Veterinarian Area Medical Director- San Antonio/Austin

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc.; Texas; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Petco is seeking an Area Medical Director to provide leadership and mentorship across its owned full-service hospitals within the designated area. The role emphasizes maintaining high standards of medical care, client service, and staff development while driving growth and performance.

The incumbent will collaborate with Petco Veterinary Hospital SOPs, ensure compliance with laws, and support recruitment, budgeting, and problem solving across multiple locations, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.
• Active licensure as a veterinarian in the states where hospitals are located.
• Current DEA license and Current Controlled Substance License as applicable.
• USDA Category I Accreditation or completion within two months of hire date.
• Valid Driver’s license and clean driving record.
• At least 4 years of clinical practice experience.
• Strong knowledge of medical operations, SOPs, and patient care standards.
• General understanding of business financials and hospital budgeting.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to travel frequently between regional hospital locations (up to 20% overnight).

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide management to all hospitals in the assigned area to drive hospital growth and performance.
• Mentor and develop hospital veterinarians and medical leaders through hands-on evaluation and coaching.
• Provide in-hospital evaluation for improvement of hospital flow and efficiencies.
• Act as primary medical contact for Petco-owned hospitals in the area and ensure compliance with policies and laws.
• Oversee hospital radiation safety, equipment maintenance, and compliance programs.
• Ensure controlled substance compliance with DVMs and leaders.
• Partner with operational leadership to manage escalated client concerns and potential small claims.
• Review electronic medical records and provide feedback to associate veterinarians to elevate patient care.
• Monitor key metrics to improve veterinarian production and hospital performance.
• Support recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding with Talent Acquisition.
• Travel between area hospitals including possible overnight travel up to 20%.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Financial acumen

Travel readiness

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (AVMA accredited)

Active veterinary licensure in required states

Current DEA license

Current Controlled Substance License

USDA Category I Accreditation

Valid driver’s license

4+ years clinical practice experience

Strong knowledge of medical operations & SOPs

Understanding of business finances

Job description

Want to help pets live their best lives?

We’re proud to be where the pets go and where thepet peoplego. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.

• Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
• Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through distinct experiences, products, and services.
• Let’s Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.

About Petco:

We’re proud to be “where the pets go” to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we foundedPetco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

Position Purpose:

The purpose of this Area Medical Director position is to provide leadership, mentorship, and management to Petco owned full-service hospitals and its partners within the assigned area. The Area Medical Director is responsible for representing the mission and values while creating a positive culture, hiring and development of staff, driving hospital growth and delivering performance objectives. Additionally, through the guidance of Petco Veterinary Hospital Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), they will ensure our hospitals practice a high standard of quality medicine and provide excellent patient care and client service.

The Area Medical Director role is critical to ensuring that our hospitals provide a positive environment for staff, patients, and clients. All hospital staff is responsible for fostering an environment in which:

• the patient’s needs always come first
• every team member understands that they have the power to do what it takes to create an exceptional customer and patient experience
• contentious issues are dealt with and resolved as they occur when possible, or as soon as is possible
• exceptional teamwork and commitment to shared goals benefits the entire organization

• Lead and provide management to all hospitals in assigned area to drive hospital growth and deliver performance objectives
• Manage, develop, and provide mentorship to hospital veterinarians and hospital medical leaders through hands‑on evaluation and coaching, as well as provide as needed medical support to any relief doctors who provide doctor services
• Provide In‑hospital evaluation for improvement hospital flow and efficiencies
• Act as the primary medical point of contact for all Petco owned hospitals within assigned area and ensure compliance with hospital policies and procedures and with local, state, and federal laws
• Oversee and assure hospital radiation safety, regular equipment maintenance, and compliance programs are compliant
• Partner with hospital DVMs and leaders to assure controlled substance compliance
• Ensure all Vetco Total Care hospitals uphold all Petco standards, mission, and values
• Partner with operational leadership to manage and support escalated client concerns, including but not limited to professional liability submissions and other escalated client concerns including the potential for small claims proceedings
• Monitor and report veterinarian adherence to medical standards in the Petco Veterinary Hospital Medical SOPs
• Review electronic medical records of direct reports regarding patient decisions and provide feedback and direction to associate veterinarians as a means to elevate patient care in our hospital
• Review and analyze key metrics to improve veterinarian production
• Ensure hospitals are maintaining a positive work environment that fosters efficiency, profitability, and partner retention
• Practice high quality medicine on an as needed
• In partnership with the Petco Talent Acquisition team, assist in the recruitment, interview, hiring, and onboarding process
• In partnership with the Regional Medical Director and Area Operation Manager, support and manage the performance of the hospitals, prepare operating and capital budgets, and meet financial objectives and budget expectations
• Frequently travel between area hospital locations with the potential of up to 20% of overnight travel (such as corporate office or conferences)

Other Duties and Responsibilities

1. Performs additional duties as assigned
2. Hold relevant permit and/or responsible veterinarian responsibilities as state requires and per business needs
3. Obtain and support individual hospitals with DEA registration responsibilities as required by the business
4. Obtain veterinary licensure in every state role has hospitals located
5. Disseminate knowledge throughout staff in order to improve the level of care provided to both the patient and the client

Nature of Supervision

The incumbent will take direct supervision from assigned Sr Regional Medical Director.

Planning and Problem Solving

Problem solving is at the heart of veterinary medicine, and it is expected that any successful candidate will possess excellent problem‑solving skills that allow expeditious diagnosis of patient problems and thoroughness in contentious issues involving doctors or clients.

Impact

This position will impact the organization by contributing to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on a high-quality standard of care. From an overall hospital organizational standpoint, this position is critical to ensuring that we have a cohesive, well‑trained, and motivated team. The desired end result is the creation of an optimal environment that ensures employee retention, patient well‑being, and customer satisfaction.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position is considered the doctor in charge at all times while in the hospital. The Area Medical Director directly supervises all veterinarians within assigned region.

Education/Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school or its equivalent
• Active licensure as a veterinarian without contingencies in the states in which the assigned hospitals are located or ability to obtain by start date
• Current DEA license
• Current Controlled Substance License, if applicable, in states in which the assigned hospitals are located or ability to obtain by start date
• USDA Category I Accreditation or completion within two months of hire date
• Valid Driver’s license and clean driving record required
• At least 4 years of clinical practice experience
• Strong knowledge of medical operations including but not limited to assurance of medical quality, setting protocols to ensure compliance with Petco SOPs and the state veterinary practice act, driving regular team educational enhancement opportunities, advising and leading medical case discussions as necessary, and knowledge of equipment and formulary medical use and needs
• General understanding of business financials
• Candidate must possess excellent interpersonal, leadership, and conflict resolutions skills
• Ability to travel frequently between regional hospital locations with the potential of up to 20% of overnight travel

Preferences:

• Previous medical leadership experience preferably in a multi-unit setting.

Competencies:

Completed by Total Rewards Department

Work Environment:

The majority of job duties are conducted in the area veterinary hospitals. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.

Contacts

This position will regularly communicate with clients, veterinary specialists, and companies that provide products and/or services that the practice utilizes.

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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