Veterinarian

The Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium invites applicants to join our team as the Veterinarian. The Veterinarian provides comprehensive medical care to the animal collection of over 200 species. This medical care includes but is not limited to maintaining a preventive medical program, providing acute care for sick or injured animals, providing convalescent care for animals recovering from illness or injury, performing post‑mortem examinations, and operating a full‑service clinic and laboratory.

• Provide comprehensive medical care to the animal collection.
• Be familiar with the biology, husbandry, and medical requirements for species in the animal collection.
• Apply appropriate diagnostic testing/techniques to allow for the timely identification of disease processes.
• Provide medical treatment for all health abnormalities, encompassing generation and analysis of health history, physical and/or chemical restraint, physical examination, surgery, laboratory testing, radiography, radiographic interpretation, prescribing and delivering medications.
• Develop and maintain a preventive medicine program, including class and/or order‑specific protocols for quarantined animals; parasite monitoring and control program; vaccination protocols; disease and diagnostic testing; and periodic reviews of diets and nutrition. The program meets AZA, AAZV, AVMA, and USDA standards.
• Perform and supervise clinical, diagnostic, and laboratory procedures skillfully; analyze and interpret findings.
• Interpret clinical pathology results in hematology, clinical chemistry, parasitology, microbiology, cytology, urinalysis, and serology; bank serum on SFZA collection animals for prospective and retrospective diagnostic studies; evaluate new procedures and techniques for incorporation into routine clinical pathology.
• Ensure all SFZA animals receive a complete post‑mortem examination including necropsy and histopathology where appropriate; distribute approved samples for research and/or education; maintain accurate necropsy records.
• Be trained and familiar with all chemical immobilization equipment in the SFZA hospital.
• Participate in training of other SFZA staff in emergency chemical immobilization procedures.
• Champion animal wellness and serve on the animal well‑being committee.

• Coordinate services of consulting and back‑up veterinarians.
• Participate in training/on‑the‑job education of technicians, interns, volunteers, students, and other staff members assigned tasks related to animal health care, including hospital, medications, treatments, handling and restraint, anesthesia, zoonotic diseases, husbandry, and emergency preparedness.
• Effectively communicate with staff of other institutions and related regulatory agencies.
• Act as liaison to the USDA, DEA, SD Animal Industry board and other appropriate state and federal agencies.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to the animal collection and veterinary practices.
• Ensure medical records are up‑to‑date and maintained to AZA, AAZV, and USDA standards.
• Participate in implementing changes in animal care as related to animal health maintenance of collection animals.
• Provide guidance and instruction to SFZA animal care staff on safe handling of animals, hazardous materials, drugs, etc.
• Consistently strive to further the mission of the organization and avidly support SFZA.
• Manage budget for veterinary department supplies (equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, etc.).

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to easily interact and communicate veterinary needs to a diversified staff.
• Ability to take control and think clearly in unforeseen and emergency situations.
• Ability to initiate clinical research appropriate to the needs of the SFZA collection and conservation plans.
• Function in a team environment and perform tasks with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency in computers including MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).

• Supervise the hospital registrar and veterinary technician, as well as interns/students.
• Be on‑call on weekends for…