Director of Veterinary Services, Sacramento

Position: Director of Veterinary Services

Location: Sacramento, CA

Type: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Compensation: $200,000 - $230,000

Remote Type: On-site

Summary

We are seeking a dedicated Director of Veterinary Services to ensure top-tier veterinary care and environmental enrichment for our laboratory animals. This role involves overseeing daily animal care, disease prevention, health surveillance, diagnoses, treatment, surgery, and humane euthanasia, all while complying with current regulatory and veterinary practices. The Director will also provide leadership in complex medical cases and contribute to the development of departmental SOPs, training manuals, and policies.

About the Site

Our Sacramento site, originally a CDC quarantine facility, has evolved into a center of excellence for discovery-phase biopharmaceutical studies. Specializing in non-human primates (NHPs) for non-GLP general therapy, early discovery studies, and model development, we offer a flexible and dynamic work environment. With a close-knit team of 35 employees, you'll enjoy a friendly atmosphere and direct access to senior management. Despite our smaller size, we are part of a network of four large animal research facilities nationwide, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and scientific expertise.

About the Role

As the Director of Veterinary Services, you will:

• Oversee routine and specialized veterinary medical support for all animal species.
• Manage daily environmental enrichment programs.
• Allocate staff and resources to meet study objectives.
• Direct departmental resources, personnel, and budget proposals.
• Ensure availability of personnel, resources, facilities, equipment, materials, and methodologies.
• Develop, review, revise, and implement SOPs, policies, and training manuals related to animal care.
• Lead in the care and resolution of complex medical cases.
• Design and implement animal welfare and preventive medicine programs.
• Provide training and supervision of staff on technical procedures and humane animal use.
• Offer procedural consultations for clients, study directors, and staff.
• Participate in the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC).
• Provide leadership in animal regulatory law.
• Generate necessary reports for departmental and regulatory requirements.
• Consult on animal selection for research based on species knowledge and research techniques.
• Communicate performance expectations to staff and establish performance standards.
• Manage the DEA Controlled Substances program.
• Act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies.
• Serve as the attending veterinarian as needed.
• Perform bi-annual SOP reviews and other regulatory compliance reviews.
• Advise study directors on study design and protocol specifics.
• Aid in maintaining and developing animal records systems.
• Provide expertise for health and safety, emergency response, and occupational health programs.
• Supervise and mentor employees, addressing complaints and conflict resolution.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Education: DVM or equivalent.

Experience:

• 10+ years of laboratory animal practice with increasing responsibility.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience.

Licensing: Practicing veterinary license and eligibility for California state licensure.

Certification: Board Certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine or equivalent.

Skills:

• Strong team-building and employee coaching.
• Effective communication with all employee levels.
• Change management skills.

Benefits

• Continuing education support, including study materials and exam cost reimbursement.
• Flexible study time.
• Full medical, dental, and 401k benefits.
• Travel to industry conferences.
• Relocation assistance.