Job Description
Staff Veterinarian
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Job Type: Full-time
Compensation: $140,000-$160,000 annually
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with rotating after-hours, weekend, and holiday on-call coverage
Position Overview
A research organization in Muskegon, Michigan, is seeking a Staff Veterinarian to provide clinical and preventive veterinary care for animals involved in research studies. This is a hands-on role focused on animal welfare, clinical medicine, surgical support, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with veterinary technicians, research teams, study directors, the IACUC, and senior leadership.
The veterinarian will have primary clinical responsibility for one of two sites—large animal or a combination of small and large animal—based on experience and professional interests.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide preventive, routine, diagnostic, surgical, and emergency veterinary care throughout the animals' lifecycles and research participation.
* Assess clinical cases, establish diagnoses, prescribe treatments, and perform surgical or other medical interventions as needed.
* Develop treatment plans in collaboration with veterinary technicians, who assist with triage and delegated treatments.
* Conduct and document physical, neurologic, ophthalmic, and study-specific health examinations.
* Support anesthesia, analgesia, surgery, necropsy, behavioral management, and other animal-care activities.
* Establish and enforce humane endpoints in collaboration with study directors, research teams, the IACUC, and the Attending Veterinarian.
* Provide guidance, mentorship, and training to veterinary technicians and research personnel.
* Communicate with study directors and research teams regarding animal health, study protocols, and responsible research conduct.
* Interpret diagnostic testing, including magnetic resonance images of central nervous system structures.
* Create and maintain standard operating procedures and clinical documentation.
* Maintain accurate medical and drug-use records in accordance with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and internal requirements.
* Support compliance with USDA, AAALAC, OLAW, GLP, and other applicable animal-welfare and research standards.
* Maintain required veterinary and controlled-substance licenses.
* Supervise and support the development of direct reports, if applicable.
Animal Species
The primary species are nonhuman primates , with additional experience involving:
* Swine
* Sheep
* Canines
* Rabbits
* Rats
* Mice
Required Qualifications
* Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited U.S. veterinary medical college, or an equivalent degree with U.S. equivalency examination completed.
* Active Michigan veterinary license.
* Michigan controlled-substance license.
* Ability to obtain DEA Controlled Substance Registration.
* Strong knowledge of general anesthesia principles for laboratory animals.
* Experience with study design, research protocols, and laboratory animal clinical care.
* Experience with targeted-delivery surgical interventions in laboratory animal patients.
* Knowledge of GLPs and federal regulations governing the care and use of laboratory animals.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills.
* Ability to work effectively under time constraints and respond to urgent animal-care needs.
* Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn additional software systems.
Preferred Qualifications
* At least two years of industry, contract research organization, or laboratory animal clinical medicine experience.
* USDA Category II accreditation.
* Board certification or eligibility in DACLAM, DACVS, DACVAA, DACAW, or a related specialty.
* Experience with nonhuman primates and/or large animal species.
* Previous experience training or guiding veterinary technicians and research staff.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
This position is approximately 30% office-based and 70% vivarium-based . The role involves exposure to animal pathogens, chemicals, animal tissue, and zoonotic organisms. Personal protective equipment—including N95 masks and respirators—must be worn as required.
Candidates must be able to:
* Sit or stand for extended periods.
* Lift up to 50 pounds.
* Carry up to 40 pounds for up to 50 feet.
* Push or pull with up to 75 pounds of force.
* Reach, grip, pinch, and perform hands-on animal-care activities.
* Ascend ladders.
* Work evenings, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, or with short notice when emergency animal care requires.