Montecito Veterinary Center - Medical Director

PetVet Care Centers; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing/relocation package up to $100k

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer contribution

PTO

Job summary

Montecito Veterinary Center, part of PetVet Care Centers, seeks a compassionate Medical Director to lead high-quality veterinary care and collaborate with veterinarians, technicians, and support staff.

You will work closely with the Hospital Manager and Regional Director to maintain clinical excellence and patient care. This role requires strong communication and leadership across the team.

Qualifications

• Must hold a DVM or VMD with active license and DEA registration.
• Minimum 3-5 years veterinary practice experience.
• Strong diagnostic, clinical, surgical, and dental skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and client communication capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee medical standards and quality of care.
• Set medical policies and ensure alignment with hospital goals.
• Mentor staff and lead doctor meetings.
• Manage revenue and monitor KPIs with Hospital Manager.
• Coordinate with leadership on inventory and equipment ROI.
• Ensure compliance with state practice acts, OSHA and AAHA standards.

Skills

Diagnostic and clinical skills

Surgical and dental skills

Excellent communication

Team-oriented

Education

DVM or VMD degree

Current State Veterinary License

DEA registration

3-5+ years veterinary practice

Job description

At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter.

Because life is better with pets.

We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience — every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve.

With more than 420 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Medical Director to join our team at Montecito Veterinary Center. The ideal candidate will be passionate about providing high-quality veterinary care and possess excellent communication skills to build lasting relationships with our clients. You will work alongside a team of experienced veterinarians, technicians, and support staff and will work closely with the Hospital Manager and Regional Director.

About the Hospital

Montecito has been part of the Sonoma County community since 1967. We are a full-service hospital providing care to dogs, cats, birds, and exotics. Our hospital is well-equipped with in-house labs, digital radiology, cold laser therapy, and dental radiology. We are also proud to offer Penn Hip exams & certification submissions. Our wonderful, efficient and experienced staff support our doctors allowing the entire team to provide the best care to our patients and clients.

Why Join Us:

• Base salary of $170,000- $185,000 plus annual Medical Director stipend
• No-negative accrual production model
• Relocation assistance available
• Full benefits for working 3-4 days per week including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA options), 401k with employer contribution, PTO, large CE allowance with additional PTO for CE, and reimbursement for license fees and membership dues

What We Offer

We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Signing, retention and relocation packages up to $100,000
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Competitive salary and Production Bonus - no negative accrual option available
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining a high quality of progressive veterinary care
  • Oversees and gives directives regarding medical standards and quality of care
  • Sets policies as they pertain to the practice of medicine
  • Works toward making various services work as one team
  • In conjunction with appropriate leadership team members, recommends additions to the hospital inventory
  • Budgets for new equipment and provides a reasonable cost estimate and return on investmentli>
  • Sees patients and handles clinical practice
  • Ensures positive communication with clients and between doctors, including the proper transfer of patient care responsibilities
  • Reviews patient records for completeness and accuracy and uses them to promote medical excellence
  • Appropriately manages controlled drugs
  • Reviews and approves requests for alternatives to additional drugs and medical supplies
  • Conducts regular doctor meetings
  • Performs other duties as assigned by Manager
• Handles patient care problems, client complaints, and referral partner issues
• Manages veterinary, client, and board complaints and recommends resolutions
• Develops medical policies
• Assists in ensuring practice compliance with the State Veterinary Medical Practice Act, OSHA, and AAHA standards
• Monitors DVM performance and production, provides coaching when appropriate
• Serves as a mentor and role model for all staff veterinarians
• Leads candidate interviews of potential DVMs
• Identifies new service opportunities that do not currently exist in the hospital
• Holds ownership for the revenue and success of the practice through monitoring key performance indicators and works with the Hospital Manager to make adjustments to achieve positive results
• Helps identify and plan for upcoming challenges in maintaining hospital operations and possible temporary solutions (locum)

Qualifications (Required)

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• Veterinarian degree (DVM or VMD) from an accredited college or university
• Current State Veterinary License
• DEA registration must be obtained and maintained
• 3-5+ years of experience in a veterinary practice
• Strong diagnostic and clinical skills.
• Excellent surgical and dental skills.
• Ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality veterinary care.
• Excellent Communication Skills and the ability to communicate effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner with all members of the Medical and Hospital staff.
• Client communication skills, must be able to elicit information, establish rapport, offer explanations with pet owners.
• Display confidence and reassurance when dealing with pets experiencing severe stress, illness, or pain.
• May include some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work.
• Position does require the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent time-management and delegation abilities
• Exercises sound judgment and demonstrates exemplary decision-making skills
• Professionalism and courtesy in all interactions with others
• Well-developed interpersonal skills

Pay Range

$170,000 — $185,000 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 400 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.

You care for pets. We care for you.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

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