Medical Director / Associate Veterinarian (Small Animal) | Kersting Veterinary Hospital | Partnership Opportunities
Listed compensation
$120k-$140k
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
Company Description
Small Animal Medical Director | Chesterfield, Missouri | $40K+ Sign-On Bonus | Partnership Opportunities
At Kersting Veterinary Hospital, we believe exceptional veterinary medicine starts with an exceptional veterinary team. For decades, our hospital has built a reputation for compassionate care, medical excellence, and a genuine commitment to the people and pets we serve. We are a thriving, fast-paced, multi-doctor veterinary practice proudly caring for small animals, avian patients, and exotic companions throughout Chesterfield, Missouri and beyond.
Our veterinary hospital is equipped to provide comprehensive, high-quality care, including advanced preventive medicine, surgery, in-house diagnostics, digital full-body and dental radiology, exotic and avian medicine, and luxury boarding services. Every Veterinarian is empowered to practice progressive medicine within a collaborative and supportive environment.
Located in beautiful Chesterfield, Missouri, our veterinary team enjoys the perfect balance of suburban comfort and big-city access. With top-rated Rockwood schools, vibrant local communities, incredible parks and trails, and convenient access to downtown St. Louis, Chesterfield offers an exceptional quality of life for any Veterinarian seeking balance, opportunity, and community.
Spend your weekends hiking and biking scenic trails, catching a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, exploring world-class dining and entertainment, or enjoying family-friendly neighborhoods consistently ranked among the best places to live in Missouri.
This is more than a veterinary career; it is an opportunity to build long-term success, enjoy true work-life balance, and become part of a veterinary hospital that values your growth, goals, and future.
To learn more about us click here.
Job Description
We are seeking a Small Animal Medical Director with a strong interest in exotic/small animal veterinary medicine to join our growing team. Avian experience is strongly preferred.
The ideal Veterinarian is:
- A compassionate, relationship-driven, and highly collaborative team player who thrives in a positive culture
- A confident communicator committed to exceptional client service
- Proficient in general medicine and surgery
- Excited to continue growing in exotic and avian veterinary medicine
This is an incredible opportunity for a Veterinarian to join a hospital that offers the medicine, mentorship, technology, and support needed to practice exceptional veterinary medicine every day.
What We Offer Veterinarians
- We are committed to investing in our Veterinarians through:
- Flexible scheduling for work-life balance
- Competitive compensation packages
- Medical autonomy with strong collaborative support
- Dedicated DVM Mentor Network
- Paid CE allowance and professional dues
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- 401(k) with company support
- Liability coverage
- Employee Assistance Program
- Personal pet care discounts
- SIGN-ON BONUS STARTING AT $40,000
Additional Incentives Include
- Sign-on bonus
- Relocation assistance
- Student loan assistance
- Future ownership opportunities
Qualifications
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) degree or equivalent from an accredited university
- Active Veterinary State License (or ability to obtain upon hire)
- Current DEA License (or ability to obtain upon hire)
- USDA Accreditation (or ability to obtain upon hire)
Additional Information
This is an exciting opportunity for a veterinarian who is ready to take the next step in their career - combining clinical medicine, leadership, mentorship, and ownership while supporting two established practices in Southern Illinois.
We Are a DRUG-Free, Smoke-Free, Equal Opportunity Employer.
Company Policy & Federal & State Laws Forbid Discrimination Because of Age, Color, Race, Religion, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation or National Origin.
For additional details including our full equal opportunity statement, texting/outreach communication authorization, physical requirements of the job, and more, please visit the Alliance Animal Health Additional Job Description Details page.
Compensation: USD 120000 - USD 140000 - yearly
Key Responsibilities
The Medical Director will oversee clinical operations, provide high-quality medical and surgical care for small animals and exotic pets, and mentor the veterinary team. They are responsible for fostering a collaborative environment while maintaining excellent client service standards.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine — Physician Career Context
Physician pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$130k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $143k in an average-cost state. 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $120k–$140k | Physician median $173k (middle half $160k–$175k)15 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$143k in purchasing power | Missouri index 90.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Physician listings in Missouri | 381 active | 22,579 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | $40k sign-on · loan repayment | Missouri Physician listings: 30% state a sign-on bonus (median $30k) · 18% offer loan repayment381 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 962 in the last 30 days | 517 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Physician pay trend | −2.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Work-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 104 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- Includes weekends
Benefits & Perks
100+ more from Alliance Animal Health
- Associate Veterinarian | Mentorship Opportunities · 20+ locations$140k
- Associate Veterinarian | Ardmore, OK | Partnership Opportunities Available · Ardmore, Oklahoma
- Associate Veterinarian | Little Rock, AR | Partnership Opportunity · Little Rock, Arkansas$135k
Living in Chesterfield
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $487k≈ 4.1× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $1,680/mo≈ 17% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 22 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 95.1
- State income tax
- Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · St. Louis, MO-IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.