Clinic Associate Veterinarian

VCA Seaside Animal Hospital; Des Moines, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) seeks a compassionate Associate Veterinarian to join the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics in the Des Moines metro. You will practice high-quality medicine in a collaborative, mission-driven setting, focusing on access to care without production-based pay structures.

Enjoy a four 10-hour day schedule with no after-hours emergencies, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities to impact the community through preventive care, diagnostics, and surgery as needed.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent required.
• Active Iowa veterinary license or ability to obtain licensure before employment.
• Experience in general practice, surgery, dentistry, shelter medicine, or community veterinary care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality veterinary care for owned pets.
• Perform examinations, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications.
• Provide preventative care, wellness services, medical care, and client education.
• Perform or support surgical and dental procedures as needed.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and explain treatment options.
• Maintain accurate medical records and follow established medical protocols.

Skills

Medical judgment

Communication skills

Client education

Team collaboration

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent

Job description

Clinic Veterinarian

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a compassionate and skilled Associate Veterinarian to join our ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics team. This role is ideal for a veterinarian who wants to practice high-quality medicine in a collaborative, mission-driven clinic environment while helping expand access to veterinary care in the Des Moines metro. At the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics, our veterinarians provide trusted care for pets and the people who love them without the stress of production-based compensation measures. This position offers the opportunity to build client relationships, see a broad range of cases, work alongside experienced support staff, and make a visible difference in the community.

Schedule

• Schedules are typically four 10-hour days
• ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are open Monday through Friday
• Rotating half-day Saturdays
• No emergency or after-hours care

About the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics

The ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics are part of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization. Through the clinics, the ARL extends its mission into the community by helping pet owners access trusted, affordable veterinary care for the animals they love. There are two clinic locations that provide pets with quality, affordable, compassionate care. Services include preventative care, on-site blood work, radiographs, surgery, and other essential veterinary services at a more affordable rate to help pets stay in loving homes.

What You’ll Do

• Provide high-quality veterinary care for owned pets through the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics.
• Perform examinations, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medications.
• Provide preventative care, wellness services, medical care, and client education.
• Perform or support surgical and dental procedures based on experience, interest, and clinic needs.
• Build trusted relationships with clients while helping them understand treatment options and next steps.
• Maintain accurate medical records and follow established medical protocols

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies
• Potential student loan reimbursement opportunities
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• Market-competitive compensation without the stress of production-based compensation measures

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in a veterinary clinic environment and may require standing for extended periods, performing examinations and procedures, safely handling animals of varying sizes and temperaments, and moving throughout the clinic as needed.

The role may involve exposure to animals, animal dander, cleaning agents, anesthetic gases, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, and other conditions common to veterinary practice while following established safety procedures.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As a Veterinarian with the ARL Afford-a-Care Pet Clinics, your work helps families access trusted veterinary care while supporting the health and wellbeing of pets in our community. You will practice quality medicine in a collaborative environment where your judgment, compassion, and contributions are valued.

If you are looking for a clinic role where you can provide meaningful care, work with a supportive team, and make a visible difference for pets and the people who love them, we would love to connect.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.

What We’re Looking For

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM or equivalent, from an accredited veterinary school required.
• Active Iowa veterinary license in good standing, or ability to obtain licensure prior to employment, required.
• Strong medical judgment and commitment to high-quality patient care.
• Interest in access-to-care veterinary medicine and community impact.
• Strong communication skills and commitment to client education.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and support staff.
• Experience in general practice, surgery, dentistry, shelter medicine, or community veterinary care preferred.
• Experienced veterinarians are encouraged to apply.