Veterinarian
: Job Details :

Vice President of Zoological Health & Chief Veterinarian Position: Vice President of Zoological Health & Chief Veterinarian Reports to : Executive Vice President & General Director Zoos & Aquarium Positions Managed : Aquatic Health Department Head, Assistant Director, Zoological Health Program Clinical Department Head, Pathology Department Head, Administrative Assistant Location: Bronx Zoo based, responsibilities include on-site visits to City Zoos and New York Aquarium Department : Zoological Health Program Scope : Multi-Site Position Type: Full-Time Wildlife Conservation Society: Bronx Zoo WCS's goal is to conserve the world's largest wild places in 14 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world's biodiversity. The challenges are greater than ever, but with the focus, dedication, and passion of a committed staffcombined with a unique mixture of field, zoo, and aquarium expertiseWCS will continue to set the bar for science, conservation action, and education that has driven our success in protecting wildlife and wild places for over a century. About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the worlds premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission. Job Summary The Vice President of Zoological Health Program & Chief Veterinarian (VPZH) provides leadership for the WCS Zoological Health Program (ZHP) and oversees all program and operations staff at the Bronx Zoo as well as the animal health program across the four zoos and the aquarium. This position reports to the Executive Vice President & General Director of Zoos & Aquarium (Z&A)The VPZH is a senior member and integral part of the WCS Zoos & Aquarium Division and collaborates to provide optimal care for animals in our parks. The ability to acquire and maintain a current NY State veterinary license; manage a diverse staff with multiple veterinary disciplines; have experience in and current knowledge of zoo and aquarium veterinary medicine; leadership and mentoring capabilities; strong written and oral communication skills are important elements critical to carrying out the responsibilities of this position. Major Responsibilities This position is responsible for overseeing all ZHP operations, staff, facilities, animal health care for the WCS animal collection, staff mentorship, and to have a leadership role in the Z&A Division, in interacting with other divisions and departments in WCS and with external associations, organizations and partners in the external community. Responsibilities include Support the Executive Vice President & General Director with Z&A Division initiatives, activities, communications, reports, operations, and priorities including chairing the WCS Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Responsible for overseeing all ZHP activities including veterinary care, pathology, quarantine, administration; staff supervision; budget development and management; development and implementation of relevant policies and procedures; and ZHP facility operations. Oversee the development of the ZHP operating and capital budgets and ensure that ZHP managers work within approved budgets. Develop and implement veterinary protocols and procedures that meet or exceed USDA, AZA, and AAZV guidelines and standards. Support animal department activities by regularly communicating with curators and ensure that appropriate, timely, and high-quality veterinary care, quarantine, clinical and pathology diagnostic testing, and other services are provided as needed. Maintain veterinary licensure, competency, and knowledge of current information and procedures in zoological and wildlife medicine, and wherever appropriate, incorporate new advances into the ZHP to enhance animal care and well-being. Ensure ZHP staff also maintain and utilize current knowledge of advances in veterinary medicine. Actively participate in clinical cases and be fully informed of ongoing animal health issues and c;oncerns across the Bronx Zoo, City Zoos, and the Aquarium. Maintain an active clinical case load as appropriate to maintain competency while fulfilling other position responsibilities. Be the veterinarian of record on all health-related regulatory permits and licenses and primary point of contact for city, state, and federal animal health matters. Permit holder of record for CITES, USDA, and CDC sample import permits. Establish and maintain proactive preventive health care and quarantine programs. Regularly assess current protocols and investigate and implement new preventive health and quarantine procedures to ensure a more efficient and sound program. Coordinate with Global Resources for donor recruitment, managing relationships, communications, proposals, reports, and stewardship. Provide and facilitate donor and other tours. Assume and maintain a leadership role in AZA and AAZV to ensure WCS concerns related to animal health are established and addressed. Maintain a working knowledge of ZlMS by Species360. Represent the organization with the media in relation to zoological medicine and veterinary care of the zoo and aquarium collections and/or other matters as requested. Represent WCS, especially in animal health areas, at local, national, and international professional organizations and meetings. Participate, as appropriate, in conferences, workshops, professional organizations, local and/or international projects and activities, research, and publications/presentations. As needed, coordinate with, and support the Global Conservation Program's Health Program activities and collaborations. Be an active member of Z&A's Emergency Response Team. Perform other duties as needed. Hold a veterinary degree (DVM, VMD, DMV, or equivalent) Have or be eligible to obtain, and maintain, a New York State Veterinary License, USDA accreditation, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Controlled Drug License and a valid Driver's License. Understand and comply with all federal and New York State DEA regulations. Be able to work effectively within, and manage, a complex, multi-veterinarian, multi-technician health care setting, outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and physical environments to administer appropriate veterinary care to the animal collection. Board certification or eligibility in relevant Veterinary College (ACZM, ECZM, ABVP, or equivalent) desirable. Proficient in reading, writing, and effectively communicating in English; have excellent written, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Able to work a flexible schedule including when needed working non-traditional hours, holidays, scheduled on-call, available for emergency responses, and weekend or evening work. Experience communicating and coordinating activities with a variety of departments. Commitment to WCS's mission and vision. Physical Demands This position works with wild animals on a routine basis, and incurs risks associated with working with animals, including potential for traumatic injury and exposure to pathogens, must be available to be on-call and respond to emergency needs on a rotating regular schedule, work weekends, non-traditional hours, and holidays as assigned and work a flexible schedule. The physical demands frequently include but are not limited to use of a keyboard, 10-key, mouse, and telephone use, handwriting, sitting, standing, crouching, kneeling, bending, walking, stair climbing, driving, and lifting up to 50lbs. Workplace Conditions and Environment This position includes working with wild animals that incurs potential risks, including traumatic injury and pathogen exposure, frequently work inside, closely with others, and independently, but occasionally work outside, in inclement weather, exposed to excess noise, and professional travel. Equal Opportunity Disclaimer WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is everyones responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a persons membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidates individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.