PetMedic - Portland logo
PetMedic - Portland
Portland, Maine

Medical Director Urgent Care Veterinarian

VeterinarianIncludes weekendsFull-Time

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.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

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

DEA License

Key Skills

Team mentorshipClinical protocolsStaff developmentCase managementStrategic planning

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.

What does the Veterinarian market look like in Maine?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$160k–$180kVeterinarian median $165k (middle half $155k–$175k)17 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$175k in purchasing powerMaine index 97.1 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinarian listings in Maine30 active4,545 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 69% no call · 47% no weekends45 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentUS 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
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

19 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

19 jobs · 13 employers
2
<$115k
3
$115k-150k
11
$150k-185k
2
$185k-220k
1
$224k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

18 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
56% this job
CME allowance
56% this job
Relocation assistance
39%
Loan repayment
22% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Hospital Medical Leader- Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Baldwin, New York

$140k-$224k
#2

Associate Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Baldwin, New York

$96k-$203k
#3

Veterinarian - Watertown

$160k-$187k
#4

Veterinarian

$160k-$180k
+ 17 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 1.5
Below most Urgent Care (Veterinary) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 94 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
PetMedic - Portland logo

About PetMedic - Portland

Veterinary Services
Boston, Portland & Beyond
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive base salary $160,000 - $180,000 with 22% production
Sign-on bonus opportunities
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with company match up to 4% after six months
Three weeks paid time off
Continuing education allowance
Licensing, DEA, and professional resource coverage
Company-paid bonding leave

Living in Portland

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$563k≈ 3.5× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,399/mo≈ 18% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
101.9
State income tax
Up to 7.2%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Portland-South Portland, ME metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.