Our Vision: To be a leader in animal welfare, working for a compassionate society where all animals are respected and valued.
Our Mission: To Improve the Lives of Animals.
Job Summary
The Manager, Shelter Medicine, under the direction of the Director, Animal Sheltering, leads shelter-based veterinary care services and oversees Shelter Veterinarians (DVMs), Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), and Veterinary Assistants (VAs), ensuring the delivery of high-quality, efficient, and humane care across shelter medicine, including admissions, surgery, medical care, laboratory and pharmacy.
The Manager is accountable for clinical operations, staffing, workflow optimization, and regulatory compliance, while supporting a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to patient care. Working closely with the shelter Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer and Lead RVT, this role ensures alignment between medical standards, operational capacity, and organizational goals, including length of stay reduction and positive animal outcomes.
Job Duties
Leadership & Operations – 85%
Provide direct leadership and supervision to Shelter RVTs, and VAs, including scheduling, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
Alongside the Deputy Chief, provide oversight of shelter Veterinarians, including scheduling, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
Oversee the daily operations of shelter medicine, including admissions (medical lens), surgery, treatment, and lab/pharm services.
Ensure appropriate staffing levels and resource allocation to support efficient workflow and animal movement through the shelter.
Coordinate patient transfers to external animal care facilities and referral clinics as required, ensuring continuity of care, timely decision-making, and clear communication.
Maintain collaborative, professional relationships with external referral partners and service providers to support efficient coordination of care.
Partner with the shelter Deputy Chief Veterinarian Officer to ensure adherence to medical standards, protocols, and best practices.
Collaborate with the shelter Lead RVT to support day-to-day workflow coordination and team support on the floor.
Create and implement training systems for all staff and volunteers under purview.
Perform personnel actions such as hiring, transferring, promoting, disciple, and conducting performance reviews for all staff under purview.
Provide oversight and coordination for students and volunteers engaged within shelter medicine programs, ensuring appropriate onboarding, training, supervision, and alignment with organizational standards.
Oversee inventory management and procurement processes for medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment, ensuring appropriate stock levels, cost control, and compliance with storage and handling requirements.
Act as a point of escalation for complex or sensitive clinical and operational concerns.
Lead and foster an environment of teamwork, collaboration, and innovation within the veterinary and medical care department, ensuring alignment with shelter medicine principles.
Oversee the activities of veterinary staff, students, and volunteers, ensuring the delivery of safe, outcome-focused, and compassionate care across the full spectrum of shelter animal needs.
Contribute to and implement strategies for the achievement of Animal Sheltering’s strategy and goals focusing on quality of care, timely interventions, and operational efficiency that maximizes lifesaving impact.
Foster, promote, support and drive inclusion and influence others to promote, embrace and progress Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Toronto Humane Society.
Other duties as required in the day-to-day operation of the Society.
Administration – 10%
Oversee scheduling systems and payroll-related processes for the shelter veterinary team.
Maintain oversight of medical record systems, including data integrity, reporting, and process improvements.
Monitor performance against operational and financial targets by tracking, analyzing, and reporting key metrics (e.g., capacity, length of stay, treatment outcomes, surgery volume).
Regularly evaluate veterinary staff practices and procedures to identify areas of improvement or revision, working collaboratively with other departments to ensure optimal outcomes for animals and the Society.
Compliance – 5%
Conduct and/or oversee regular audits (e.g., controlled drug audits, medical record audits, surgical quality reviews) to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, internal standards, and best practices.
Work in compliance with the provisions of the Ontario Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including understanding and adhering to the requirements of the Health and Safety Manual, and any other rules and regulations established by the Toronto Humane Society.
Present a positive and professional image of the organization when interacting with employees, clients/customers, visitors, and other external stakeholders.
Job Requirements
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in good standing with the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT),
Minimum 5 years of clinical experience, preferably in a high-volume or shelter environment,
Demonstrated leadership experience, including staff supervision and performance management,
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Demonstrated expertise and commitment to teaching and fostering continuous growth and professional development in others.
Strong understanding of shelter medicine principles and population management strategies.
Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to build strong working relationships.
Ability to respond quickly, calmly, and professionally in a fast-paced, emotionally charged, and evolving environment.
High flexibility with strong interpersonal skills that allow one to work effectively in a diverse environment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint), and familiarity with shelter management systems (e.g. PetPoint).
Strong administrative skills including organization and time management, with the ability to prioritize.
Commitment to animal welfare and a compassionate, solutions-oriented approach.
Work Conditions
Flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and on-call
Attendance and participation in training
Operation of desktop computer and peripherals
Interaction with employees, management and directors
Working in a busy office environment with frequent interruptions
May be required to work long hours
Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, odors, wetness, noise extremes, hazardous materials, toxic agents, animal/wildlife attacks, animal bites, disease, pathogenic substances, or rude/irate customers.
This posting is for an existing job vacancy.
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Candidate Potential
At Toronto Humane Society, we value diverse perspectives and recognize that a great candidate may not check every box. If you're passionate about animal welfare and believe you have the potential to excel in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you may not meet every listed qualification. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are committed to providing a supportive environment for professional growth and development.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Toronto Humane Society is committed to building and sustaining a diverse and equitable workplace where people’s unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, respected, and welcome. We recognize that a diverse and empowered workforce helps us better serve our animals, clients, and community and contributes to Toronto Humane Society’s overall growth and success. Therefore, we strongly encourage qualified applications from underrepresented and equity-deserving groups within the animal welfare sector, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomers, 2S/LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.
Accommodation Needs
Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.
Use of AI in Recruitment
To streamline our hiring process, we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency, the core evaluation of candidates is carried out by our human resources team. This approach ensures a personalized review that allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the applicant's unique skills and potential.
Next Steps
We thank all applicants for their interest in Toronto Humane Society, however due to the high number of applications we receive, only those selected will be contacted for an interview.
