Associate Veterinarian - Leadership & Mentorship Path

Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Generous PTO and CE allowance

Pet care discounts

Job summary

National Veterinary Associates is looking for an Associate Veterinarian to join Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital in Pleasanton, CA. This role offers clinical excellence and leadership development opportunities at your pace, including structured mentorship and training.

The ideal candidate will practice high-quality small animal medicine in a supportive environment and enjoy working alongside an experienced team.

Competitive salary ranges from $150,000 to $210,000, along with relocation assistance and numerous benefits.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.
• Licensed or eligible for licensure in California.
• Interest in professional growth—clinically and/or as a leader.

Responsibilities

• Practice high-quality small animal medicine in a collaborative environment.
• Build lasting client relationships.
• Maintain flexibility and work-life balance.

Skills

High-quality small animal medicine

Teamwork

Leadership interest

Education

DVM or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school

Licensed or eligible for licensure in California

Job description

Veterinarian Opportunity – Associate Veterinarian

Clinical excellence with a leadership development track—at your pace

Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital – Pleasanton, CA

Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital is seeking a veterinarian to join our team. We are looking to hire an Associate Veterinarian wanting to grow into a Managing Veterinarian. To help with this transition, we have systems in place to partner with doctors ready to grow beyond the associate role with structured systems, mentorship, and leadership training. The goal is to make the transition successful and sustainable!

If you love practicing quality medicine and are focused on clinical workwhile curious about leadership now or in the future, this could be a great fit. We have a structure in place to support this path!

The Opportunity

This role is intentionally flexible. We recognize that not every great leader is ready to step fully into a Medical Director role on day one.

At NVA, leadership issupported, not isolated—with operational, financial, and people-management resources so you can lead without sacrificing your love of medicine.

Associate DVM Focus

• Practice high-quality small animal medicine in a collaborative environment
• Build lasting client relationships
• Work alongside an experienced, supportive team
• Maintain flexibility and work-life balance
• Access mentorship, CE, and professional development

Medical Director Focus (If Applicable)

• Provide clinical leadership and medical direction for the hospital
• Partner with hospital and regional leadership on operations and growth
• Help shape medical protocols, standards of care, and team development
• Maintain a meaningful clinical caseload alongside leadership responsibilities

Previous leadership experience is valued but not required—NVA provides training and ongoing support.

Why Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital & NVA

• Well-established hospital with a loyal client base
• Experienced associate DVM group with a collaborative team culture focused on quality medicine and sustainability
• Modern equipment and strong operational support
• Autonomy at the hospital level with national infrastructure behind you
• Leadership development programs and peer MDVM network
• Flexible scheduling and realistic expectations
• Competitive base salary $150,000-$210,000 (adjusted based on role and experience)
• Production ranging between 22-23% and/or leadership incentive opportunities
• Sign-on and relocation assistance available
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Generous PTO and CE allowance
• Paid licensure, professional dues, and VIN membership
• Pet care discounts and wellness resources

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school
• Licensed or eligible for licensure in California
• Passion for high-quality medicine and teamwork
• Interest in professional growth—clinically and/or as a leader

Let’s Talk

Apply today or reach out to learn more about how this role could be shaped aroundyou.

If you’re a current Managing DVM seeking stronger support—or an experienced Associate DVM ready to grow into leadership—we’d love to talk.

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada. Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.

Purpose: Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together

Mission: Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life.

Values: Care Deeply, Do What’s Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What’s Next

One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together

NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet’s life.

At National Veterinary Associates, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here’s what to expect when interacting with us:

- We’ll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @nva.com

- We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication

- All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.com

- There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position

If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at [e-mail]. Thank you for exploring opportunities at NVA!

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.