As a Supervisor of Veterinary Services with the Department of National Defence, you will lead a team of veterinary professionals responsible for animal health, welfare, and medical care. You will oversee the provision of veterinary services to military working animals, including dogs, horses, and other animals used in defence operations. Your responsibilities include supervising staff, managing veterinary clinics or field operations, ensuring compliance with animal welfare standards, and coordinating with other departments to maintain the health and operational readiness of animals under DND care.
In this supervisory role, you will manage budgets, schedule staff, maintain records, and ensure adherence to veterinary regulations and DND policies. You will also be responsible for training and mentoring your team, performance management, and contributing to strategic planning for veterinary services. Your work environment may include veterinary clinics, field operations, and coordination with military units across Canada and internationally. You will work closely with veterinarians, animal care technicians, and military personnel to ensure optimal animal health outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate and oversee daily veterinary services operations, Assign work, monitor progress, and provide guidance to team members, Review work products for quality and compliance with standards, Contribute to operational planning and process improvement
Required Skills
Clinical skills, Patient/client assessment, Empathy and communication, Record-keeping, Interdisciplinary collaboration, Team supervision, Work coordination, Quality control, Staff development
Typical Education
Post-secondary diploma or degree; experience in the relevant technical or functional area
Training
To qualify for this position, you must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited veterinary college recognized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. You must be licensed to practise veterinary medicine in Canada and maintain current professional standing with your provincial or territorial veterinary regulatory body. Supervisory experience or demonstrated leadership capability is required or will be developed through DND management training programs. The Government of Canada may support your participation in professional development courses related to veterinary practice, animal welfare, herd health management, and supervisory skills. Continuing education in areas such as military animal operations, federal regulations, and DND-specific protocols is expected throughout your career. Professional certifications in specialized areas such as equine medicine, exotic animal care, or emergency veterinary medicine are considered assets.
Entry Plans
Entry into the Supervisor - Veterinary Services position typically occurs through federal Public Service job competitions open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. These competitions may be advertised on the Government of Canada's official job board (jobs.gc.ca) and the DND Civilian Workforce careers website. You may enter as a Veterinarian at a lower classification level and advance to a supervisory position through promotion competitions based on demonstrated leadership and performance. The DND also considers lateral moves from other government departments where you have relevant veterinary and supervisory experience. Some positions may be filled through internal pools of qualified candidates. If you are a student pursuing veterinary education, you may explore student work programs or co-op placements with DND to gain experience and build relationships within the organization. Eligibility requirements include Canadian citizenship (or permanent resident status for certain positions), security clearance, and medical fitness standards applicable to DND civilian employees.
Part-Time Options
Part-time work options may be available depending on operational needs and DND requirements, though supervisory roles typically require full-time commitment to manage staff and operations effectively. Flexible work arrangements such as flexible hours or compressed work weeks may be negotiated with your manager, subject to service delivery requirements. Remote work is limited due to the hands-on nature of veterinary services and the need for direct supervision of animals and staff, though administrative components of the role may be performed remotely in some circumstances. The specific availability of flexible and part-time options will depend on the location of your position, the operational demands of the clinic or unit, and DND policy at the time of your employment. You are encouraged to discuss work arrangement preferences during the recruitment process or with your manager once hired.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
