Medical Director
6 days ago
Seattle
Job Description:\n\nDescription: Medical Director – Roosevelt Animal Hospital (Seattle, WA) Lead. Inspire. Elevate Veterinary Care. Are you a compassionate veterinarian ready to take the next step in your career? Roosevelt 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 Nestled in the vibrant Roosevelt neighborhood of North Seattle, our hospital sits at the intersection of historic charm and modern convenience. You’ll enjoy walkable cafes, local parks, and quick access to the Roosevelt Link Light Rail Station—just minutes from downtown, Green Lake, and the University District. It’s the perfect place to plant roots and build your leadership legacy. 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 teamSet and uphold standards of medical excellenceSupport recruiting, training, and professional developmentBuild meaningful relationships with clients and the local communityFoster a collaborative, positive, and authentically human culture This role is ideal for a veterinarian who loves leading people as much as caring for pets. What We Offer We invest in you so you can invest in your team and patients. Compensation & RewardsSalary: $135,000–$180,000 (commensurate with experience)Annual Leadership Stipend – $10,000 per calendar year paid out on a quarterly basisQuarterly Incentive Program – up to $20,000 earning potential per calendar year based on hospital performance401(k) with employer match Health & Well-BeingComprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plan options)Employee Assistance Program for confidential supportHealth Savings Account (HSA)Flexible Spending Account (FSA)- medical, dependent care, and commuter benefit options available Time Off & Flexibility120 hours of PTO per year 6 Floater Holidays annually40 hours of paid CE timeBrithday PTO Professional Growth$3,000 annual CE allowanceVIN, AVMA/WSVMA, and one additional membership coveredWashington State Veterinary License and DEA license reimbursementPLIT coverage under Cara VeterinaryLeadership development and mentorship opportunities PerksEmployee pet care discount (up to 4 pets)Annual uniform allowance Authentically human, collaborative culture focused on well-being and balance What You Bring You’re a seasoned clinician with a passion for people. You:Communicate with empathy and clarityAdvocate fiercely for patients and your teamValue collaboration and continuous learningThrive in a fast-paced, community-focused environmentAre adaptable, accountable, and driven by purpose Why Cara Veterinary? Our Five Pillars guide everything we do:Put Pets First – Every decision starts with what’s best for the petTrust the Parent – We partner with pet parents as equalsAuthentically Human – We lead with empathy, accountability, and transparencyGood Neighbors – We’re part of the community we serveShake Things Up – We innovate and challenge the status quo Join a network where your voice matters, your growth is supported, and your leadership creates real impact. Ready to Lead? If you’re ready to shape the future of Roosevelt Animal Hospital and lead with heart, we’d love to meet you. Apply today with your resume and a brief cover letter sharing why you’re excited about this opportunity. Cara Veterinary is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.Requirements: Summary of Job Purpose and Function As the Medical Director, you are not only a pinnacle of decision-making within your hospital but also the individual responsible for cultivating the very essence of your practice; from selecting and developing the best support staff to pet patient care and the client journey. Your role is paramount, overseeing a team of DVMs and the Hospital Director. You are responsible for driving the implementation of the Cara Veterinary Pillars and Core Competencies, setting the gold standard for patient care, defining the highest Quality of Care, and crafting exceptional clientpatient journeys. Your influence touches every aspect of your practice. This role requires in practice presence a minimum of 4 days per week seeing patients as well as weekly time outside of patient care as business requires. Supervisory ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership: Provide visionary leadership and set the standards for the DVM team, embodying Cara Veterinary's Pillars, and Core Competencies. DVM Team Management: Oversee the performance, development, and professional growth of all associate DVMs in the practice. Training and Mentorship: Establish a culture of learning and mentorship among the DVMs, ensuring they have access to and participate in ongoing professional development. Client-Centered Service: Ensure a client-centered approach is consistently practiced by all DVMs, emphasizing open communication, trust, and empathy. Patient Care Oversight: 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. Standards of Care: Set and enforce the highest Quality of Care and provide direct, regular feedback to DVMs in case management or medical decisions. Conflict Resolution: Address any conflicts or issues that arise among DVMs, promoting a harmonious work environment. Medical Record Review: Actively engage in medical record review