Director of Veterinary Services

About us:

At The Lost Dogs’ Home, we are a foundation in Victoria's animal welfare landscape, celebrated for our compassionate care of around 18,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats every year. Beyond caring for animals, we are dedicated to providing diverse animal welfare and community programs, all aimed at giving animals the best chance of a happy and healthy life. Our mission is upheld by passionate individuals who embody a profound affinity for animals, community, and advocacy.

About the role:

The Lost Dogs’ Home is seeking a passionate and experienced Director of Veterinary Services to lead our clinical operations, and play a pivotal role in strengthening our ability to provide the best outcomes for lost and abandoned animals. Based at our North Melbourne location and reporting directly to the CEO, this key executive position leads the delivery of best-practice veterinary services across both our shelter and our private practice veterinary clinic.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Development – Lead, motivate and develop our veterinary team through effective people and talent management, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and values-driven culture.
• Clinical Excellence & Innovation - Oversee the delivery of high-quality veterinary services, implementing sound clinical governance and positioning LDH as a leader in specialist animal care.
• Business Growth & Commercial Strategy - Drive the strategic growth of the Lost Dogs' Home Veterinary Hospital (LDHVH) through targeted initiatives, while maintaining exceptional standards of care.
• Strategic Planning & Compliance - Contribute to organisational strategy, manage operational business plans and budgets, and ensure strict compliance with veterinary legislation, clinical safety, and industry codes of practice.
• Advocacy, Brand & External Representation - Act as a key spokesperson on veterinary matters to enhance LDH’s reputation and represent the organisation in external forums to advance animal welfare and public engagement initiatives.

About you:

• You hold a degree in Veterinary Science and have previously practiced as a registered Veterinarian.
• You have had success in growing commercial enterprises to achieve financial targets.
• You are a skilled communicator, mentor, and decision-maker who thrives in collaborative environments. You foster positive team culture, coach others, and lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose.
• You have extensive hands-on experience as a veterinarian, including advanced clinical and surgical capability, and the ability to manage complex medical cases with a high standard of care.
• You have proven leadership and business acumen, having led high-performing teams in clinical environments, with a strong track record in business development, strategic planning, and financial oversight.
• You excel in clinic operations, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement. You’re confident working with performance metrics, SOPs, and driving commercial outcomes aligned with animal welfare.

About our culture:

At The Lost Dogs’ Home, we cultivate an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity. Our team enjoys a vibrant culture that fosters meaningful connections, both professionally and socially. Led by our dedicated social committee, we organise a wide range of engaging activities such as Paint and Sip Nights, Bowling, Trivia, and regular after-work gatherings. These events create opportunities for our team to relax, bond, and forge lasting friendships. We take pride in our diverse team where every individual is encouraged to be their authentic self, regardless of their role within the organisation.

What we can offer:

• A purposeful animal welfare career,
• Fantastic career development and opportunities,
• Discounts at our general practice clinic, Lost Dogs Home Veterinary Clinic,
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program,
• Access to the Foster Care Program,
• A unique and friendly working environment (surrounded by animals!),
• Rewarding work with animals in need of a forever home.

If you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to be successful in this role, please click on the “Apply” button, ensuring you have attached your cover letter and current resume in Word or PDF format. If you have any further questions or queries regarding the role, please email [email protected].

The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete background screening checks.

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage you to apply early as the role may close if a suitable candidate is found. Don't miss out - apply today!

The Lost Dogs’ Home is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Only candidates with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.