Description
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 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.
What We Offer
We invest in you so you can invest in your team and patients.
Compensation & Rewards
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
Health & Well-Being
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
Time Off & Flexibility
120 hours of PTO per year
6 Floater Holidays annually
40 hours of paid CE time
Birthday PTO
Professional Growth
$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
What You Bring
You’re a seasoned clinician with a passion for people. You:
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
Why Cara Veterinary?
Our Five Pillars guide everything we do:
Put Pets First – Every decision starts with what’s best for the pet
Trust the Parent – We partner with pet parents as equals
Authentically Human – We lead with empathy, accountability, and transparency
Good Neighbors – We’re part of the community we serve
Shake 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 client patient 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 Responsibilities
- Team 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. 1
- 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 QUALITY: 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. 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)
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. rains 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 SERVICE: The 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 OPPORTUNITIES: The 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.
FINANCIAL: 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.
Experience, Education and/ or Training: 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.
DISCLAIMER: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive listing of duties expected of this position. This job description, the duties and expectations may change at any time.
