The Veterinarian must have a demonstrated background in veterinary medicine with an established goal of advancing their knowledge of aquatic animal veterinary medicine. The Veterinarian serves as the lead veterinary care provider for all animals within Mote Aquarium and Mote’s Rehabilitation Hospital. These animals include but are not limited to elasmobranchs, teleosts, aquatic invertebrates, manatees, penguins, river otters, turtles (marine and freshwater), tortoises, snakes, and amphibians. If the Veterinarian does not currently meet the requirements set forth by USFWS and FWC to provide primary veterinary care for sirenean, cetacean, and/or sea turtles, then the Veterinarian will be mentored in those areas under a qualified regional contract veterinarian until those criteria are met.
- The Veterinarian will work closely with the Aquarium’s Curatorial team and the Hospitals’ Rehabilitation and Medical Care Manager, who oversee the operations of their respective areas.
- The Veterinarian’s primary responsibility is to provide exceptional clinical care to Mote’s resident and rehabilitation animals.
- Secondary to that, the Veterinarian will be encouraged to engage in conservation and/or research activities.
General Duties:
- Oversee all aspects of clinical veterinary care within the Aquarium and Rehabilitation Hospital.
- Work closely with the husbandry staff to provide and maintain a complete veterinary care program in line with the modern zoological practices outlined by the AZA and AVMA standards.
- Oversee the management of all aspects of the health of Mote’s animal collection including, but not limited to, preventative medicine, diagnosis and treatment of disease, surgical care, and nutrition.
- Execute effective testing procedures during quarantine for all animal acquisitions to ensure the health of the collection and compliance with government regulations.
- Monitor and analyze current husbandry practices as they relate to disease prevention and develop collaborative solutions with husbandry staff.
- Maintain all necessary medical records (using ZIMS), review nutritional records for collection animals and make dietary recommendations.
- Evaluate health and safety implications of proposed or existing behavioral enrichment programs.
- Oversee the use, disposal, and record keeping of controlled substances related to veterinary care.
- Perform necropsies to establish the causes of death and when relevant make recommendations regarding the living collection.
- Ensure appropriate and timely pre-shipment testing for animal acquisitions and dispositions.
- Provide support to the Strandings Department by reviewing reports and assisting with stranding response, necropsies, and the osteological collection when available and requested
- Other tasks not directly related to veterinary care may include
- Participation in the program development process
- Keep work areas clean and equipment organized
- Consulting and educating animal care staff and management in areas of health and husbandry
- Work with human medical experts in educating staff and volunteers concerning zoonotic diseases
- Writing and implementing Standard Operating Protocols
- Participation in professional development conferences, seminars, workshops,etc. which could involve travel to out-of-town locations.
- Other duties as assigned
- This position may also have the opportunity to work with animals being maintained at various
- Mote campuses for aquaculture, stock enhancement, conservation, and scientific research.
- However, these duties would fall subsequent to providing clinical care to the animals within the
- Aquarium and Rehabilitation Hospital.
- All employees must comply with the requirements outlined in the Mote Employee Policy Manual.
Labor Category:
- Exempt (Federal Fair Labor Standards Act)
Working Hours:
- Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with one hour for lunch and will include
- weekend and holiday shifts.
- These normal working hours may vary depending on the needs of
- the animals.
- Occasional longer daily hours or evening hours may be required.
- On-call
- coverage for collection animals as well as stranded marine animals will also be required.
Minimum Requirements:
- Licenses and Certifications
- Valid DEA License for controlled drugs
- Valid Florida Driver’s License, or ability to obtain one within 1 month of hire
- Rescue SCUBA Diver certification or the ability to obtain in 12 months of hire
- First Aid and CPR Certified or the ability to obtain within 1 month of hire
- Current rabies immunization or ability to obtain within 1 month of hire
- Florida veterinary license or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire
- Education: Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (aquatic animal focus preferred)
Experience
- Minimum of 5 years’ working as a veterinarian preferably at an AZA-certified facility or a full-time residency as an aquatic animal veterinarian at an AZA- certified facility plus a year working independently in such a position.
- Preference given to those that have at least 2 years experience at authorized education, rehabilitation, or research facility caring for sick and injured sea turtles and manatees.
Skills
- Perform routine tasks accurately and efficiently
- Able to work well with others and be a team player
- Communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
- Ability to multitask and operate in a fast-paced working environment
- Posses time management and organizational skills
- Ability to administer CPR, First Aid and DAN O2
- Utilize independent judgment to address animal health concerns
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, Google applications, and Species 360’s
- ZIMS
- Working knowledge of animal husbandry, training and enrichment techniques and practices, and animal nutrition
- Ability to interact comfortably with the media
Physical
- Ability to work outside in hot/humid Florida weather conditions
- Ability to spend the majority of the workday walking, standing, bending and lifting
- Capable of climbing and working from ladders
- Tolerance to work around noisy machinery & equipment
- Ability to work in confined spaces
- Tolerance for strong odors, including fish, feces, decomposing animals, etc.
- Ability to lift and carry 60 lbs
- Ability to lift 25 lbs overhead
- Capable of working around chlorine, ozone, and other sanitizing chemicals
- Tolerance working with wet hands, feet and clothes every day
- Precise hand-eye coordination is required for the gentle capture, restraint, and handling of animals from terrestrial and aquatic environments
- Visual acuity is required including the ability to distinguish color variations
- Rabies inoculations and participation in annual tuberculin testing will be required per Mote’s policy on working with the North American river otters.
- The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification.
- They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.
Experience Required
- Minimum of 5 years’ working as a veterinarian preferably at an AZA-certified facility or a full-time residency as an aquatic animal veterinarian at an AZA- certified facility plus a year working independently in such a position.
- Preference given to those that have at least 2 years experience at authorized education, rehabilitation, or research facility caring for sick and injured sea turtles and manatees.
