Salary: $139,552.19 - $176,890.48 Annually
Location : Regional Animal Services King County - 21615 64th Ave S, Kent, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026BM27621
Department: DES - Executive Services
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time

Summary
Are you a visionary shelter medicine leader committed to advancing animal welfare, public service, and organizational excellence? Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is seeking an experienced Animal Shelter Veterinary Medical Director to lead our veterinary services program and help shape the future of one of the Pacific Northwest's premier municipal animal service organizations.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a collaborative veterinary team while preparing for operations in a new animal shelter in 2027. The Medical Director serves as a member of the RASKC senior leadership team, providing strategic direction for shelter medicine, mentoring veterinary professionals, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring exceptional care for thousands of animals each year.

Job Duties
SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES: In order to be considered minimally qualified for this role, you must demonstrate knowledge, skill and ability to perform the following:

• Lead all veterinary clinic operations, shelter medicine programs, and medical staff.
• Supervise veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and clinic volunteers.
• Establish strategic goals, policies, and performance measures.
• Oversee surgery, diagnostics, treatment, vaccination, disease prevention, and humane euthanasia.
• Lead infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
• Manage foster medical programs and animal population health.
• Develop and manage clinic budgets, grants, contracts, and controlled substance inventory.
• Partner with animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, universities, and community organizations.
• Participate in labor relations, organizational planning, and leadership initiatives.
• Promote Lean continuous improvement, innovation, employee engagement, and evidence-based decision making.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The successful candidate is:

• A collaborative and forward-thinking leader.
• Experienced in shelter medicine and population management.
• Comfortable making timely medical and operational decisions.
• Passionate about coaching and developing employees.
• Skilled at building partnerships and communicating with diverse stakeholders.
• Data-driven and committed to continuous improvement.
• Dedicated to exceptional customer service, equity, and animal welfare.
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent.
• Unrestricted Washington veterinary license (or ability to obtain).
• DEA registration (or ability to obtain).
• Progressive supervisory or management experience in veterinary medicine.
• Experience performing high-volume, quality spay/neuter surgery and shelter medicine.

Preferred Qualifications
• Shelter medicine leadership.
• Budget development and management.
• Grant administration.
• Public sector or nonprofit leadership.
• Experience with Chameleon software.
• Lean or continuous improvement experience.

Why Join Us
• Lead a highly respected regional animal services program.
• Help open and shape a new animal shelter.
• Influence the future of shelter medicine in King County.
• Work alongside a collaborative leadership team committed to innovation, employee development, and exceptional service

Supplemental Information
Are you ready to make a difference? dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Are you ready to APPLY?

The recruitment for this position is open to all qualified candidates. A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a resume and cover letter.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County's vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Brittney Marzest, Senior Talent Advisor at [email protected]
This recruitment is an effort to fill our immediate vacancies as well as create a hire list that will be used for any positions that become vacant within the next 6 months, including additional Term Limited Temporary (TLT) and Career Service (CS) positions.