The Job Opportunity:
An established small animal emergency and urgent care hospital is seeking a Full-Time Emergency Lead Veterinarian to join its experienced medical team. For more than a decade, the hospital has provided timely, compassionate care for pets experiencing urgent illnesses, injuries, and medical emergencies.

This position combines an active emergency and urgent care caseload with meaningful clinical leadership responsibilities. The Lead Veterinarian will help guide medical standards, support veterinary team development, strengthen clinical workflows, and contribute to the continued growth of the hospital’s emergency and urgent care services.

The practice emphasizes evidence-based medicine, clinical autonomy, thoughtful communication, and collaborative decision-making. Veterinarians are trusted to make appropriate medical decisions for their patients while having the support of skilled veterinary colleagues, technicians, and other support professionals.

This opportunity is particularly well suited to an experienced emergency or urgent care veterinarian who enjoys practicing high-quality medicine and would like to have a greater role in mentorship, medical quality, team development, and clinical leadership.

Structured onboarding, leadership development, continuing education, and professional growth resources provide ongoing support as the Lead Veterinarian continues developing both clinically and as a veterinary leader.

Practice Information:
This established small animal hospital has provided emergency and urgent veterinary care to its surrounding community for more than 14 years. The practice operates seven days per week, providing an important resource for pets and families requiring timely veterinary attention. The hospital’s focused emergency and urgent care model allows veterinarians to concentrate on patients requiring timely evaluation and treatment while providing clients with compassionate guidance during stressful and emotionally challenging situations.  The hospital provides a modern, state-of-the-art emergency care environment with technology and clinical resources designed to support high-quality emergency and urgent care medicine. Hospital features and services include:

• Small animal emergency medicine
• Small animal urgent care
• Emergency surgical services
• Compassionate end-of-life care
• Modern, state-of-the-art emergency hospital
• Skilled emergency veterinary team
• Experienced veterinary technicians and support professionals
• Collaborative emergency case management
• Clinical autonomy for veterinarians
• Strong emphasis on client communication
• Structured onboarding and mentorship
• Continuing education opportunities
• Leadership development resources
• Career advancement opportunities
• Seven-day-per-week emergency and urgent care availability

Role Responsibilities:

• Maintain an active emergency and urgent care caseload
• Provide compassionate, evidence-based veterinary medicine
• Evaluate and triage patients presenting with acute illnesses and injuries
• Perform comprehensive physical examinations and clinical assessments
• Stabilize patients requiring immediate medical intervention
• Develop individualized diagnostic and treatment plans
• Diagnose and manage urgent and emergent medical conditions
• Perform emergency procedures consistent with training, experience, and hospital capabilities
• Perform emergency surgical procedures when appropriate to training and experience
• Provide appropriate perioperative care, pain management, and supportive care
• Monitor patient response to treatment and modify plans when medically appropriate
• Determine when patients require continued hospitalization, advanced care, or referral
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with clients during stressful and emotionally challenging situations
• Provide clear case handoffs and coordinate referrals when appropriate
• Serve as a clinical resource for challenging or complex emergency cases
• Help establish and maintain consistent, evidence-based medical standards
• Support the development and implementation of clinical protocols
• Provide clinical guidance and mentorship to veterinary colleagues
• Encourage collaborative case discussion and knowledge sharing
• Support onboarding and professional development of veterinary team members
• Help strengthen emergency and urgent care workflows
• Identify opportunities to improve medical quality, patient safety, and clinical efficiency
• Collaborate with hospital leadership regarding clinical operations and medical priorities
• Support the continued development of emergency and urgent care services
• Maintain complete, timely, and accurate medical records
• Participate in continuing education and leadership development
• Model professionalism, accountability, respectful communication, and teamwork

Job Applicant Requirements:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree
• Active veterinary license, or eligibility for licensure, in the applicable state
• Professional experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, or a comparable clinical environment
• Commitment to compassionate, evidence-based veterinary medicine
• Strong emergency clinical reasoning and medical decision-making skills
• Ability to evaluate, triage, and stabilize acutely ill or injured patients
• Ability to remain organized and make thoughtful decisions in a clinically active environment
• Strong client communication and interpersonal skills
• Interest in clinical leadership, mentorship, and team development
• Ability to provide constructive clinical guidance and support to veterinary colleagues
• Ability to balance an active clinical caseload with leadership responsibilities
• Collaborative, approachable, and supportive leadership style
• Commitment to maintaining consistent medical standards and patient safety
• Ability to work effectively with veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and hospital leadership
• Interest in continuing education and professional development
• Commitment to the continued development of emergency and urgent care services

Compensation & Benefits May Include:

• Competitive compensation
• Performance-based earning opportunities
• Leadership incentives where applicable
• Hospital performance incentives where applicable
• No negative accrual
• Signing and relocation assistance when applicable
• Generous paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Continuing education allowance
• Paid time away for continuing education
• Structured onboarding
• Mentorship resources
• Emergency and urgent care skill development
• Professional and leadership development
• Career advancement opportunities
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Mental health and wellness resources
• Retirement plan with employer contribution or match
• Professional licensing and membership support
• Professional liability coverage
• Clinical reference and educational resources
• Pet care benefits
• Employee recognition and incentive programs
• Clinical autonomy within a collaborative medical environment
• Opportunities to influence medical standards and clinical protocols
• Opportunities to strengthen emergency and urgent care workflows
• Opportunities to contribute to hospital growth and service development
• Long-term clinical and leadership growth opportunities

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this job posting is provided by the hiring organization and is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associated with the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, qualifications, benefits, compensation, or working conditions Job details, including compensation, benefits, schedules, and position requirements, are subject to change at the discretion of the hiring organization and may be modified without notice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the completeness or continued availability of any position listed. Submission of an application or inquiry does not guarantee an interview, employment, or placement.