Lead Veterinarian
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting and call expectations.
Job Description
We are seeking a Lead Veterinarian in San Jose. In this role, the Lead Veterinarian will dedicate 85% of their time to veterinary duties and 15% to leadership responsibilities.
Why GoodVets
- Growing community of locally owned animal hospitals across the US
- Mission to empower veterinarians and deliver exceptional care
- Team comprised of talented, experienced DVMs who lead their own teams
- Full autonomy to practice medicine
- DVM-crafted standards of care, not corporate
You Will Make an Impact By
Ensuring that all team members deliver the highest quality of veterinary care that is safe, effective, patient and client-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable.
Working closely with the VP of Operations on matters such as budgeting, staffing, and enhancing hospital productivity. Meet to discuss KPI’s on a quarterly basis
Supervising the implementation of medical operating procedures and guidelines to ensure patient care needs are met while providing an excellent client experience.
Creating and maintaining the Clinic Doctor Schedule to balance the needs of the hospital and of Associate Veterinarians.
Mentoring and developing Associate Veterinarians through side-by-side coaching, feedback sessions, and regular case discussions, focusing on clinical skills, performance metrics, client satisfaction, teamwork, medical quality, record keeping, and productivity.
Leading daily morning rounds and organizing and conducting monthly meetings for doctors and staff to foster a positive hospital culture.
Partnering with the Hospital Operations Manager to deliver excellent client experience, including handling client complaints when necessary.
Participating in the recruitment efforts for doctors and support staff to ensure the highest caliber of veterinary talent is attracted and retained.
- Acting as an ambassador of GoodVets within the veterinary community and the public at large.
- Upholding and promoting the GoodVets culture and values among the practice team and clients.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary
- 22% production
- Access to a coaching platform
- Unlimited CE & 3 CE days
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401k match
- Friendly employee discounts on veterinary services and products
- Coverage of malpractice insurance, state license dues, and DEA dues
- Paid sabbatical program
- 20 PTO days without negative accrual
- Paid parental leave
- Urbansitter.com premium membership
- Annual childcare stipends
Are you passionate about animal health and making a difference in the lives of pets and their owners? Apply to learn more, we'd love to have a conversation!
Key Responsibilities
The Lead Veterinarian will balance clinical veterinary duties with leadership responsibilities, including mentoring associate veterinarians and managing hospital operations. They will also collaborate with the VP of Operations on budgeting, staffing, and maintaining high standards of patient care.
Requirements
The role requires a qualified veterinarian with experience in clinical practice and team leadership. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to manage hospital performance metrics, mentor staff, and foster a positive clinic culture.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
In California, the Veterinary Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$164k (189 salary observations; 669 listings), vs ~$140k nationally (873 salary observations; 7,060 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-02-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | not listed | Veterinary Medicine median $165k (middle half $153k–$185k)75 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $164k median in California | $140k nationally (+17%)189 state / 873 national salary observations |
| Cost of living | California index 110.7 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in California | 218 active | 3,244 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 84% no call · 76% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 45% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 15% offer loan repayment338 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,270 in the last 30 days | 492 the 30 days before (+158%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Veterinary Medicine pay trend | +3.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
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