Summary:
The Senior Director of Shelter Medicine Training (Senior Director, SMT) works within the Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) team, which provides shelter medicine expertise within the ASPCA and externally to veterinarians, shelters & rescues, and other stakeholders. The Senior Director, SMT oversees and engages in the training and supervision of shelter medicine residents, develops resources on shelter medicine topics, collaborates across programs to support the integration of shelter medicine principles, and serves in strategic roles in veterinary and animal welfare associations to promote positive welfare for animals and communities. As direct supervisor of the Director of Clinical training, who directly supervises the residents, the Senior Director, SMT engages across ASPCA and external program partners to provide a residency program with comprehensive shelter medicine practice experience encompassing direct clinical care and population level care to animals in shelters and community clinics as well as completing a clinical research project. The Senior Director, SMT also engages in training and mentorship activities with shelter and community clinic personnel, veterinary professionals, and students to advance the field of shelter medicine and the practice of community animal health.
Who We Are
The SMS team improves the health and welfare of animals in shelters and communities by strategically applying expertise both internally at the ASPCA and externally with key stakeholders. SMS is primarily comprised of veterinarians ABVP board-certified in Shelter Medicine Practice and is the home department of the Julie Morris Shelter Medicine Residency, which is based in New York City. Most team members are remote with significant travel to ASPCA programs, external sheltering organizations, and training events at conferences and veterinary schools.
SMS provides mentorship and training to shelter and community medicine veterinarians through the ASPCAâs Practitioner Pathway Mentorship and Practitioner Pathway Community programs. The team also supports the animal welfare field through development of educational resources, direct consultation, training, and applied research. Members of SMS each have assigned projects and areas of emphasis but collectively subscribe to a workplace culture of life-long learning, relentless collaboration, and a willingness to dive into work that needs to be done.
What Youâll Do
The Senior Director, SMT reports to the Vice President, Shelter Medicine Services and Veterinary Training Programs (VP), who also serves as the Residency Program Director. The Senior Director, SMT has one direct report. Â The Senior Director, SMT collaborates with the VP, the Director of Shelter Medicine Clinical Training, ASPCA programs, and external partners to provide a robust training program for shelter medicine residents; the Senior Director, SMT will be expected to assume Resident Advisor responsibilities in alignment with ABVP Shelter Medicine Residency requirements. The Senior Director, SMT provides training through direct care in shelter medicine clinical practice at both individual and population levels, demonstrating strong clinical skills, clinical confidence, intellectual curiosity, and resilience. They engage across NYC-based ASPCA programs to support the integration of key shelter medicine principles; support sheltering organizations through consultation, training, and the development of resources on shelter medicine topics; and participate in traineesâ clinical work as well as their consultative work with shelters, clinics, and veterinarians. They play an important role in the continued growth of shelter medicine as a discipline by serving in strategic positions in veterinary medical and animal welfare associations.
To succeed in this role, the Senior Director, SMT must have both breadth and depth of shelter medicine clinical expertise and be board-certified in Shelter Medicine Practice or actively working towards board certification (within 2 years). They must have outstanding interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and teaching skills. Success also hinges on their ability to identify and leverage a breadth and depth of past experience to provide a high-quality and collaborative, nuanced approach to implementation of individual and population health principles. Deep relationship building across teams is essential for establishing clinical working relationships and understanding of the work.
Where and When Youâll Work
This position requires regular (35-50%) commuting to and between ASPCA NYC locations, Animal Care Centers of NYC, and other sites in the city where residents regularly train. Therefore this position requires living within reasonable commuting distances to New York City locations. Travel for meetings and consultative work (~15%) outside of the New York City area is also required. Remote work in home office balances on-site clinical time.
Hours are generally Monday through Friday but can vary dependent on program needs and travel. Time includes rotating availability for calls/consultations from residents over weekends and holidays when they are assigned to a clinical service.
What Youâll Get
Compensation
Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.
The target hiring range for this role is $198,000 - $210,000 annually
âFor more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.
Benefits
At the ASPCA, you donât have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions â we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.
Responsibilities:
Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include, but are not limited to:
Provide Shelter Medicine Mentorship and Training
In close partnership with the VP and the Director of Clinical Training, maintain a robust residency training program for ASPCA Shelter Medicine Residents
Stay abreast of all ABVP Shelter Medicine Practice Residency requirements and engage in oversight and scheduling of resident experiences, ensuring they make continual progress
Ensure appropriate supervision and clinical mentorship of residents for all activities both internally at the ASPCA and in partnership with external training partners
Provide regular positive and developmental feedback to support continual improvement in the residentsâ knowledge, clinical and technical proficiency, communication skills, and overall progress
Support resident research projects and manuscript preparation in collaboration with the VP and the ASPCA Research team
Model a standard of continual commitment to improvement of all aspects of animal care and handling and the further elevation of shelter medicine and community animal health across ASPCA programs and external partners
Provide shelter medical expertise focusing on shelter and community animal health and operations
Develop and support the implementation of efficient and effective protocols for high-quality, practical, and cost-efficient veterinary care in accordance with shelter medicine principles
Build capacity in veterinarians and other medical staff to apply shelter medicine principles and best practices across a wide variety of situations
Coach and trouble-shoot the development, implementation, and continued refinement of key shelter medicine practices such as daily rounds and pathway planning
Serve as a champion in times of change management and proactively assist in identifying ways to improve people, policies, and medical protocols. Maintain proactive communication with the VP and the Director of Clinical Training as to any critical situations or issues.
Provide direct clinical care alongside trainees to optimize clinical service delivery and teaching opportunities. Provide direct clinical assistance to suppo
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