Lead Veterinarian - Desert Hills Animal Clinic

VeterinarianIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

from $150,000

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Lead with Purpose. Practice Great Medicine. Make a Lasting Impact.

Desert Hills Animal Clinic is seeking a Lead

Veterinarian to join our well-established practice in Phoenix, Arizona. This is an exciting opportunity for a veterinarian who enjoys mentorship, leadership, and helping shape the future of a successful hospital while continuing to practice high-quality medicine.

About Us

Desert Hills Animal Clinic is a full-service animal hospital with an experienced three-doctor team and an enthusiastic support staff.

We have been operating out of our newly built 7th Ave and Carefree Hwy location since 2024; providing comprehensive veterinary care for dogs & cats, including preventative care, dentistry, & surgical procedures. Our culture is collaborative, supportive, and genuinely fun.

We are committed to a well-trained team, patient care, strong client relationships, and individualized treatment plans that prioritize the well-being of every dog and cat we see.

What We Offer

  • Leadership Opportunity: Play a key role in guiding hospital culture, mentoring team members, and helping drive the continued success of an established practice.
  • Competitive Compensation: Base salary ranging from $150,000–$170,000 plus production with no negative accrual and a generous sign-on bonus.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, HSA contribution, life and disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match, PTO, CE allowance, paid licensing and dues, and more.
  • Clinical Autonomy with Network Support: Enjoy the freedom to practice medicine your way while benefiting from Lakefield's resources and operational support.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a veterinarian who enjoys leadership, collaboration, and mentorship. A strong interest in surgery is highly preferred, as the hospital offers a diverse surgical caseload and opportunities to continue expanding surgical services.

Whether you're currently in a leadership role or ready to take the next step in your career, we'd love to connect.

  • Life in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Enjoy year-round sunshine, incredible hiking, golf, professional sports, amazing restaurants, and easy access to destinations like Sedona and the Grand Canyon.
  • Phoenix offers an exceptional balance of career opportunity and lifestyle.

About Lakefield Veterinary Group

Desert Hills Animal Clinic is part of Lakefield Veterinary Group, a family-owned organization that supports hospital autonomy while providing the resources of a larger network. Lakefield prioritizes work-life balance, professional growth, and strong hospital cultures, all while providing WOW service to our clients and patients.

Ready to Learn More?

If you're looking for an opportunity to lead a great team, practice exceptional medicine, and make a meaningful impact, we'd love to connect.

To learn more about the hospital and position please contact Nikki Hanschu at nikki.hanschu@lakefieldvet.com [nikki.hanschu@lakefieldvet.com] or apply at careers.lakefieldvet.com.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the hospital culture and mentor team members while practicing high-quality veterinary medicine. Drive the continued success of the established practice through clinical leadership and operational guidance.

Requirements

Seeking a veterinarian with a passion for leadership, collaboration, and mentorship. A strong interest or proficiency in surgery is highly preferred.

Qualifications

Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Orthopedic ProceduresEmergency SurgeryInternal MedicineClient Relationship Management

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Arizona is 100.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$160k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $159k in an average-cost state. 60.3% of Arizona clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 92% have no call, 98% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Arizona?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$150k–$170kVeterinary Medicine median $138k (middle half $123k–$155k)472 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$159k in purchasing powerArizona index 100.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Arizona73 active3,160 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 92% no call · 98% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedArizona healthcare professional listings: 43% state a sign-on bonus · 12% offer loan repayment107 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings949 in the last 30 days550 the 30 days before (+73%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+3.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

5 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

5 jobs
2
<$135k
0
$135k-150k
2
$150k
1
$175k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution

5 jobs
0
1-2
0
3-4
0
5-6
2
7-8
3
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Veterinarian - Ventura, CA

Who we · Ventura, California

$150k-$175k
#2

Associate Veterinarian - North Phoenix Animal Clinic (Phoenix, AZ)

North Phoenix Animal Clinic · Phoenix, Arizona

$125k-$150k
#3

Associate Veterinarian - North Phoenix Animal Clinic (Phoenix, AZ)

$125k-$150k
#4

Veterinarian-Camarillo CA

$80k-$125k
+ 3 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,095 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
Lakefield Veterinary Group logo

About Lakefield Veterinary Group

Veterinary Services
Kent, Washington
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, vision insurance
HSA contribution
Life and disability insurance
401(k) with employer match
PTO
CE allowance
Paid licensing and dues
Sign-on bonus

Living in Phoenix

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$405k≈ 2.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,571/mo≈ 13% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.3
State income tax
Up to 2.5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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