Assistant Director Veterinary Nursing

The Foster Hospital for Small Animals provides high-quality veterinary medical/surgical care to inpatient, outpatient, and critical/emergent small animal cases and superior customer service to our clients. In addition, the hospital provides a positive learning experience for Tufts veterinary students encompassing all specialties at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

We offer a generous compensation package to include medical, dental, life insurance, retirement, tuition reimbursement and generous holiday, sick and vacation time. We offer a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. Some other perks of working here include a CE allowance, a beautiful New England campus with an on-campus café, and all major holidays being observed by the University.

What You'll Do

This position has a leadership role with responsibility for recruitment and retention of veterinary technicians in the Foster Hospital for Small Animals. The position oversees the overall daily management and direction of the clinic floor activities related to inpatient care for ECC (Emergency Room and Intensive Care) and Wards which provide 24-hour medical treatments to our clients. Other responsibilities include implementing policies, procedures, and guidelines to maintain compliance with regulations and primary responsibility for patient care issues. This position will be responsible for all inpatient service staffing decisions, training, cross training, scheduling, reviewing performance and resolving personnel and scheduling issues that may arise in ECC and the Wards. The successful candidate works closely with their direct reports to ensure there is open communication and accountability and will manage the performance of staff in conjunction with their direct reports. Operational oversight is critical to continuously improve the hospital's patient care and customer service. This position reports directly to the Hospital Director with a broken-line reporting relationship for financial and administrative responsibilities to the Hospital Administrator.

• RECRUITMENT, INTERVIEWING AND RETENTION OF VETERINARY TECHNICIANS:
  • This position has a leadership role with responsibility of recruitment, interviewing of new veterinary technician candidates applying to ECC and the Wards and retention of existing technicians in the Foster Hospital for Small Animals. This position also supervises the animal care attendants and veterinary assistants that work in the wards.
  • Work hand in hand with Hospital Technician Development Coordinator with a focus on training and onboarding of technicians to support and improve their professional development and veterinary skill set.
  • Assist the technical supervisors with training and cross-training programs and/or new on-boarding procedures for staff members.
  • This position supervises the staff who report to this position which consist of Sr. Vet Technicians in ECC, Ward Sr. Vet Technicians and Sr. Animal Care Supervisor as well as Veterinary Assistants and Animal Care Attendants (ACA). Oversee administration of hiring, retention, termination, disciplinary processes, and long-term staffing strategies for the veterinary technical staff members.
  • Participate in the orientation programs for new residents, interns, staff, and students.
• DAILY HOSPITAL OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Work to continuously improve the Hospital operations to enhance patient care within the Hospital.
  • Implement procedures and systems to maximize operating efficiency and consistency.
  • Responsible for writing clinical procedures and protocols, reviewing them with Hospital Director, Associate Medical Director and Hospital Administrator. The individual will be responsible for ensuring compliance and updating these policies to ensure efficient operations.
  • Devote a considerable amount of time to interacting with Hospital Administrator, Hospital Director, Associate Medical Directors, Chief Operating Officer, Faculty Service Leaders, and Sr. Veterinary Technicians with the goal of providing effective internal communications by identifying key messages and the proper medium of communication (verbal or written) and delivering these messages in an appropriate and timely manner.
  • Establish and nurture an environment that is collaborative and focused on creating the best possible atmosphere for the patients.
  • Coordinate and participate in client service training programs.
  • Supervise direct-reporting staff in hospital policies.
  • Create and review policies and procedures and manage system of SOPs.
  • Create, enhance, and implement compliance and audit policies and procedures to ensure that the Hospital is following University policies, and best management practices.
  • Ensure employees are trained in, aware of, and following these best practices. Ensure all procedures and operations are complying with hospital standard operating policies and procedures.
• Management and Leadership:
  • Assess (in conjunction with Sr. Veterinary Technicians and Supervisors) and allocate technical resources between services when staff shortages occur so adequate staffing is available for patient treatments and patient load coverage.
  • Create a system of staff rewards and maintenance of staff career ladder program and retention policies.
  • Respond to web-based or other client inquiries as required.
  • Monitor staff performance to ensure highest level of customer service is being given to all patients, residents, faculty, and peer staff. Oversee staff assignments. Assign projects to staff as necessary.
  • Create job postings for vacant positions and interviewing candidates. Create training plans for new employees. Provide coaching and feedback on an ongoing basis and discipline, if necessary.
• FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT:
  • Work closely with Hospital Administration to provide input for the development of the departmental budget for the Hospital. Responsible for the monitoring and compliance of weekly over-time incurred to budgeted levels by each section.
  • Manage the Hospital to the annual profit margin goal that is determined by the Hospital Administrator during the budgeting process. (i.e.: monitor staffing expenses for each service and the amount of over-time pay)
  • Responsible for the timely review/approval and submission of timecards for hospitals staff’s weekly hours. This function requires a detailed understanding of each employee’s hours and schedules for each section. If a supervisor is away from the hospital, Hospital Operations Manager (Inpatient) is responsible for approving and submitting staff timecards in a timely manner in conjunction with hospital payroll policies.
  • Provide advice and direction regarding staffing and resources necessary to meet the equipment requirements of a successful operation, as compared to clinical needs.
• GENERAL AND OTHER:
  • Help assist Hospital Director and Hospital Administrator on special projects when needed.
  • All other projects as requested by Hospital Administration.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree BA/BS with 7+ years of related experience in a veterinary practice environment
• 3+ years of managerial supervisory experience
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel and Word.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience; excellent computer skills; outstanding organizational, interpersonal, communications and time-management skills; ability to exercise discretion and interact effectively with people at all levels and from diverse backgrounds; maintain professional positive outlook, handle multiple projects simultaneously; ability to work with frequent interruptions and to multi-task; exceptional attention to detail
• Enjoy working with people and solving problems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of veterinary patient care software (EMR - electronic medical record) systems.
• Veterinary Technician If candidate is a Veterinary Technician, CVT

Pay Range

Minimum $72,500.00, Midpoint $90,700.00, Maximum $108,900.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.