BluePearl Vet logo
BluePearl Vet
Lakewood, Washington

Veterinary Emergency Department Lead Veterinarian

Veterinarian Top 25% in Emergency Medicine (Veterinary)Full-Time

Listed compensation

$180K - $250K

Listing transparency4 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Includes call
Weekends
Includes weekends
Posted 1mo ago

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.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the emergency department by managing clinician schedules, mentoring staff, and overseeing case management decisions. Collaborate with hospital leadership and specialty clinicians to improve patient care protocols and resolve client concerns.

Requirements

Requires a DVM from an accredited university, completion of an internship, and at least three years of ER experience. Previous leadership experience is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Emergency MedicineVeterinary LeadershipStaff MentoringSchedulingMedical Protocol ImplementationInterdisciplinary CollaborationICU Management

Emergency Medicine Career Context

Of the 50 active Veterinarian listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Veterinarian pay on WeekdayDoc is down 16.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$215k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $201k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$215k midpoint, that is roughly $9k–$15k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

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Salary Distribution19 jobs · 18 employers

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1
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3
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs · 18 employers

Sign-on bonus
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CME allowance
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401k / retirement match
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Relocation assistance
68% this job
Loan repayment
11%

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Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 25% in Emergency Medicine (Veterinary)

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends
BluePearl Vet logo

About BluePearl Vet

Veterinary Services
Tampa, Florida
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Annual salary range $180,000 to $250,000
Annual stipend of up to $15,000
Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance
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