Description

Colossal Biosciences is seeking an experienced Clinical Veterinarian to help build and lead clinical veterinary operations across a rapidly expanding portfolio of animal programs. This role is designed for a veterinarian who thrives in a start-up environment and is excited not only to deliver exceptional clinical care, but also to design, implement, and operationalize the systems, protocols, and facilities that underpin a world-class animal health program.

The Clinical Veterinarian will provide comprehensive medical oversight for a wide variety of species, including restored species, and will play a foundational role in shaping Colossal’s long-term animal health infrastructure. This position requires strong expertise in anesthesia, surgery, emergency response, preventative medicine, and clinical systems development, along with the ability to build scalable veterinary programs in a dynamic and evolving organization.

This position reports directly to the Chief Animal Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

 Clinical Veterinary Care & Case Leadership

• Provide comprehensive medical care across a diverse portfolio of species, including restored species.
• Perform physical examinations, diagnostic evaluations, and therapeutic interventions.
• Develop case management plans for acute, chronic, and emergent conditions.
• Lead emergency and critical care response as needed, including field-based situations.
• Maintain accurate and compliant medical records within established record-keeping systems.
• Develop and oversee preventative medicine programs and whole-population health strategies.

Anesthesia & Surgical Leadership

• Design and implement anesthetic protocols for a wide variety of species in both hospital and field environments.
• Perform and oversee sedation, induction, monitoring, and recovery.
• Operate and maintain modern anesthesia delivery and physiologic monitoring systems.
• Perform surgical procedures as appropriate to program needs.
• Establish anesthetic safety guidelines, drug formularies, and controlled substance management systems.
• Develop contingency protocols for complex or high-risk immobilizations.
• Deep experience in advanced anesthesia and peri-operative care is essential.

Program & Protocol Development (Startup Environment)

This position requires building clinical systems from the ground up. Responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing clinical SOPs for:
  • Preventative medicine
  • Quarantine and biosecurity
  • Anesthesia and surgical standards
  • Controlled drug management
  • Emergency response
  • Necropsy and pathology workflows
  • Establishing pharmaceutical inventory systems and DEA-compliant tracking protocols.
  • Advising on veterinary hospital and clinical facility design, equipment selection, and operational workflow.
  • Supporting construction planning and activation of new animal facilities.
  • Creating scalable veterinary infrastructure to support program growth and species expansion.

The Clinical Veterinarian must be comfortable operating in ambiguity and transforming early-stage operations into structured, high-functioning clinical systems.

Animal Welfare, Biosecurity & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead implementation of quarantine protocols and health certification processes.
• Oversee animal transfer evaluations and regulatory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, DEA, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Develop and monitor biosecurity and zoonotic disease prevention protocols.
• Partner with animal care teams on welfare assessments and behavioral health considerations.
• Support necropsy procedures and diagnostic sample management.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with the Chief Animal Officer on strategic planning and clinical priorities.
• Collaborate with animal husbandry, research, genetics, and facilities teams.
• Coordinate with external veterinary specialists and consultants as required.
• Contribute veterinary expertise to research initiatives requiring anesthesia, sampling, or surgical intervention.
• Help establish clinical best practices that align with both conservation and research objectives.
• Emergency Preparedness & Field Operations
• Be available for regular coverage during all hours including weekends and holidays
• Develop and implement emergency preparedness protocols.
• Support veterinary interventions in large-acreage and field environments.
• Lead clinical oversight during immobilizations and remote procedures.

Requirements

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort building systems in a growth-stage organization.
• Exceptional clinical judgment and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and protocol development capabilities.
• Clear communicator able to collaborate across scientific and operational teams.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to work within interdisciplinary environments.
• Adaptable and resilient in fast-paced, mission-driven settings.
• Familiarity with research animal oversight and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience providing medical care across a wide variety of species.
• DEA licensure (or ability to obtain).
• Strong emergency and critical care capabilities.
• Proven ability to operate independently and make sound clinical decisions in dynamic environments.

Extensive domestic travel with some international travel (~30%)

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Experience in zoological, wildlife, or conservation medicine settings.
• Experience supporting novel or complex species programs.
• Experience standing up or scaling a veterinary program.
• Board certification or advanced specialty training.

Education and Experience:

• DVM or VMD from an AVMA-accredited institution.
• Minimum 10 years of exotic clinical veterinary experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced anesthesia and surgical techniques.