The Spay/Neuter Surgeon is responsible for providing high-quality, high-volume surgical care, ensuring the best possible outcomes for shelter animals. This role is ideal for a veterinarian passionate about PAWS Chicago’s No Kill mission and committed to reducing pet overpopulation through efficient and compassionate care.
This position is heavily focused on high volume spay/neuter surgeries, with occasional soft tissue procedures such as dental extractions, mass removals, amputations, and wound repairs. The surgeon works alongside a skilled support team and may collaborate with our Shelter Medicine program. If you're a veterinarian who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- Perform high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) surgeries, averaging 50 – 60 procedures per day while maintaining efficiency and quality.
- Conduct additional soft tissue surgeries as needed, including mass removals, amputations, dental extractions, wound repairs, and ocular procedures.
- Diagnose and manage medical conditions in shelter animals
- Oversee and manage anesthetic and surgical complications, ensuring excellent patient care and adherence to safety protocols.
- Work collaboratively with Shelter Medicine veterinarians and technicians to ensure continuity of care for all shelter animals.
- Maintain and promote best practices for surgical care, contributing to protocol updates and improvements as needed.
- Provide mentorship and training to veterinary staff and technicians as needed, fostering a culture of learning and growth.
- Support PAWS Chicago’s mission by participating in educational outreach and advocacy efforts as appropriate.
Requirements
- Must be a licensed Veterinarian in the state of Illinois.
- Minimum one year of experience in high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN), or completion of a high-volume surgical training program.
- Proficiency in performing complex spay/neuter surgeries, including cryptorchid neuters, pyometra, dystocia, in-heat, obese, and large-breed patients.
- Experience with soft tissue surgeries such as mass removals, amputations, and wound repairs.
- Experience with mobile spay/neuter clinics is a plus but not required.
- Passion for working with shelter animals and underserved communities.
- Ability to stand or sit for 8+ hours per shift in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- Strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills to foster a positive and collaborative workplace.
- Climbing stairs, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, lifting and grasping
- Walking and moving about to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another
- Able to lift 40lbs occasionally, 10lbs frequently and a negligible amount constantly
Work Schedule & Benefits
- Full-time position with set daytime hours (no overnight, on-call, or holiday shifts).
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Continuing education opportunities and support for professional development.
- Work alongside a dedicated and skilled support team in a state-of-the-art facility.
PAWS Chicago Values-in-Action
Respect: for each and every life.
Community: of people and organizations committed to helping homeless pets.
Innovation: to constantly improve best practices and seek out new ideas and strategies to save more lives. To be a Learning Center that evolves and grows.
Pro-activity: to solve difficult problems and to be prepared to offer emergency and crisis support.
Transparency: that informs the public about the fate of homeless animals.
Education: that raises awareness about the realities that homeless animals face in the community and across the nations, providing a forum for people to get involved in effecting change. Promotes and support reasonable pet ownership.
Sustainability: through financial management practices that maximize the impact and reach of our resources and endure that PAWS Chicago will always be a resource for homeless animals.
Compassion: towards all people and animals.