Veterinarian

Job Description:

Veterinarian

Description

Description

About Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS)

Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) offers a wide array of programs and services to the residents and animals of Ventura County. These services include animal sheltering, pet adoptions, lost & found, field services, cruelty investigations, pet licensing, TNR surgical services, low-cost vaccination clinics, volunteer/foster opportunities, and emergency disaster response. Each year, Ventura County Animal Services cares for thousands of stray and surrendered animals. VCAS operates two amazing life-saving shelters within the county. The main shelter in Camarillo has a 400-animal capacity and the Simi Valley Animal Shelter, which is a smaller facility offering many of the same services as the Camarillo Shelter.

The Position: Under general direction, performs veterinary services including spay/neuter surgeries; examines and determines preventative medical care and treatments for shelter animals and stray animal emergency cases; and provides oversight for the security and dispensing of drugs and ensures compliance with all federal and state regulations. Performs other related duties as requested.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
The Veterinarian is distinguished from the Managing Veterinarian in that the latter is fully accountable to the Animal Services Director and is solely responsible for the management of the veterinary facilities and personnel.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Annual Leave Redemption: The option to cash out up to 100 hours out of 208 total accrued Annual Leave hours per year.
• Deferred Compensation: Section 457 Plan and/or 401(k) Shared Savings Plan with up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: You are afforded a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 annually for purchasing medical, dental, and/ or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Bilingual Incentive: Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Pension Plan: Both the County and you contribute to the County’s Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
• Accreditation pay: An accredited Veterinarian is eligible to receive specialty pay for maintaining accreditation.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: The County currently qualifies as an eligible employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information you are encouraged to speak with your student loan servicer or visit: http://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation .

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY: Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS)

Veterinarian is a Management classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation. Incumbents in this classification are eligible for benefits at the MB3 level.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill existing and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: April 2, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.
FIRST REVIEW: A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on April 9, 2026,and subsequent weekly reviews will be conducted to determine if stated requirements are met.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs high volume, high quality spay/neuter surgeries of shelter animals including dogs, cats, and rabbits; may provide consultation and education to pet owners on spay/neuter procedures and explain possible complications;
• Determines the need for diagnostic procedures and medical treatments; provides high quality shelter medicine by performing physical exams, treatments, and surgical procedures on shelter animals including assisting with administration of anesthesia, catheter placement, and pre- and post-operative monitoring;
• May supervise the work of subordinate staff in the absence of the Manager- Veterinary Services;
• Uses various computer software and systems to maintain records and generate correspondence;
• Administers injections to humanely euthanize animals in accordance with California State Law and Department guidelines and policies;
• Ensures the humane care of shelter animals and safeguards herd health by following shelter medicine industry best practices;
• Provides animal first aid training to staff and serves as the point of contact to local and private veterinarians;
• Participates in humane investigations, prepares written veterinary statements, and testifies in court as appropriate for animal welfare/cruelty cases;
• Assists with emergency and disaster services; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine recognized by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine of the State of California, and experience in the delivery of high quality spay/neuter and animal medical services which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Note: If accredited, the Veterinarian must have received accreditation from the Federal Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. An accredited Veterinarian is eligible to receive specialty pay for maintaining accreditation.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties can be obtained by a degree in Veterinary Medicine and one (1) year of surgical (spay/neuter emphasis) experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid license to practice Veterinary Medicine
  • Possession and maintenance of Veterinary license issued by the California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine is required by date of hire . (Ventura County may also reimburse any fees associated with obtaining a California license to practice medicine if you are offered a job and accept the position with Ventura County Animal Services.)
• Must possess and maintain
  • Valid driver license (Must be licensed in California within 30 days of hire)
  • License to practice Veterinary Medicine issued by the California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) license within ninety (90) days of hire and maintain valid license while employed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other computer skills (databases, computerized records, etc.) and Department's shelter software program (within 6 months of hire).
• Must be willing and able to:
  • Lift up to 30 lbs.
  • Work shifts in a mobile spay and neuter trailer that will be moved throughout the County in addition to work at our Camarillo Shelter or Simi Valley Shelter.
  • Work nights, weekends, holidays, and share on-call responsibilities as required.

DESIRED

• National Accreditation Number (NAN) issued by the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) within 60 days of hire

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of: current veterinary best practices relating to the treatment and cure of injured and sick animals; State, Federal and local laws and ordinances pertaining to the humane treatment of animals; and principles and practices of current veterinary medicine, including disease identification, prevention, control and eradication.

Skills to: Perform proper diagnosis and postmortem procedures; prepare clear, complete, and technical reports; analyze critical situations accurately and take decisive and effective action; and utilize various computer software and systems.

Ability to: Work under minimal supervision; provide surgical and medical services and care for a variety of well, sick, and injured animals, including a high volume of spay and neutering operations; prepare written reports, correspondence and other documents using a personal computer; train and develop personnel on a variety of medical techniques common to animal care; keep informed of the latest developments methods, techniques, equipment, and facilities in veterinary medicine; serve as liaison to advise and/or resolve differences with other public agencies, community organizations, and the general public; establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, co-workers, and the general public; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Recruitment Process

RESUME/CV/APPLICATION EVALUATION: All resumes will be reviewed weekly beginning April 9, 2026 to determine if the stated requirements are met.

If interested, submit an online application at http://venturacounty.gov/jobs and attach your current resume and cover letter

OR

Email your resume/CV to [email protected]

All applications/resumes will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. All relevant work experience, training and education should be included in order to determine eligibility.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Esmeralda Oseguera by e-mail at [email protected]

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

MANAGEMENT

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes:MB3, MB4, MS, MT,MCC, MU

Salary:

$135,711.25 - $189,995.74 Annually