Medical Director Urgent Care Veterinarian
Listed compensation
$160k-$180k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
- Medical Director – Urgent Care Veterinarian
- PetMedic Urgent Care | Portland, Maine
- Full-Time | Competitive Base Salary + Production & Sign-On Bonus Opportunities
Lead the Medicine. Inspire the Team. Love What You Do.
Are you an experienced veterinarian ready to take the next step in your career, or an established Medical Director looking for a leadership opportunity that offers clinical autonomy, collaboration, and a healthier work-life balance?
PetMedic Urgent Care in Portland, Maine, is seeking a compassionate, motivated, and collaborative Medical Director to lead our medical team while continuing to practice high-quality, hands-on veterinary medicine.
At PetMedic, we believe exceptional medicine starts with exceptional people. Our approach to urgent care bridges the gap between general practice and emergency medicine, providing timely, high-quality care without the demands of overnight hospitalization or intensive critical care.
As our Medical Director, you'll have the opportunity to influence the hospital's medical direction, mentor fellow veterinarians, support a talented team, and help create an environment where both people and pets thrive.
This isn't just a leadership title. It's an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while still doing what you love: practicing veterinary medicine.
Why This Role Is Different
Lead with autonomy: Help shape medical protocols, clinical standards, and the overall patient care experience.
Practice medicine, not just management: Maintain an active clinical role while providing medical leadership and mentorship.
Build a culture you're proud of: Foster a positive, respectful, collaborative environment where everyone feels valued.
- Work-life balance matters: Enjoy an urgent care setting without routine overnight hospitalization.
- Support when you need it: Partner with hospital leadership, regional operations, and medical operations teams.
Develop future leaders: Mentor associate veterinarians and support the professional growth of technicians and staff.
Make your voice count: Have meaningful input into medical equipment, hospital workflows, clinical decisions, and strategic improvements.
What You'll Do
Medical Leadership & Patient Care
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve high standards of veterinary medicine consistent with AVMA guidelines and applicable AAHA standards.
- Provide compassionate, ethical, evidence-based medical care while serving as a clinical role model.
- Mentor associate veterinarians through case collaboration, clinical guidance, and professional development.
- Promote medical consistency, accurate documentation, and effective communication between doctors, support teams, and clients.
- Support medical quality assurance, case reviews, and the resolution of medical concerns.
- Ensure appropriate medical protocols, controlled substance compliance, and patient safety standards.
Team Leadership & Development
Create a supportive, inclusive, and respectful hospital culture that promotes teamwork, engagement, and retention.
Provide mentorship, constructive feedback, and professional development opportunities for veterinarians and technical staff.
- Collaborate with the Hospital Manager on staffing needs, doctor scheduling, and team development.
- Participate in veterinarian recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, and clinical training.
- Lead by example through integrity, emotional intelligence, accountability, and a positive attitude.
Hospital Collaboration & Growth
- Partner with the Hospital Manager and regional leadership to support hospital performance, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.
- Provide medical input on hospital goals, equipment investments, clinical resources, and service offerings.
- Support responsible financial decision-making while maintaining excellent patient care.
- Help strengthen relationships with referring veterinarians and the surrounding veterinary community.
- Collaborate with leadership to develop a shared vision for the hospital's continued success.
What You'll See (and What You Won't)
Our urgent care model allows veterinarians to practice a wide range of interesting medicine while maintaining a more predictable clinical environment than traditional emergency medicine.
Common Cases Include
- Gastrointestinal concerns, including vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite
- Lethargy, limping, and minor injuries
- Allergic reactions, skin conditions, and ear infections
- Bite wounds, abscesses, lacerations, and wound management
- Urinary concerns and constipation
- Respiratory symptoms, including coughing and sneezing
- Quality-of-life assessments and compassionate end-of-life care
What We Typically Refer or Transfer
- Routine preventive wellness care, vaccinations, and dentistry
- ICU-level care and overnight hospitalization
- Critical or unstable patients requiring advanced emergency or specialty services
Our focus is providing excellent urgent care while ensuring patients receive the appropriate level of treatment.
Support, Collaboration & Culture
We believe great leaders shouldn't have to do everything themselves.
As Medical Director, you'll work collaboratively with the Hospital Manager, medical operations, and regional leadership to create an environment where veterinarians can focus on practicing medicine and support teams can work at the top of their abilities.
