Medical Director

Cara Veterinary•Mercer Island, WA

14d•$135,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Lead. Inspire. Elevate Veterinary Care. Are you a compassionate veterinarian ready to take the next step in your career? Island Animal Hospital, part of the Cara Veterinary network, is searching for a Medical Director to lead our talented team, shape medical standards, and help our hospital thrive as a trusted community hub for pets and their people. About the Location Talk about being in the center of everything! Mercer Island is a suburb sitting in the middle of Lake Washington just outside the city of Seattle, and it’s a wonderful place to call home. We’re known for low crime, excellent schools, an inclusive, vibrant community, and of course the best possible access to lake sports like boating, kayaking, and swimming. Our own downtown has wonderful restaurants and pubs, but if you need a city fix, everything Seattle has to offer is just minutes away. And, of course, nearly everyone here loves animals, so you’ll feel very at home. The Opportunity As our Medical Director, you’ll combine your clinical expertise with strategic leadership to guide a dedicated team and deliver exceptional care. You’ll have the autonomy to make local decisions that best serve your patients and team—while enjoying the support and resources of the Cara Veterinary network. You’ll partner closely with the Hospital Director to: Lead, coach, and mentor a talented veterinary team Set and uphold standards of medical excellence Support recruiting, training, and professional development Build meaningful relationships with clients and the local community Foster a collaborative, positive, and authentically human culture This role is ideal for a veterinarian who loves leading people as much as caring for pets.

Requirements

3 years of experience in operations management with profit and loss and HR responsibility preferred or 7+years of practice
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, or equivalent, from an accredited university.
State Veterinary Board License and must be in good standing for the state in which they intend to be hired, prior to their start date.
Communicate with empathy and clarity
Advocate fiercely for patients and your team
Value collaboration and continuous learning
Thrive in a fast-paced, community-focused environment
Are adaptable, accountable, and driven by purpose
Team Member should be available to work 4 -10 hours shifts on the floor caring for patients
Team Member should expect to spend nearly all of their workdays standing, sitting, and typing at a computer.
They should have a physical strength and the ability to safely lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance.
Able to assist in lifting patients weighing more than 50 pounds.
Must possess sufficient strength and assertiveness to effectively restrain patients and ensure the safety of clients and personnel.
Ability to be confident around pets (ex: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.)
The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
Requires ambulatory skills sufficient to perform duties while at hospital.
Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to reach and grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read information.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Team is routinely exposed to pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/ controlled substances.

Nice To Haves

3 years of experience in operations management with profit and loss and HR responsibility

