Director of Clinical Operations

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon•Bend, OR

13d•Onsite

About The Position

At the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO), you will become a vital member of a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary care. Our approach combines a commitment to compassionate, individualized care with evidence-based practices, ensuring strong connections between our staff and the patient-guests and pet parents we serve. Here, you will discover a culture founded on teamwork, compassion, and going beyond expectations—leading to a fulfilling and impactful career in veterinary medicine. Why Choose VRCCO? VRCCO is recognized as a leader in advanced pet care, offering a diverse range of specialty and emergency services designed to meet the needs of our community. We currently provide dermatology, internal medicine, medical oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, physical rehabilitation, urgent care, and emergency services. To improve the experience for our patients and help support our amazing team, we have created a purpose-built veterinary hospital campus with a 26,000 sq. ft. facility to serve our community. As we work together to prioritize the well-being of our patient-guests, we are equally dedicated to our heroes (employees). We invest in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits to support your health and well-being, both now and in the future. We are the only organization with Vet Cadets Childcare located at our flagship location and only a short drive from our Urgent Care facility. VRCCO has been Great Place To Work Certified since 2021. Come see the difference for yourself and be a part of our team. With abundant opportunities for continuing education and career advancement, you can develop a long and successful career with us. Not to mention, we happen to be in the most amazing town in the country, Bend, Oregon. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, and there is a good reason we all abandoned city life and moved out here. Just do a Google search and you will be blown away by the massive amounts of fun things you can do out here. Requirements The Director of Clinical Operations is a high-impact clinical executive responsible for transforming and leading all clinical support operations across our 24/7 multi-specialty hospital and emergency care location. This role is accountable for building sustainable systems, ensuring consistent patient care, and leading both supervisors and frontline staff with clarity and accountability. We are seeking a candidate who has hands-on clinical experience, proven success in multi-team leadership, and the ability to diagnose gaps, redesign workflows, and hold supervisors accountable while supporting and inspiring staff.

Requirements

7–10+ years of clinical leadership in veterinary or human healthcare, with at least 5 years managing multi-unit, high-volume teams.
Proven success in leading through growth, change, or restructuring.
Experience directly supervising managers/supervisors and holding them accountable for team outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to redesign staffing, scheduling, or workflow systems in a hospital environment.
Confident and diplomatic communicator; able to influence upward (doctors, execs) and downward (supervisors, staff).
Strong analytical and systems mindset, with the ability to lead operational improvement even in the absence of mature KPIs or fully developed dashboards.
Skilled at balancing empathy with accountability; able to coach, correct, and motivate.
Resilient and decisive under pressure; skilled at leading through ambiguity and crisis.
Bachelor’s degree preferred (healthcare administration, biology, business, or related).
Familiarity with EMR, scheduling, and healthcare operations systems required.

Nice To Haves

Background in multi-specialty veterinary hospitals or integrated ER/ICU environments where clinical teams support a range of services.
Equivalent leadership experience in human acute/critical care settings with interdisciplinary coordination will also be considered.
Advanced degree (MS, MBA, leadership certificate) is a plus.
Licensed veterinary technician (CVT/LVT/RVT) or RN credential highly valued depending on background.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership Leads the execution of the organization’s clinical vision by standardizing operations, optimizing workflows, and improving performance metrics across all sites.
Strategic planning with leadership to support growth, resource needs, and representation of clinical operations at the executive level.
Staffing & Scheduling Optimization Implement advanced staffing models (staggered shifts, swing shifts, float pools) to ensure coverage without excessive overtime or burnout.
Oversee clinical scheduling, proactively adjust to meet daily/seasonal demand, and plan capacity for growth.
Lead retention, and succession planning for all clinical support roles.
Hold supervisors accountable for schedule execution, coverage, and staff performance.
Clinical Supervision & Team Oversight Directly lead and mentor clinical supervisors, ensuring they function as effective managers with ownership of their teams.
Establish clear expectations, performance accountability, and leadership development for supervisors.
Monitor patient flow, throughput, and cross-departmental coordination (surgery, ICU, diagnostics, reception).
Process Improvement & Systems Apply time-study, workload analysis, and staffing dashboards to optimize performance.
Ensure EMR and scheduling systems are leveraged for accurate data and operational visibility.
Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and cost control in clinical operations.
Culture, Training & Compliance Champion infection control, patient safety, and regulatory compliance across all sites.
Oversee onboarding, competency tracking, and clinical career development in partnership with Performance Excellence Management team.
Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, one-team, and resilience.
Promote transparent communication and build engagement across day, night, and urgent care teams.
Cross-functional Collaboration Build strong partnerships with veterinarians, front desk, finance, and operations leaders to ensure hospital-wide alignment.
Represent clinical support operations in senior leadership meetings, capacity planning, and service expansion discussions.