to ensure excellence in documentation and care among the DVM team. Innovation and Learning: Encourage the DVMs to stay up-to-date by reading journals, attending CE events, and sharing knowledge with the team. Equipment and Medication Oversight: Collaborate with your DVM’s on decisions regarding hospital products, drugs, equipment, and ensure proper drug log practices. Workflow Streamlining: Maximize the team's efficiency and productivity through guidance and support, helping to streamline daily routines. Continuous Improvement: Work with the Hospital Director to implement quality improvement and medical initiatives, ensuring the highest medical standards. Support Team Collaboration: Foster teamwork and cooperation between DVMs, support team members, and the Hospital Director, promoting a united practice. Continuing Education Advocate: Act as a proponent of continuing education, both for yourself and the DVM team, facilitating access to professional development opportunities. Client Experience Enhancement: Collaborate with the Hospital Director to enhance the client experience, ensuring that clients receive timely, quality service. Financial Accountability: Ensure that DVMs understand financial and compliance reports, working with the Hospital Director to meet medical and operational excellence goals. Budget and Goal Planning: Partner with the Hospital Director and Cara Support Center to plan yearly hospital goals, including the operating plan and budget. Revenue Growth: Collaborate to consider changes in hospital hours, services, and DVM availability, emphasizing the importance of charge capture to the DVM team. Essential Responsibilities and Tasks The following is a list of essential job requirements. This list may be revised at any time and additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed. Job Functions and Job Responsibilities include overseeing that the following occur within the hospitals. MEDICAL QUALITYEnsures 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 theDirector of Medicine, 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) TEAM The Medical Director is a key “problem solver” within the hospital and a go-to person for team members in need. The Medical Director also sets the mood/team outlook for the practice. They are the ‘on the floor’ director of medical team to maximize efficiency and ensure productivity. They provide feedback to help streamline daily routines. 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 CLIENT SERVICEThe Medical Director works with the Hospital Director to ensure delivery of top-level client service to every client. 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…) CE OPPORTUNITIESThe Medical Director is the CE advocate within the hospital. They should strive to provide themselves and the team with a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the year 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 FINANCIALThe 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. Required Skills/ Abilities: Exemplify Cara Veterinary’s Pillars on a daily basis Put pets first.?Our first priority is always with the health, happiness, and comfort of our patients. We have designed the Cara experience with the animal perspective in mind. And our care advice is based only on what is best for the pet.? Trust the parent.?We believe that caring for an animal is a partnership built on mutual trust and humility. We trust parents to make the right decisions for themselves and their pets and invite them to actively participate in care alongside us.? Authentically human.?Caring for a pet involves the full spectrum of emotions, from joy to grief. We must lean into openness, empathy, and compassionate listening. We know when to be fun, and when to be serious. At all times, we foster supportive, positive, and authentically human hospital culture.? Good neighbors. Although our business is growing, we retain the attitude and spirit of a neighborhood vet. We welcome people in. We get to know our clients' families and are proud to play an active role in our local communities.? Shake things up. We are always looking for a better way. In an industry that hasn't seen a lot of innovation, we are experimenting with new ways of delivering care, delighting customers, providing unexpectedly human (and animal) touches, and infusing out hospitals with fresh ideas.? Connection: Exemplify Cara Veterinary’s Core Competencies on a daily basis. This competency involves nurturing robust connections with pet parents, pets, the community, and fellow team members, aligning with the practice's foundational values. It centers on fostering a sense of unity and comprehension that transcends the client-patient relationship. Team members prioritize building connections and relationships with clients and their pets, acknowledging the significance of empathy, trust, and team support, benefiting the pet's wellbeing, and enhancing the practice's harmony.Advocate: Advocacy is about empowering pet parents to make informed choices, advocating for the well-being of pets within the community, and supporting one another as a cohesive team. Advocates cultivate trust, cooperation, and an inclusive culture, gi