The posting
JOB LOCATION
15750 E 32nd Ave Aurora, Colorado 80011-1518
City of Aurora, Colorado
It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
Why Work for Aurora?
- Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
- Diverse community
- Competitive total compensation package
- Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
- Light rail station minutes away
- On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
- Access to innovation workspaces
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Salary to be commensurate with experience
The hiring range for this position is $70.89 - $88.61/hourly
This is classified as VHNE (Variable Hour Non-Benefit Employee), where the selected candidate will work less than 29 hours per week. This position does not provide medical benefits. This position earns sick leave in accordance with the Healthy Families and Workplace Act.
The deadline to submit applications is October 30, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.
OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT
Housing and Community Development Services consists of four divisions: Neighborhood Support, Animal Services, Housing and Community Development, and Community Engagement. The mission of the Housing and Community Development Department is to maintain community appearance and enhance the quality of life in Aurora’s neighborhoods. This is accomplished through a combination of community outreach, education, code enforcement, and numerous neighborhood improvement programs and services. The staff is dedicated to forming partnerships with neighborhoods, residents, and community groups to strengthen and enhance both the social fabric and physical aspects of Aurora neighborhoods.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the division’s lead medical and surgical staff member
- Perform medical examinations and treatments on shelter animals as requested
- Perform surgical procedures including but not limited to: spay/neuter, umbilical hernia repairs, dentistry, cherry eye repair, soft tissue damage, and orthopedic procedures/amputation as requested
- Performs euthanasia and provide training and certification of euthanasia to Animal Services staff
- Performs necropsies and decapitations as needed
- Provides examination, documentation, and expert testimony in cases of animal neglect or abuse when needed for Aurora Animal Services Division
- Provide oversight and direction to veterinary technicians and support staff
- Aids patrons and veterinarians with questions about shelter-related illness regarding animals adopted from the Aurora Animal Shelter
- Foster relationships with local veterinary clinics and local shelter veterinarians
- Provide medical training to division staff to include but not limited to rabies vaccination, other appropriate vaccinations, physical examinations, implanting animal microchips, treatments and contagion identification
- Represents the division, perform medical procedures at vaccination clinics and other shelter events
- Provide instruction to veterinary and/or veterinary technicians students on dentals, vaccinations, and various shelter medical treatments
- Maintain appropriate licensing and continuing education course requirements
- Contribute to the organization protocols, policies and procedures pertaining to shelter medicine, treatment and care of shelter animals
- Manage and maintain accurate medical records
- Responsible for ordering, logging and all record keeping for pharmaceuticals and prescription foods using the state-issued Colorado Veterinary License.
- Allow designated shelter staff to order legend pharmaceuticals, excluding Sodium Pentobarbital, using the contract veterinarian’s name and Colorado Veterinary License number
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
Education:
- Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine
Experience:
- At least three (3) years of experience in shelter medicine
Licenses and Certifications Required:
- Membership in a veterinary medical association or veterinary alliance
- Veterinary License with clean practice record
- Euthanasia Certification
- DEA license
- Driver's License
Knowledge:
- Current veterinary standards and practices, dog and cat breed characteristics
- Standard contagion practices in a shelter environment
- Possess an excellent understanding of animal behavior and uses positive reinforcement techniques to interact with shelter animals
Skills:
- Strong surgical skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Possess safe animal handling and restraint techniques
- Provide good customer service with strong interpersonal skills
- Skilled in Chameleon software or other shelter related software
- Skill in data entry of medical records and logging of controlled substances and medical treatments
- Motivation to always improve standard of care
Abilities:
- Effectively communicate in writing
- Effective time management skills with the ability to triage cases and workload
- Work well in fast-paced environment
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and citizens
- Handle difficult or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy
- Provide humane care and treatment for a variety of animals
- Pay high attention to detail
- Assist in daily surgical procedures
- Perform in a high pace and high stress environment
- Assist with performing euthanasia on a daily basis
- Operate a City vehicle
WORKING CONDITIONS
Essential Personnel:
- When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.
Physical Demands:
- Heavy physical work requiring ability to lift and carry animals and/or objects weighing up to 100 pounds with or without assistance
- Frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds with or without assistance
- Regular walking and standing
- Full range of body movements including pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, stooping/crouching, and climbing
- Foot/eye coordination to operate equipment and motor vehicle
- Vision to read reports, manuals, written materials, instruments, and gauges
- Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees, citizens and animals
- Work is subject to bodily injury when dealing with animals
- Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care
- Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation
Work Environment:
- Works both indoors and outdoors in an animal shelter with exposure to dust, water, noise, vicious and/or sick animals, odors, cleaning chemicals, animal dander, feces and fumes
- Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments
- Subject to animal bites or scratches
- Work is often performed in high noise level areas necessary
Equipment Used:
- Uses a variety of tools and equipment common to veterinary, kennel and cleaning operations
- Motor vehicle for transporting animals to off-site animal hospitals
- Uses a variety of hand tools and equipment common to animal control operations such as a snare, syringe for euthanasia, tranquilizer gun
- Wire cutters and shovel
- Uses two-way radio and telephone
- Personal computer with related software
- This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment
The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.
For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check.
Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.
Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.
