Criticalist, Small Animal - Guardian Veterinary Centre

VCA Canada Ltd.; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP Matching 5%

Mentorship Program

Continuing education allowance

Professional liability insurance

Job summary

Guardian Veterinary Centre in Edmonton, AB is seeking a Board-Certified Criticalist to join our 24-hour veterinary critical care centre. The role supports small animal specialty and emergency services with a robust medical team and referrals across Northern Alberta.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, leadership opportunities, paid wellness days, and a sign-on bonus of $100,000 for boarded candidates. Flexible scheduling is available to fit individual goals and availability.

Qualifications

• Board-certified or residency-trained and eligible to sit for board examinations.
• Cooperative, team-based medicine with strong interpersonal skills.
• Eligible for licensure in Alberta.
• Experience handling multiple caseloads.
• Excellent communication with colleagues, clients, and the referral community.

Skills

Board Certification

Leadership

Team-based Medicine

Communication

Caseload Management

Education

Eligibility for Alberta licensure

Job description

Criticalist, Small Animal

Location: Edmonton, AB Level: Boarded or eligible to sit boards Employment Type: Full Time Sign on Bonus: $100,000 (Boarded) Schedule: Whether you are seeking full-time, part-time, or a customized schedule, we are flexible and welcome the opportunity to create a schedule that aligns with your goals and availability.

Guardian Veterinary Centre is welcoming a Board Certified Criticalist to join our small animal specialty and emergency referral, 24-hour critical care centre in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Our hospital currently includes robust Surgery, Internal Medicine, and an established Emergency Department.

With an enduring connection in Edmonton, VCA Canada Guardian Veterinary Centre has built a trusting relationship with a large referral veterinary community over the past 12 years.

We proudly welcome referral clients from all over Northern Alberta, Northern BC, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

• Board Certified or residency trained and eligible to sit for board examination
• You practice cooperative, team-based medicine and have exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills
• You must be eligible to be licensed in the province of Alberta
• Previous experience handling multiple caseloads
• You fit well into a collaborative team culture and exhibit excellent communication skills with colleagues, clients, and the referral community

What We Can Offer You

• RRSP 5% Employer Group Match Program!
• VCA Canada RRSP Student Loan Program - Ask us more!
• VCA Academy Mentorship Program, a six-month tailored mentorship program with ongoing support
• Medical Library Access: 2000+ journals, 600+ textbooks, research, and more at your fingertips!
• Continuing education benefits - we know you love to learn!
• Career and leadership opportunities
• Licensing, membership dues, and conference fees
• Referral bonus rewards
• Paid wellness days, paid sick days, paid vacation time
• Employee assistance programs
• E-tools to assist with meditation, better sleep, exercise, and focus
• Virtual health care offering quick access to quality care
• Professional liability insurance coverage
• Opportunities to give back in your community through VCA Canada initiatives

Why Edmonton?

Edmonton offers the largest area of urban parkland in Canada, with over 7300 hectares that spans both sides of our beautiful North Saskatchewan River to take full advantage of our great outdoors. Edmonton hosts several festivals each year, including our world-renowned Folk Fest, Fringe Festival, Symphony under the Sky, and Ice on Whyte Festival. We are a short drive away from the majestic Rocky Mountains, home to Jasper and Banff National Parks, which boast world-class vistas with ample hiking, camping, rafting and world-class skiing With our new stadium, Rogers Place, we have quickly become a top destination for many of the most sought-after entertainment acts, and it is home to our NHL team, the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, and our city is growing rapidly, with a current metro population of over 1.3 million. The University of Alberta is home to over 40,000 students and boasts the most 3M National Teaching Fellows in Canada.

Our Hospital: We have committed to supporting a positive work-life balance. VCA Canada Guardian Veterinary Centre doctors and support staff are dedicated to our core values of Respect, Compassion, and a Progressive environment. With an established case load, VCA Canada Guardian Veterinary Centre continues to have excellent growth opportunities. We are a leader in emergency and specialty healthcare and foster a culture of compassion in a collaborative environment that leads to delivering exceptional care to patients, service to our clients, referring veterinarians, and our community. We offer competitive compensation with an industry-leading benefits package, including health and dental insurance, uniform allowance, professional dues, and continuing education allowance.

Our Story

VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighbourhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy. In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, further strengthening our commitment to the veterinary profession and to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers.

Join us

#criticalist #smallanimal #iveccs

From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands. Join us.