You'll have the opportunity to influence how the hospital operates, contribute to clinical improvements, and help create a team culture rooted in trust, respect, and open communication.
We value leaders who listen, mentor, encourage new ideas, and recognize that the strongest hospital teams are built through collaboration rather than hierarchy.
Your Life Outside the Hospital Matters, TOO
Located in beautiful Portland, Maine, PetMedic offers the opportunity to build a rewarding veterinary career in one of New England's most desirable coastal communities.
Whether you enjoy exploring Portland's incredible food scene, walking along the waterfront, visiting nearby beaches, hiking scenic trails, or escaping to the mountains for a weekend adventure, Maine offers something for everyone.
A fulfilling career and a fulfilling life shouldn't be mutually exclusive.
Benefits & Compensation
We're passionate about supporting our veterinarians professionally, personally, and financially.
Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
- Competitive base salary $160,000 - $180,000 with 22% production
- Sign-on bonus opportunities
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match of up to 4% after six months of service
- Three weeks of paid time off
- Continuing education allowance and professional development support
- Licensing, DEA, and professional resource coverage
- Company-paid bonding leave or applicable state-provided bonding leave
- Employer-assisted student loan repayment
- Generous employee referral program
Additional Benefits for Your Own Pets
- Discounts on veterinary services and products
- Discounts on reference laboratory testing
- Discounts on Purina pet foods
- Pet insurance discounts through our preferred vendor
What We're Looking For
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree from an accredited veterinary institution
- Active Maine veterinary license or ability to obtain licensure
- DEA registration or ability to obtain appropriate registration
- Strong clinical judgment and commitment to exceptional patient care
- Experience practicing small animal veterinary medicine
- Previous leadership, mentorship, or Medical Director experience preferred
- Urgent care or emergency veterinary experience preferred
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills
- A collaborative leadership style and genuine passion for helping others succeed
- An interest in balancing clinical excellence, team development, and hospital growth
You don't need to have held the title of Medical Director to be a great leader. If you're an experienced veterinarian who enjoys mentoring others, improving clinical processes, and building strong teams, we'd love to hear from you.
Ready to Lead Something Great?
Whether you're actively exploring your next opportunity or simply curious about what a leadership role at PetMedic could look like, we'd love to start a conversation.
Come help us shape the future of veterinary urgent care in Portland, Maine.
Lead with purpose. Practice with autonomy. Make a difference.
Rarebreed Veterinary Partners is a purpose-driven team that places talent first by supporting professionals to thrive in our industry and empowering hospital teams to provide exceptional care for pets and their owners.
We pride ourselves on going the extra mile to create exceptional work experiences for our hospital teams. We focus on providing our hospitals with the best culture, tools, and support to allow the staff to focus on what they love most: caring for our animal companions.
Joining our fun and team-first atmosphere comes with a level of support that’s hard to find anywhere else. Everything we do is with purpose – down to the way we partner with our professionals to design a more efficient layout for our clinics.
That’s just one way we’re hyper-focused on supporting our people, so they can focus on bringing the gold standard of medicine to our patients and their families.
When it all comes together with the joy of working with pets, our career opportunities are as rewarding as a double decker bacon biscuit with peanut butter on top.
Employment will require the successful completion of references and background check.
Rarebreed Veterinary Partners provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics or classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.
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Key Responsibilities
The Medical Director will lead the medical team by establishing clinical standards, mentoring associate veterinarians, and fostering a collaborative hospital culture. They will maintain an active clinical role while overseeing medical protocols, patient safety, and operational growth in partnership with the Hospital Manager.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and possess an active Maine veterinary license. Previous experience in leadership, mentorship, or urgent/emergency veterinary care is preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Urgent Care Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Maine is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$170k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $175k in an average-cost state. 62.0% of Maine clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 45 active Veterinarian listings this role was benchmarked against, 69% have no call, 47% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $160k–$180k | Veterinarian median $165k (middle half $155k–$175k)17 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$175k in purchasing power | Maine index 97.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinarian listings in Maine | 30 active | 4,545 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 69% no call · 47% no weekends45 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | US healthcare professional listings: 49% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 7% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Oct 2026 |
| Veterinarian pay trend | −3.3% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
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