Medical Director - Veterinarian

AmeriVet•El Cajon, CA

3d•$180,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

Animal Care Clinic is seeking 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, and it is equipped with digital X-ray, ultrasound, in-house laboratories, and digital dental X-ray. The clinic reports an average of 16 patients per day, a 3:1 support-staff ratio, and a collaborative team culture with highly skilled support staff. The Medical Director is the practice’s clinical leader and medical voice, responsible for setting standards for medical quality, patient care, client experience, and team culture. The role combines hands-on veterinary practice—spending most of the time providing direct patient care—with leadership, mentorship, medical oversight, and collaboration with the Practice Manager. The Medical Director supervises associate and partner doctors and is expected to maintain a robust patient caseload while actively practicing for a majority of their full-time schedule. The position requires a commitment of at least 35 hours per week. The Medical Director also serves as the Responsible Veterinarian where required, overseeing relevant registrations and permits, controlled-drug inventory and processes, and radiation-safety programs and compliance, including serving as Radiation Safety Officer. The role includes community engagement, recruitment and onboarding collaboration, and representation of AmeriVet at events and other activities as needed. Compensation is listed at $180,000–$200,000 annually, plus a production bonus, a long-term incentive cash program, and a monthly Medical Director stipend. The posting also describes no negative accrual, transparent production metrics and operational support, continuing-education support, paid licenses and professional dues, flexible scheduling, mentorship, relocation assistance and sign-on bonuses, and a 401(k) plan with company match. Benefits listed for full-time employees include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, mental health resources, paid time off, holidays, and student loan assistance.

Requirements

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (VMD), or equivalent degree.
Active, unrestricted veterinary licensure in the state of practice.
Active DEA registration for the responsible practice location or locations.
Any state-controlled-substance, pharmacy, or other licenses and registrations required for the role.
Minimum 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 effectively.
Strong time management, prioritization, and delegation skills.
Sound clinical judgment and thoughtful, well-informed 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 all interactions.
Strong interpersonal skills that foster trust, engagement, and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 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 for a majority of the full-time schedule.
Foster a positive, collaborative hospital culture centered on patient safety, team participation, and excellent client and patient experiences.
Supervise, coach, mentor, and manage associate and partner veterinarians, including supporting clinical proficiency, client communication, accurate medical records, compliant charging, and accountability.
Provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance reviews to veterinarians.
Evaluate and improve clinical competency across doctors, relief doctors, veterinary assistants, and technicians through observation, coaching, case discussions, and medical-record reviews.
Drive continuous improvement in medical quality, patient outcomes, and client trust through case review and clinical judgment.
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, staff development, medical and operational priorities, scheduling, and clinical workflows.
Assess and manage hospital inventory to support product availability and cost control.
Plan and participate in hospital-wide meetings and support performance metrics, business goals, and operational initiatives.
Oversee the maintenance and appropriate use of medical equipment, including safety, functionality, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
Engage with the local community through client education, outreach, partnerships, and initiatives that support access to care and pet well-being.
Collaborate with Talent Acquisition to recruit, interview, and onboard veterinary talent.
Serve as Responsible Veterinarian when required, overseeing necessary registrations and permits, controlled-drug inventory and processes, and radiation-safety programs and compliance, including serving as Radiation Safety Officer.
Represent AmeriVet and advocate for its goals and values by attending events and participating in calls as needed.
Perform other duties in support of hospital and organizational goals.

Benefits

$180,000–$200,000 annual salary plus production bonus.
DVM Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Cash Program with annual bonuses based on production.
No negative accrual.
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.
Relocation assistance and sign-on bonuses 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.
Tailored development programs, mentorship, and career pathing.