Veterinary Emergency Department Lead Veterinarian

AAVMP; Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual stipend up to $15,000

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Shift differentials

Weekend differentials

Job summary

BluePearl Tacoma, a premier emergency and specialty veterinary hospital, is seeking an ER Service Head to lead our ER clinicians, specialists, and leadership team. The role commands responsibility for scheduling, mentoring, and coordinating patient care across ER and ICU services.

The ideal candidate holds a DVM, has completed an internship, and brings at least three years of ER experience with leadership experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and have completed an internship.
• Minimum three years of ER experience; leadership experience preferred.
• Strong administrative and interpersonal skills to lead a hospital ER team.

Responsibilities

• Manage the schedule for all ER Clinicians, including PTO requests.
• Facilitate regular ER Clinician meetings and participate in hospital leadership meetings.
• Mentor ER Clinicians and new ER/ICU staff; oversee ER case management and provide guidance on decisions.
• Integrate emergency and specialty services to manage all hospitalized cases.
• Assist in patient safety reporting and in recruiting new Emergency Clinicians.
• Partner with hospital leadership to identify improvement opportunities for ER care and client service.
• Oversee capital purchases for ICU/ER department.

Skills

Leadership

Staff scheduling

Mentoring & coaching

ER management

Interdepartmental collaboration

Recruiting

Education

DVM degree

Completed internship

3+ years ER experience

Job description

BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tacoma, WA is seeking a full-time ER Service Head who will work side by side with our ER clinicians, specialists, and leadership team.

The annual salary range for this position is $180,000 to $250,000. This position is also eligible for an annual stipend of up to $15,000 and additionally may be eligible for a sign-on bonus and relocation assistance.

BluePearl also offers additional ancillary benefits, including, but not limited to, shift differentials and weekend differentials. These ancillary benefits may fluctuate by region and/or hospital. Please discuss specific ancillary benefits with your interviewer.

The ideal candidate will have a DVM from accredited university and will have successfully completed an internship and have at least three years of ER experience. Previous leadership experience preferred.

As an ER Service Head, you will:

• Manage the schedule for all ER Clinicians, including PTO requests.
• Facilitate regular ER Clinician meetings and participate in hospital leadership meetings.
• Mentor ER Clinicians and new ER/ICU support staff. Oversee ER Clinician case management and providing guidance as needed on case management decisions.
• Integrate the emergency and specialty services to successfully manage all hospitalized cases. The ER Service Head will act as the sounding board between ER Clinicians and Specialty Clinicians and discuss any concerns with the Medical Director as they arise.
• Assist in implementation and monitoring of patient safety reporting as it pertains to the emergency department.
• Actively contribute to recruiting new Emergency Clinicians. Ensure new hires have been assigned a mentor by the clinician mentor liaison to support retention and engagement.
• Assist in customer service issues as needed and help management to follow up to resolve issues as appropriate.
• Partner with hospital leadership to identify opportunities and implement new initiatives for improvement of ER patient care, medical protocols, and client service levels.
• Stay abreast of hospital environment and issues of concern, working collaboratively with the Medical Director and work in collaboration with P&O and hospital leadership regarding all ER/ICU personnel issues. Assist with performance reviews.
• Assist management team with client and pDVM concerns when necessary.
• Work with management team to oversee capital purchases for ICU/ER department.

We are truly in this together. We work to provide exceptional specialty and emergency care for pets by supporting each other through our shared passion, knowledge, and talents.

Our Hospital: BluePearl Tacoma

Our hospital is an emergency and specialty facility serving the Tacoma, WA area. It features advanced technology that enables our associates to deliver high-quality specialty care, including digital radiography, ultrasonography, MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, electro-chemotherapy, and CO₂ laser capabilities.

We have a highly qualified team with a dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) and a full-service in-house laboratory. Our facility includes comfortable treatment areas, surgical suites, recovery areas, and kennels to ensure a secure and calming environment for our patients. BluePearl Tacoma provides 24/7 services in emergency, critical care, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, avian & exotics, oncology, surgery, radiology, and diagnostic imaging.

Our team believes strongly in collaborative medicine to provide the most comprehensive care for our patients.

Why BluePearl?

We're a community of passionate caregivers driven by a shared mission: to deliver the most advanced veterinary care possible. As part of Mars Veterinary Health, our clinicians gain access to:

• World-class CE opportunities through BluePearl University and beyond
• A clinical leveling system to support your professional growth
• Leadership development programs to help you grow into your next big role
• Access to 2,000+ medical journals, webinars, and peer learning

Your Wellness Matters:

We care deeply for our people. That's why we offer:

• Comprehensive benefits: health, dental, vision, PTO, parental leave, and 401(k)
• Company-paid short/long-term disability and life insurance
• Mental health support: 12 free mental health sessions per year, and the Lyra platform
• Discounts on pet care, food, and Trupanion insurance
• Annual BluePearl store allowance

If you are an experienced doctor and want to be part of the largest network of interdisciplinary pet hospitals that combines expertise and passion to deliver the most advanced veterinary care, let's chat!

Why BluePearl? Because it is an exceptional place to work!

BluePearl is committed to a diverse work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation or affectional preference, or gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.