Veterinary Medical Director
Listed compensation
Starting at $150K
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
- Veterinary Medical Director
- ACSKC Animal Wellness Clinic | Chestertown, MD
- Full-Time | Starting at $150,000 annually
Help Build Something That Makes a Difference!
ACSKC Animal Wellness Clinic is seeking a Medical Director to help launch and lead a new nonprofit veterinary hospital in Chestertown, Maryland.
As an extension of the Animal Care Shelter for Kent County, our hospital will provide quality veterinary care to shelter animals and affordable services to pets in the surrounding community.
This is a unique opportunity for a veterinarian who wants more than a traditional clinical role. You'll have the opportunity to help shape the hospital, build your team, and make decisions that directly impact the care we provide.
What You'll Do
- Provide medical leadership and oversee the hospital's clinical operations.
- Help build, mentor, and support the veterinary team.
- Establish medical protocols and standards of care.
- Provide wellness, preventive care, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery.
- Collaborate with shelter leadership to support the hospital's mission and long-term success.
- Help develop services that meet the needs of shelter animals and the community.
What We're Looking For
- DVM or VMD degree and eligibility for Maryland veterinary licensure.
- Strong clinical and surgical skills.
- Leadership abilities and a collaborative approach to team development.
- Confidence making medical decisions and establishing clinical standards.
- A passion for accessible veterinary care and animal welfare.
What We Offer
- Starting Salary: $150,000
- Health insurance with 75% employer contribution.
- Retirement benefits.
- Paid time off.
- Continuing education allowance.
- Professional dues and DEA license coverage.
- Opportunity to help build and lead a new hospital from the ground up.
Life in Chestertown, Maryland
Located on Maryland's scenic Eastern Shore, Chestertown offers historic charm, waterfront living, and a welcoming small-town community. Enjoy boating, fishing, local restaurants, and outdoor recreation, with convenient access to Annapolis, Baltimore, and Wilmington.
We're Also Hiring
We’re looking for two Licensed Veterinary Technicians to join our new hospital. Know a great technician or two? We’d love to connect with them!
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you're a veterinarian who enjoys clinical medicine, leadership, and the opportunity to build something meaningful, we'd love to connect!
Apply today to learn more about this Medical Director opportunity.
Anticipated start: Second quarter of 2027.
Key Responsibilities
The Medical Director will oversee clinical operations, establish medical protocols, and lead the veterinary team at a new nonprofit hospital. They will also collaborate with shelter leadership to provide quality care for shelter animals and the local community.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a DVM or VMD degree and be eligible for Maryland veterinary licensure. Strong clinical, surgical, and leadership skills are required to build and manage the hospital's medical standards.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$150k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $143k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 66% have no call, 60% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $150k | Veterinary Medicine median $133k (middle half $120k–$158k)14 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$143k in purchasing power | Maryland index 105.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in Maryland | 69 active | 3,450 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 66% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Maryland healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 46% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 7% offer loan repayment116 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,282 in the last 30 days | 483 the 30 days before (+165%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Veterinary Medicine pay trend | +1.8% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Top Veterinarian Jobs
11 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
11 jobs · 7 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
11 jobs · 7 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Veterinarian - Medical Director - Relocation Assistance Available
Alliance Animal Health · Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Veterinarian - Madera, CA
Vet Cor · Madera, California
Veterinarian - Gloversville, NY
$130k-$185kMedical Director - Bell Ridge Animal Hospital
$170k-$185kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,392 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
Benefits & Perks
Living in Chestertown
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $360k≈ 2.4× annual pay
- Median resident rent
- $1,206/mo≈ 10% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 20 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 104.5
- State income tax
- Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.