Santa Barbara Board-Certified Small Animal Surgeon

Ethos Veterinary Health; California; On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Sign-on and relocation assistance

401(k) with employer match

Professional development (Ethos L&D)

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the Ethos network, offers a Full-Time surgical opportunity in Santa Barbara, CA. This role centers on advanced orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries within a collaborative specialty team on the Central Coast.

Ideal candidates hold a DVM or equivalent with California licensure eligibility and DACVS-ready or board-eligible status, paired with strong communication and team-oriented patient care.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure.
• Board Certification in Small Animal Surgery (DACVS) or residency trained and board eligible.
• Strong communication skills with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
• Collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care.
• A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing specialty medicine.

Responsibilities

• Balance time between consultations, case workups, and surgical procedures.
• Perform orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries using available imaging and surgical equipment.
• Collaborate with ER, Critical Care, and other specialty teams to support integrated case management.
• Help shape and grow the surgical service in line with hospital priorities.
• Develop relationships with referring veterinarians and build a strong surgical referral base throughout the Central Coast.
• Work alongside a dedicated surgical nursing and support team.
• Contribute to a positive, team-focused hospital culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaborative mindset

Continuous learning

Patient-centered care

Education

DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure

Board Certification in Small Animal Surgery (DACVS) or residency trained and board eligible

Job description

Base Salary: $200,000–$250,000+ with ProSal Compensation Model | Sign-On & Relocation Assistance

Full-Time opportunity in Santa Barbara, California

Why Join Advanced Veterinary Specialists

At Advanced Veterinary Specialists, you'll have the opportunity to help shape a growing surgical service while becoming part of a highly collaborative specialty team in beautiful Santa Barbara. With a strong reputation throughout California's Central Coast, AVS provides high-quality, compassionate specialty and emergency care supported by dedicated ER and Critical Care teams and an exceptional nursing staff.

With dedicated OR space, a growing surgical caseload, and no other boarded surgeons in the immediate area, this is a unique opportunity to build a practice and establish yourself as a trusted surgical resource for the Central Coast.

What truly sets AVS apart is the culture. This is a collegial, team-first environment where people genuinely have each other's backs. The team delivers boutique, white-glove medicine to a diverse and highly dedicated client base while maintaining an intentional pace that prioritizes both patient care and the well-being of the team.

As part of Ethos, you'll also benefit from a national network of specialty hospitals, advanced medical resources, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Location Highlight

Santa Barbara offers an exceptional blend of coastal beauty, outdoor adventure, and laid-back sophistication, with ocean views, mountain trails, world-class wine, and endless opportunities to explore. Located just 1.5–2 hours from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara provides an incredible quality of life for those looking to enjoy a slower pace, strong sense of community, and the opportunity to genuinely live where others vacation.

Perks & Benefits

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

• Competitive base compensation of $200,000–$250,000+ with a ProSal compensation model
• Sign-on and relocation assistance
• Flexible scheduling
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• CE allowance and professional development support through Ethos Learning & Development
• Paid time off
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee assistance programs
  
  

In Your Day-to-day, You Will

• Balance time between consultations, case workups, and surgical procedures
• Perform orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries using available imaging and surgical equipment
• Collaborate with ER, Critical Care, and other specialty teams to support integrated case management
• Help shape and grow the surgical service in line with hospital priorities
• Develop relationships with referring veterinarians and build a strong surgical referral base throughout the Central Coast
• Work alongside a dedicated surgical nursing and support team
• Contribute to a positive, team-focused hospital culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning
  
  

What You Bring

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure
• Board Certification in Small Animal Surgery (DACVS) or residency trained in Small Animal Surgery and board eligible
• Strong communication skills with a compassionate, client-centered approach
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care
• A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing specialty medicine
• An interest in helping build and grow a surgical service
  
  

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn't just a job—it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.

If you're looking for a place where you can build something meaningful, practice alongside a supportive and highly collaborative team, and enjoy an exceptional quality of life, we'd love to connect.

Candidates can confidentially submit their CV to Jake Osborn at [e-mail].

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You’ll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You’ll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.