Medical Director - Leadership in Animal Welfare

Director of Shelter Medicine and Animal Health

Salary Range: $150,000–$170,000 (commensurate with experience and equity)

Application review begins immediately; anticipated close:
December 25, 2025

Humane Colorado is hiring a mission-driven Director of Shelter Medicine and Animal Health to lead and shape our veterinary and animal behavior programs. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a seasoned DVM with strong clinical skills, strategic thinking, and a passion for animal welfare, teaching, and organizational growth.

As Humane Colorado’s senior authority in shelter medicine and animal behavior, you will guide care standards across the organization, ensuring every animal receives compassionate, evidence-based treatment. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee complex cases, and provide clinical and operational leadership to help Humane Colorado remain a leader in progressive animal welfare.

• Lead veterinary and behavioral operations; align practices with the organization’s mission and goals
• Develop and maintain medical, behavioral, anesthesia, and sanitation protocols
• Manage complex animal cases and ensure timely, evidence-based medical decisions
• Practice and teach incremental medicine, including HQHVSN, dentistry, soft tissue, and orthopedic surgery
• Conduct public veterinary appointments, euthanasia decision-making, and forensic evaluations
• Ensure regulatory compliance (PACFA, DEA); manage shelter hygiene, disease prevention, and safety
• Develop budgets and oversee efficient resource utilization
• Supervise and mentor veterinary and behavior staff; promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• Collaborate cross-functionally with shelter, legal, development, and communications teams
• Support grant compliance and donor engagement through impact storytelling and data analysis
• Integrate externs, interns, and Veterinary Professional Associates into clinical programming
• Build external partnerships and manage vendor contracts

Required:

• Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
• Licensed or license-eligible in Colorado
• 5+ years clinical experience, including high-volume surgery
• 2+ years of experience in shelter medicine
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing medical teams
• Current DEA license or ability to obtain
• Strong communication, leadership, and surgical skills
• High emotional intelligence and time management abilities

Preferred:

• Experience with orthopedic procedures
• Advanced coursework or degrees in animal behavior, psychology, or related fields
• Experience mentoring or teaching students and veterinary professionals
• Leadership experience in a shelter, clinic, or hospital environment
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off, sick time, sabbatical
• Holiday pay
• Life and short-term disability insurance
• Employee discounts and discounted pet insurance
• DVM-specific professional support and benefits

Humane Colorado offers a collaborative, inclusive culture where people and animals are at the heart of everything we do. This is your opportunity to lead change, elevate care standards, and shape the future of shelter medicine in a highly respected organization.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the posting on February 26, 2026.

This position requires handling animals of various sizes and temperaments, exposure to cleaning chemicals and radiation during radiology procedures, and regular lifting and physical activity. Reasonable accommodations will be made when needed.

If you are ready to use your veterinary leadership to make a systemic difference in animal and community well-being, we encourage you to apply!