Medical Director - Veterinarian

AmeriVet•El Cajon, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Animal Care Clinic is hiring a Medical Director to lead its full-service small-animal general practice in El Cajon, California. The clinic primarily treats cats and dogs, with a focus on wellness and preventative medicine. Its case mix includes wellness care, surgery, and dentistry; it sees an average of 16 patients per day and has a support-staff ratio of 3:1. Available technology includes digital X-ray, ultrasound, in-house laboratories, and digital dental X-ray. The clinic describes its culture as collaborative, with a team approach and highly skilled support staff. The Medical Director serves as the practice’s clinical leader and medical voice, setting standards for medical quality, patient care, client experience, and team culture. The role balances hands-on clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, with most time spent providing direct patient care. In partnership with the Practice Manager, the Medical Director provides medical oversight of hospital operations and care delivery while supporting performance metrics and business goals. The Medical Director supervises the Associate and Partner doctors. The position requires a minimum commitment of 35 hours per week. Compensation is listed as an annual salary of $180,000–$200,000 plus production bonus, with a monthly Medical Director stipend and a long-term incentive cash program offering annual production-based bonuses. The posting also describes a no-negative-accrual policy, transparent production metrics, operational support, CE allowance, paid licenses and professional dues, flexible scheduling, mentorship programs, and possible relocation assistance and sign-on bonuses.

Requirements

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), or equivalent degree.
Active, unrestricted veterinary licensure in the state of practice.
Active DEA registration for the responsible practice location or locations.
Any required state-controlled-substance, pharmacy, or other licenses and registrations.
At least 3–5 years of experience as a practicing veterinarian.
Commitment to a minimum of 35 hours per week.
Exceptional verbal, written, and nonverbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex medical information in varied settings.
Strong time management, prioritization, and delegation skills.
Sound clinical judgment and thoughtful decision-making.
Ability to serve as a visible clinical leader and drive practice performance, quality of care, and continuous improvement.
Professionalism, respect, and courtesy in interactions.
Highly developed interpersonal skills that foster trust, engagement, and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience leading a veterinary team and/or multi-unit experience.

Responsibilities

Set, model, and uphold medical quality standards in accordance with industry standards, AmeriVet guidelines, and state practice acts.
Deliver high-quality, hands-on veterinary care and maintain a robust patient caseload while actively practicing for the majority of the full-time schedule.
Foster a positive, collaborative hospital culture that prioritizes patient care and safety and encourages team members to contribute ideas and solve problems.
Coach, mentor, manage, and provide feedback and performance reviews to associate veterinarians; support their clinical proficiency, client communication, medical records, compliant charging, and contributions to team culture.
Drive continuous improvement in medical quality, patient outcomes, and client trust through case review and clinical insights.
Evaluate and develop clinical competency across doctors, relief doctors, veterinary assistants, and technicians through observation, coaching, case discussions, and medical record reviews.
Organize and lead regular doctor meetings to align medical standards, protocols, case reviews, and hospital priorities.
Partner with the Practice Manager on hospital initiatives, culture, people development, and medical and operational priorities.
Align scheduling and clinical workflows to optimize team utilization and support high-quality, efficient, patient-centered care.
Assess and manage hospital inventory to ensure product availability and cost control.
Provide coaching and feedback to the veterinary team, plan and participate in hospital-wide meetings, and support strategic initiatives, performance metrics, and business goals.
Oversee hospital medical equipment maintenance and appropriate use, including safety, functionality, and regulatory compliance.
Engage with the local community through client education, outreach, partnerships, and initiatives supporting access to quality care and pet well-being.
Collaborate with Talent Acquisition to recruit, interview, and onboard veterinary talent.
Serve as the Responsible Veterinarian when required, overseeing registrations and permits, controlled-drug inventory and processes, and radiation safety programs and compliance, including serving as Radiation Safety Officer.
Represent AmeriVet and support its goals and values by attending events and participating in calls as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of hospital and organizational goals.

Benefits

Annual salary of $180,000–$200,000 plus production bonus.
DVM Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Cash Program with annual production-based bonuses.
No-negative-accrual policy.
Monthly Medical Director stipend.
Transparent production metrics and operational support.
Generous continuing education allowance.
Paid licenses and professional dues.
Flexible scheduling and work-life balance.
Mentorship programs and tailored development, career pathing, and professional growth opportunities.
Relocation assistance and sign-on bonuses may be available.
401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.
Student loan assistance.
Health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
Mental health resources.
Paid time off and holidays.
Supportive, collaborative environment.