ASPCA, Asheville, NC: Senior Director, Medicine & Surgery

Posted on February 18, 2022

ASPCA strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace.  To that end, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment for all ASPCA employees, including new hires.  ASPCA makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs that prohibit a person from being vaccinated.

ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (ASNA) is the premiere training center for high-quality, high-volume companion animal sterilization. Altering 25,000 shelter, rescue, and publicly owned companion animals annually, ASNA has trained more than 6000 veterinary professionals and fourth year veterinary student externs at our campus in Asheville, NC since 2005. ASNA is proud to set the bar for the standard of care in HQHVSN and provide world-class S/N surgical instruction to veterinary professionals and students.     

The Senior Director, Medicine & Surgery (SDMS) leads the ASNA medical campus, ensuring a talented, dedicated team and solid policy and protocol to deliver best-in-class patient care, education, and training. This position provides expert medical guidance and leadership to a reporting team of medical directors and medical support staff to ensure excellence in medical operations and patient care while continually improving team experience and engagement. The SDMS is charged with having a strategic eye on veterinary research and advancements to collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team in review, adaptation and development of the ASNA training programs to meet the 2030 goals of ending euthanasia for adoptable cats and dogs, and to increase access to veterinary care for all people and their pets. This senior leadership position reports to the Vice President, ASNA and is based in Asheville, NC.

This position is entitled to a $20,000 signing bonus. The first $10,000 of this bonus will be paid upon hire, and the second $10,000 is to be paid 6 months after your start date.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leading Medical Operations (40%):

  • Establish policies to achieve continuous improvement in the quality of medicine delivered, improved patient outcomes and enhanced client, trainee and staff experience.
  • Make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
  • Deliver high-quality service and commit to continuous improvement to ensure ASNA’s medical operations are of the highest quality.
  • Review and measure patient care effectiveness through data review, identifying gaps in procedures or skills, and building and leading improvement activities to address the same.
  • Serve on various committees, task forces, or in other advisory capacities where medical operations expertise is required, e.g.  participation on the ASPCA org-wide Medical Policy Team, organizational Morbidity & Mortality rounds, etc.
  • Oversee the coordination of all controlled substance processes including ensuring compliance of medical staff activity related to ethical and legal compliance, corporate rules and regulations, and all external regulatory agencies including but not limited to NCVMB, DEA, DHHS, federal and state mandates.
  • Act as the ASNA medical expert in medical matters with the local veterinary medical community, for media requests, interdepartmental requests, and any other situation where this expertise is necessary to ensure accuracy and compliance.
  • Ensure a standard of continual commitment to improvement in all aspects of ASNA care and handling of dogs and cats and ensure consistent application of gentle animal handling techniques across campus.
  • Determine and recommend necessary space, equipment, supplies and support systems to ensure effective functioning of ASNA surgical operations.
  • Maintain a safe environment of care for all staff, patients, trainees and partners.
  • Lead and/or participates in regular medical staff meetings, including program specific leadership team meetings, veterinarian meetings, and assistant/technician meetings to ensure robust, improvement-driven conversations where staff feel heard and feedback is received and addressed in a manner reflecting our Core Values.
  • Maintain proactive communication with the ASNA Vice President as to any critical situations or issues.

Leading People (40%):

  • Supervise Medical Directors (2), Manager, Clinic Mentorship Programs (1) and Directors, Medical Support Staff (2) to effectively lead medical staff toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals.
  • Practice and espouse positive, people-centric management approaches that are in line with ASNA culture and organizational Core Values.
  • Support direct reports in setting clear expectations and effectively managing and developing their direct reports.
  • Encourage staff engagement by building a commitment to excellence.
  • Oversee training plan of staff veterinarians and make adjustments to training plans as necessary.
  • Ensure effective processes for staff development to improve and reinforce workplace performance.
  • Engage in all necessary activities of the employee lifecycle including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, training, performance coaching, succession planning, salary changes, promotions and terminations.
  • Address instances of unmet performance metrics/expectations. Treat sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
  • Work with enabling function departments to find resolution in a manner that supports our Core Values.
  • Provide for an inclusive workplace that fosters professional development, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
  • Lead direct reports through annual goal-setting conversations related to ASNA goals and the organization’s 2030 Goals.
  • Recommend internal and external training opportunities for growth and professional development in identified areas.
  • Respond to concerns from direct reports and indirect reports as needed, addressing them promptly and accordingly.

Leading Strategy (20%):

  • Serve as an active member of ASNA’s Senior Leadership Team in the development of ASNA’s annual and long-term plans to support the ASPCA’s 2030 goals. Related, on-going activities will include but are not limited to: needs analysis, medical staff planning, continuous evaluation of existing services, awareness of changes in the animal welfare field at large, and implementation of new services.
  • Drive necessary change, communicating a compelling, positive vision and need for change that generates excitement, enthusiasm, and commitment to the process. Take steps to remove barriers or accelerate its pace as needed and clearly communicate the direction, required performance, and challenges of change to all involved parties.
  • Communicate and collaborate with other ASPCA departments for medical research collaboration, cross-departmental projects and obstacle identification and resolution
  • Work collaboratively with both internal and external audiences and partners toward solutions that accomplish organizational objectives.

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

  • Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
  • Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
  • Believes in Team – that we are stronger together
  • Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
  • Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Education and Work Experience:

  • DVM degree (or equivalent) with NC State veterinary license.
  • Minimum 10 years veterinary practice experience with demonstrated successful operational and clinical management and leadership experience.
  • Minimum 3 years leadership or management experience within a veterinary setting.
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in a teaching, intensive coaching, or learning environment.
  • Boarded surgeon preferred

 

Qualifications:

Ability to create, communicate and implement protocols and procedures quickly and effectively., Ability to skillfully delegate and hold self and others accountable for deliverables., Ability to successfully lead change and transition in an operational environment., Advanced computer skills required, including Microsoft Office, patient records/management systems. Demonstrated ability to learn new online platforms quickly., Big picture thinker that can take in information from all available sources, paired with medical expertise and assess ASNA and its operations objectively., Excellent communicator who can positively and effectively present ideas and concepts. Ability to collaborate with diplomacy and tact in the spirit of excellent customer service for all., Must be able to effectively multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced high-workload environment of constantly changing priorities., Skilled people manager that can elicit followership and teamwork to further the ASPCA mission., Strives to exceed departmental and organizational goals and stakeholder expectations., Team building skills to motivate a team to operate effectively with all levels of staff.

 

Language:

English (Required)

 

Education and Work Experience:

DVM (Required)

 

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

https://careers.aspca.org/search/jobdetails/senior-director-medicine–surgery/d1ffe11c-d6eb-43cc-b12d-5d357c62b10a

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