Description
The Chief Veterinarian serves as the senior clinical leader for a complex, high-volume animal welfare system spanning Pima County’s 9,200 square miles. This role directs the full veterinary operation within an open-admissions shelter environment, where compassionate, high-quality care must be delivered across a wide spectrum of medical and behavioral conditions.
Reporting to executive leadership, the Chief Veterinarian provides oversight and mentorship to a team of staff veterinarians, while partnering closely with a robust clinic support structure that includes a clinic operations manager, operations coordinator, surgery and triage supervisors, and veterinary technical staff. Together, this team supports an annual intake of approximately 19,000 animals, in addition to managing the medical care of roughly 1,200 animals in foster at any given time.
The veterinary program operates at significant scale and pace, performing an average of 40 spay/neuter surgeries daily while also responding to emergency intakes, including those generated by Animal Protection Services (APS). The Chief Veterinarian ensures clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and humane outcomes across all service areas, balancing population-level medicine with individualized care.
This position also plays a critical role in advancing animal welfare and public accountability, as APS impound cases frequently involve forensic medical evaluation and require expert veterinary testimony in court related to cruelty and neglect. The Chief Veterinarian must therefore bring not only strong clinical and leadership expertise, but also the ability to operate effectively at the intersection of medicine, law enforcement, and community service.
This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.
Essential Functions:
As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.
Directs all veterinary, pharmaceutical and clinical operations in the PACC facility;
Performs daily observations and examinations of impounded animals or directs other staff veterinarians or veterinary service providers to conduct such observations and examinations of impounded animals, including evaluating the activities of staff veterinarians or veterinarians providing veterinary services to the animal care activity/facilities;
Examines/assesses impounded and found animals that have bitten humans for symptoms of rabies and directs quarantine and/or euthanasia and post-mortem analyses to determine presence/absence of rabies;
Documents animal welfare medical investigations and the identification of rabies in impounded or found animals, and assures proper notification of local/state health agencies, individuals who have been in contact with rabies-infected animals and their physicians, health-care and public health agencies;
Conducts animal alteration surgeries, or oversees those conducted by staff veterinarians or veterinary service providers;
Manages the control, security, record keeping and use of controlled drugs by staff and veterinary service contractors in the PACC and ensures conformance with local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations to maintain the facility and personal Drug Enforcement Agency licenses and permits;
Advises PACC, Public Health management and the Board of Health on all veterinary issues or aspects impacting County operations, public health and welfare;
Develops and provides outreach briefings and presentations to boards, commissions and the public on veterinary issues, veterinary services in response to identified/requested needs, which may include grant-writing and the PACC;
May testify in court as an expert witness relative to veterinary issues related to PACC operations.
Selection Procedure:
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidates from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.
Supplemental Information:
Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver license is required at time of application.ValidAZdriver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record. A current Arizona license to practice veterinary medicine (per A.R.S. 32-2215 et seq) and a current Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license for the prescription and administration of controlled substances is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained as a condition of employment.
Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. Within nine months of appointment, employees must receive the full series of pre-exposure rabies immunizations. Medical inability to be immunized or previous immunization must be verified by the County Physician prior to employment. Recommended boosters are required for the duration of employment unless medically excused or physiologically unable to develop immunity. This position will require post-job offer proof of immunization(s) or immunization(s) and/or a TB screening. This position will require a post-job offer physical and/or drug screen.
Physical/Sensory Requirements: Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position. Frequently required to lift 50 pounds, push or pull objects weighing up to 100 pounds. Action Activity - bending, crawling, kneeling, reaching, squatting, stooping; Motion Activity - grasping; Hearing Activity - in noisy areas, on a radio, behind themselves, and equipment alarms; Speaking Activity - In person, on a phone, on a radio; Vision - operate motor vehicle, distinguish colors, depth perception, and peripheral vision.
Working Conditions: Working conditions will be determined by the position.
EEO Information:Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Requirements
Current Arizona license to practice veterinary medicine (per A.R.S. 32-2215 et seq) AND four years of experience in administration or supervision in veterinary care or medicine, animal care/control or a closely related field as determined by the appointing authority at the time of recruitment.
Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.
Preferred Qualifications: (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):
Minimum five (5) years experience as a Veterinarian.
Minimum three (3) years experience in high volume or emergency veterinary setting.
Minimum five (5) years experience overseeing a team in a veterinary setting.
