An Animal Care Worker or Manager manages animal care and grooming for a retail store that sells pets or for a pet grooming business. May also provide animal care and grooming at a kennel. Works with animals in shelters or rescue organizations. Works primarily with dogs and cats. Assists veterinarians with vaccinations or other procedures; screens people who want to adopt an animal from a shelter and provides information about caring for animals.
Medical Manager - Animal Shelter Animal Protection Society of Durham - 4.0 Durham, NC Job Details Full-time $50,000 - $58,000 a year 19 hours ago Qualifications Animal health monitoring Patient treatment planning Companion animal handling Veterinary Technology Direct patient care Managing pet care teams Staff supervision Veterinary surgical assistance experience Medical equipment sterilization Equipment safety procedures Infectious diseases (public health) Healthcare resource management Veterinary preventive care Bachelor's degree in animal science Veterinary Technician Certification Quality of care (regulatory compliance area) Shelter medicine Safety regulations Operations coordination Coaching Staff scheduling Veterinary emergency care Veterinary team coordination Care documentation Clinic experience Mid-level Veterinary clinic experience Working with individuals in post-surgery recovery Team development Preventive health (patient care) Full Job Description
JOIN THE APS TEAM!
Help Build the Future of Shelter Medicine Do you thrive in a fast-paced medical environment where every day brings new challenges—and every day gives you the opportunity to save lives? The Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is seeking an experienced, compassionate, and collaborative Medical Manager to lead the daily operations of our medical department. Working alongside our Lead Veterinarian and Director of Animal Wellbeing, you'll help ensure exceptional medical care while building strong systems, supporting a talented team, and advancing our lifesaving mission. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of North Carolina's busiest open-admission shelters as we continue investing in our people, our programs, and our community.
What You'll Do:
As Medical Manager, you'll oversee the day-to-day operations of our medical department while helping ensure every animal receives high-quality, compassionate care.
Your responsibilities include:
Lead Daily Medical Operations:
Coordinate workflow within the clinic, treatment, and surgical areas. Support veterinarians with exams, diagnostics, treatments, and surgery Oversee patient care, treatment plans, vaccinations, and preventative medicine. Ensure smooth medical operations across the shelter.
Manage Surgical Operations:
Coordinate daily spay/neuter and surgical schedules. Oversee patient preparation, recovery, and tracking. Maintain surgical equipment and sterilization protocols. Ensure safe, efficient surgical workflows. Lead and Develop the
Medical Team:
Supervise veterinary technicians, assistants, and medical animal care staff. Create staff schedules and ensure appropriate coverage. Coach, mentor, and support professional growth. Foster a positive, collaborative team culture.
Manage Medical Inventory:
Maintain medications, supplies, and equipment. Monitor inventory levels. Coordinate purchasing and cost-effective resource management.
Ensure Compliance and Quality:
Maintain accurate medical records. Support compliance with OSHA, DEA, and veterinary regulations. Assist with reporting, documentation, and audits.
Support Shelter Medicine:
Help lead disease prevention and outbreak response. Support shelter population health strategies. Ensure humane care standards throughout the organization. Serve as a Certified Euthanasia Technician (training provided if needed).
Collaborate Across APS:
Partner with Animal Care, Lifesaving Programs, Customer Service, and leadership teams. Communicate medical updates clearly. Help train staff on animal health, handling, and safety. Participate in the emergency medical foster phone rotation.
What We're Looking For:
We're looking for someone who combines strong veterinary knowledge with excellent leadership skills.
Successful candidates will have:
Strong leadership and team management skills. Excellent communication and coaching abilities. Outstanding organizational and multitasking skills. Knowledge of veterinary medicine and clinical best practices. A calm, professional approach in fast-paced situations. Strong attention to detail and medical documentation. A collaborative mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.
Qualifications:
Preferred:
Credentialed Veterinary Technician (CVT, RVT, or LVT). Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, or a related field.
Experience:
2-4 years of veterinary clinic or shelter experience. Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred. Experience in high-volume surgery or shelter medicine is a plus. Working at APS This position is based at our Durham shelter and includes: Working with animals of all sizes, ages, and medical conditions. Frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, and animal handling. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, biological hazards, and zoonotic diseases. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Some evenings, weekends, holidays, or extended hours as operational needs require. Why APS? At APS, we're building something special. We're investing in our staff, strengthening our volunteer and foster programs, improving shelter medicine practices, and working closely with our community to create better outcomes for animals and the people who love them. If you're looking for a place where your leadership can truly make a difference—and where you'll be surrounded by teammates who care deeply about animals and each other—we'd love to hear from you. APS of Durham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees and applicants.