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and mentor a talented veterinary team
Set and uphold standards of medical excellence
Support recruiting, training, and professional development
Build meaningful relationships with clients and the local community
Foster a collaborative, positive, and authentically human culture
Provide visionary leadership and set the standards for the DVM team, embodying Cara Veterinary's Pillars, and Core Competencies.
Oversee the performance, development, and professional growth of all associate DVMs in the practice.
Establish a culture of learning and mentorship among the DVMs, ensuring they have access to and participate in ongoing professional development.
Ensure a client-centered approach is consistently practiced by all DVMs, emphasizing open communication, trust, and empathy.
Supervise and guide DVMs in delivering the highest quality patient care, upholding a vision that supports the best pain control, safe anesthetic practices, wellness care, and more.
Set and enforce the highest Quality of Care and provide direct, regular feedback to DVMs in case management or medical decisions.
Address any conflicts or issues that arise among DVMs, promoting a harmonious work environment.
Actively engage in medical record review to ensure excellence in documentation and care among the DVM team.
Encourage the DVMs to stay up-to-date by reading journals, attending CE events, and sharing knowledge with the team.
Collaborate with your DVM’s on decisions regarding hospital products, drugs, equipment, and ensure proper drug log practices.
Maximize the team's efficiency and productivity through guidance and support, helping to streamline daily routines.
Work with the Hospital Director to implement quality improvement and medical initiatives, ensuring the highest medical standards.
Foster teamwork and cooperation between DVMs, support team members, and the Hospital Director, promoting a united practice.
Act as a proponent of continuing education, both for yourself and the DVM team, facilitating access to professional development opportunities.
Collaborate with the Hospital Director to enhance the client experience, ensuring that clients receive timely, quality service.
Ensure that DVMs understand financial and compliance reports, working with the Hospital Director to meet medical and operational excellence goals.
Partner with the Hospital Director and Cara Support Center to plan yearly hospital goals, including the operating plan and budget.
Collaborate to consider changes in hospital hours, services, and DVM availability, emphasizing the importance of charge capture to the DVM team.
Ensures highest quality patient care (pain control, safe anesthetic practices, wellness care, care for hospitalized patients etc.) and medical decision making by the associate DVM team
Determines Standard Operating Procedures for the hospital – including handling of patients with infectious disease, isolation protocols, anesthesia prep/monitoring standards etc.
Works with the associate DVM team to deliver a consistent message to team and clients regarding patient care, case management and Quality of Care. Provides Chief Operating Officer with direct feedback on associate DVM case management problems or in cases where mistakes were made. Performs an internal review in such circumstances and revises protocols when appropriate.
Provides Director of Medicine feedback on medical record review of associate DVM’s
Along with the Chief Operating Officer, and Hospital Director, decides on products/ drugs for hospital to carry as well as equipment purchases
Ensures drug log practices in place + secure
Stays medically current by reading journals, attending CE events. Shares knowledge gained with associate veterinarians, technicians and other veterinarians within our hospital network
Supports practice medical initiatives and ensures successful implementation within the hospital
With Hospital Director ensures appropriate technical team training structure and implementation
Plans, organizes, and conducts routine doctor meetings
Ensures equipment problems/needs are delegated to the appropriate individual.
Ensures the doctors schedule covers the hospital without being short doctors (Hospital Director can help to find other practice doctors to cover shifts or relief doctors, if needed)
Plans, assigns, and directs work; conducts monthly one-on-ones, and reviews development plans.
Helps to schedule veterinary shift coverage while proactively planning time off and CE scheduling.
Addresses team complaints and resolves problems.
Trains the team on AAHA guidelines and practices and supervises associates to ensure compliance.
Responsible for overseeing the development of Hospital Director and ensuring the Hospital Director has current development plans in place for each support team member.
Participates in routine one-on-ones with support team members at least once a quarter
Partners with the Hospital Director to oversee the client/patient flow to ensure clients receive timely service
Along with the Hospital Director, the Medical Director ensures that the hospital culture is “client centered” (vs team/DVM focused) and that a “come in now” policy is followed
Helps Hospital Director ensure high level and timely communication to clients by DVM team in the delivery method requested by the client (phone, fax, email…)
Attend local CE events and encourage team to attend as well. Create plan for CE requirements with each DVM yearly
Enlist doctors to present in house CE at team meetings
Share current knowledge or material from Director of Medicine with associates in the hospital
Encourage associates to share new knowledge from CE events they attend with the rest of the doctor team and team
The Medical Director is accountable for reviewing the Profit & Loss statement every month, and ensuring a plan is in place for improving or sustaining steady revenue growth
The Medical Director should understand the financial and DVM compliance reports and work closely with the Hospital Director to ensure hospital goals of medical and operational excellence are met
The Medical Director partners with the Hospital Director to work on yearly hospital goals including the operating plan and budget
The Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director should discuss the hospital + individual doctor compliance reports (successes/challenges) at the monthly doctor meetings
The Medical Director should stress the importance of charge capture to associate DVM’s and team and develop and enforce best practices to ensure charge capture.
To ensure a client centered practice and continued revenue growth, the Medical Director works with the Chief Operating Officer, and Hospital Director to consider changes in hospital hours/days, services hours, DVM availability etc.

Benefits

Salary: $135,000–$180,000 (commensurate with experience)
Annual Leadership Stipend – $10,000 per calendar year paid out on a quarterly basis
Quarterly Incentive Program – up to $20,000 earning potential per calendar year based on hospital performance
401(k) with employer match
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plan options)
Employee Assistance Program for confidential support
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)- medical, dependent care, and commuter benefit options available
120 hours of PTO per year
6 Floater Holidays annually
40 hours of paid CE time
10 hours for Personal Celebration Day
$3,000 annual CE allowance
VIN, AVMA/WSVMA, and one additional membership covered
Washington State Veterinary License and DEA license reimbursement
PLIT coverage under Cara Veterinary
Leadership development and mentorship opportunities
Employee pet care discount (up to 4 pets)
Annual uniform allowance
Authentically human, collaborative culture focused on well-being and balance