Vice President of Veterinary Leadership

Western Veterinary Partners•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Vice President of Veterinary Leadership serves as a strategic partner to executive and cross-functional teams, guiding the vision, development, and execution of veterinary medical initiatives across the organization. The role promotes veterinary leadership and professional development, aligns initiatives with organizational mission and strategic objectives, and supports recruitment, engagement, development, retention, clinical excellence, and organizational growth. The Vice President reports to the Chief Executive Officer and works closely with the Chief Operating Officer to establish strategic priorities and organizational objectives. The role develops strategies and programs for veterinarians at all career stages, supports recruitment and succession planning, advises on clinical and professional challenges, and champions veterinarian well-being. It also leads the Medical Advisory Board, collaborates with organizational leaders on strategic and clinical initiatives, supports clinical partnerships and regulatory compliance, and monitors developments in veterinary medicine to recommend improvements in clinical and business performance. The successful candidate combines clinical credibility with strategic business acumen and is passionate about developing people, strengthening veterinary culture, and building programs that support long-term engagement, clinical excellence, and organizational growth.

Requirements

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent) degree from an accredited institution.
Active veterinary license in at least one U.S. state.
At least five years of clinical veterinary practice experience.
At least three years of progressive leadership experience within the veterinary profession.
At least three years of experience advising on veterinary medical standards, policies, or clinical programs.
Strategic leadership, adaptability, and business acumen.
Collaboration, relationship-building, and effective communication skills.
Conflict resolution and change management skills.
Executive presence, influence, and interpersonal and political savvy.
Talent development, coaching, presentation, and facilitation skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading multi-site veterinary organizations.
Demonstrated success in veterinarian recruitment, retention, and leadership development.
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, or practice transitions.
Strong understanding of veterinary business operations and organizational strategy.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategies that foster veterinarians’ professional growth, engagement, and retention.
Partner with Operations leaders to cultivate a connected veterinary community.
Lead or support virtual and in-person programs, events, and engagement initiatives.
Provide consultation and strategic support for veterinarian performance, engagement, and retention challenges.
Advise on complex clinical situations, medical risk management concerns, and professional support needs.
Champion veterinarian well-being and programs that promote professional fulfillment and resilience.
Develop and oversee veterinarian training and development programs, including early-career veterinarian development, Medical Director development, mentor development, and clinical skills training.
Prioritize leadership development and mentorship to strengthen local medical leadership and support networks.
Support veterinarian recruitment, including campus recruiting and early-career outreach.
Support succession planning for partner veterinarians and selling owners.
Lead the development and retention of new and existing Medical Directors.
Coach and support practices during leadership transitions, cultural integration, and change management.
Partner with Operations and Business Development teams on onboarding, integration, and long-term partnership success.
Recruit, appoint, and support Medical Advisory Board members.
Use Medical Advisory Board expertise to evaluate, pilot, and advance organizational initiatives benefiting the veterinary community.
Collaborate with Medical Advisory Board members to develop tools, resources, training programs, and best practices that support veterinary growth and clinical excellence.
Facilitate ongoing communication between the Medical Advisory Board and organizational leadership.
Partner with organizational leaders to develop and execute strategic initiatives across Operations, Recruiting, Business Development, Procurement, Marketing, Information Technology, and People Operations.
Provide veterinary leadership and consultation for clinical programs and initiatives.
Support vendor relationships and clinical partnerships that advance organizational goals.
Maintain veterinary licensure and support licensure strategies for state-specific business entities and regulatory compliance.
Partner in developing educational and career advancement programs for credentialed technicians and clinical support staff.
Provide guidance and resources related to professional liability, risk mitigation, and process improvement.
Support regulatory compliance strategies and evolving veterinary industry requirements.
Monitor trends, research, innovations, and technologies in veterinary medicine and recommend ways to improve clinical and business performance.