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Extra-help hours are dependent on the business needs of the department and therefore work hours may vary from week to week. Extra help employees shall not exceed 1,040 hours of work per fiscal year. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.