Good Vets logo
Good Vets
Chicago, Illinois

Lead Veterinarian - General Interest

VeterinarianFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting and call expectations.

Posted 52m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Lead Veterinarian

Build the Future of Veterinary Medicine

At GoodVets, we're building the veterinary experience we all wish existed; one where doctors are empowered to practice exceptional medicine, supported by talented teams, and surrounded by leaders who are invested in their growth.

We believe great veterinary care starts with great veterinarians. That's why we've created an environment where doctors have the autonomy to make the best decisions for their patients, the support to grow their careers, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of the profession.

As a Lead Veterinarian, you'll play a critical role in shaping the medical culture of your hospital, mentoring fellow doctors, and delivering exceptional care to pets and their families. This role combines clinical excellence with leadership impact, dedicating approximately 85% of your time to practicing medicine and 15% to leading and developing your team.

Why Veterinarians Choose GoodVets

Practice Great Medicine

  • We're committed to creating an environment where doctors can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional patient care.
  • Clinical autonomy and trust
  • Modern hospitals designed around quality medicine
  • Advanced diagnostics, technology, and equipment
  • Collaborative support teams that allow doctors to practice at their highest level

Develop Future Veterinarians

  • Leadership at GoodVets is about helping others grow.
  • As a Lead Veterinarian, you'll help develop the next generation of veterinary professionals through mentorship, coaching, and clinical collaboration.
  • Mentor and develop Associate Veterinarians
  • Influence standards of care and medical excellence
  • Foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement
  • Serve as a trusted clinical leader within your hospital

Grow Your Career

  • Whether your aspirations include becoming a stronger clinician, leading larger teams, or expanding your impact across multiple hospitals, we're committed to helping you get there.
  • Unlimited Continuing Education after your first full year
  • Leadership development opportunities

Build Something Meaningful

GoodVets is one of the fastest-growing veterinary platforms in the country, but growth isn't our goal; building a better future for veterinary medicine is.

You'll have the opportunity to help shape the culture, standards, and experience that define veterinary care for our teams, clients, and patients.

What You'll Do

  • Deliver Exceptional Medical Care
  • Provide high-quality, compassionate veterinary care to patients
  • Champion the highest standards of medicine and patient safety
  • Ensure care is effective, client-centered, timely, and evidence-based
  • Build trusted relationships with clients through clear communication and education
  • Collaborate with hospital teams to deliver a seamless client experience
  • Lead Medical Excellence
  • Support the implementation and continuous improvement of medical protocols and standards of care
  • Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
  • Partner with Medical Operations leadership to uphold clinical quality across the hospital
  • Serve as a role model for medical decision-making and client communication
  • Mentor and Develop Doctors
  • Provide real-time coaching and clinical guidance to Associate Veterinarians
  • Support onboarding and development of new doctors
  • Facilitate case collaboration and knowledge sharing
  • Help create an environment where veterinarians feel supported, challenged, and inspired to grow
  • Partner in Hospital Leadership
  • Partner closely with your Hospital Operations Manager to drive hospital success
  • Support doctor scheduling and staffing plans that balance patient access, team wellbeing, and hospital performance
  • Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding efforts to attract top veterinary talent
  • Help cultivate a positive, high-performing hospital culture
  • Represent GoodVets
  • Serve as an ambassador for GoodVets within the veterinary community
  • Support efforts to attract and retain exceptional veterinary talent
  • Uphold and model GoodVets' core values in every interaction

Compensation

  • Competitive base salary
  • Up to 22% production compensation model

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Unlimited Continuing Education after your first full year
  • Three paid CE days annually
  • Malpractice insurance coverage
  • State veterinary license and DEA reimbursement
  • Paid sabbatical program
  • 20 PTO days
  • Paid parental leave
  • Annual childcare stipend
  • Employee Assistance Program with mental health resources and confidential counseling
  • Employee discounts on veterinary services and products

Key Responsibilities

The Lead Veterinarian will provide high-quality medical care while dedicating 15% of their time to mentoring associate doctors and leading hospital operations. They are responsible for upholding medical standards, fostering a positive hospital culture, and driving team performance.

Requirements

Candidates must be licensed veterinarians with a strong commitment to clinical excellence and leadership. The role requires the ability to mentor staff, manage hospital protocols, and collaborate effectively with operations management.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
5+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Clinical leadershipStaff developmentTeam managementDiagnostic skillsSurgical proceduresEvidence-based medicineConflict resolution

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 94% have no call, 82% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedVeterinary Medicine median $130k (middle half $123k–$160k)17 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingIllinois index 100.0US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Illinois161 active3,340 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 94% no call · 82% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIllinois healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 8% offer loan repayment213 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings1,266 in the last 30 days492 the 30 days before (+157%)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

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

6 jobs · 5 employers
2
<$140k
2
$150k
1
$160k
0
$180k-200k
1
$200k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution

31 jobs · 5 employers
0
1-2
0
3-4
1
5-6
3
7-8
27
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Associate Veterinarian- GP/ Urgent Care- Lombard Veterinary Hospital

Dvm Launch · Lombard, Illinois

$140k-$200k
#2

Veterinarian - Grass Valley, CA

Vet Cor · Grass Valley, California

$130k-$160k
#3

Veterinarian- Orange County CA

$120k-$150k
#4

Veterinarian - Kennewick, WA

$130k-$150k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 1.5
Below most Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,083 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Good Vets logo

About Good Vets

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with company match
Unlimited Continuing Education after first full year
Three paid CE days annually
Malpractice insurance coverage
State veterinary license and DEA reimbursement
Paid sabbatical program
20 PTO days

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$2,311/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.