Associate/Lead Veterinarian – San Francisco, California
Location: San Francisco, California
Salary: $150,000–$220,000 per year plus quarterly production bonus with no negative accrual
Sign-on Bonus: Up to $75,000
Schedule: Full-time or part-time opportunities | Full-time schedules from 30 hours per week | No on-call or overnight shifts | Hospital closes by 6:00 PM
Opportunity: Join a brand-new small animal hospital with significant clinical autonomy and the opportunity to help shape the team, medical standards, and hospital culture
About the Role
A brand-new small animal veterinary hospital in San Francisco, California is seeking an Lead or Associate Veterinarian to join its founding clinical team.
Offering $150,000–$220,000 per year, quarterly production bonuses with no negative accrual, and a sign-on bonus of up to $75,000, this opportunity combines excellent earning potential with flexible scheduling, clinical autonomy, modern resources, and significant influence over how the hospital develops.
The position is available to veterinarians seeking either a clinical Associate DVM opportunity or a more senior leadership role. Candidates pursuing the Hospital Medical Leader pathway will have the opportunity to help build and mentor the veterinary team, shape medical standards, and establish the hospital's clinical culture from the outset.
Work-life balance is a significant feature of the opportunity, with no on-call or overnight shifts, dedicated lunch closures, and full-time schedules beginning at 30 hours per week.
About the Practice
This is a new full-service small animal veterinary hospital in San Francisco, designed around clinical autonomy, collaborative medicine, strong veterinary support, and high-quality patient care.
Rather than joining an established hospital culture, incoming veterinarians will have the opportunity to contribute directly to its development. This includes influencing clinical workflows, medical standards, team culture, and the overall patient and client experience.
The hospital is being developed with strong doctor-to-support-staff ratios, including credentialed veterinary technicians and skilled paraprofessional team members. Continued technician training and education are emphasized to allow veterinarians to delegate effectively and focus on practicing medicine.
Veterinarians will have autonomy over medical decision-making while benefiting from access to experienced veterinary medical leadership when additional guidance or collaboration is required.
The environment is focused on quality of care rather than sales quotas or appointment volume, allowing clinicians to prioritize appropriate medical decisions and meaningful relationships with clients.
Responsibilities
Depending on whether the successful candidate joins as an Associate Veterinarian or Hospital Medical Leader, responsibilities may include:
Perform comprehensive physical examinations on small animal patients.
Provide routine wellness and preventive healthcare.
Diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions.
Develop individualized diagnostic and treatment plans.
Practise evidence-based medicine with appropriate clinical autonomy.
Manage routine and more complex small animal medical cases.
Perform anesthesia safely and appropriately.
Perform routine canine and feline surgical procedures.
Perform spays and neuters.
Perform mass removals and other appropriate soft tissue procedures.
Provide routine veterinary dental care.
Communicate examination findings and diagnostic results clearly with clients.
Educate clients regarding treatment options and preventive healthcare.
Build trusted, long-term relationships with clients and their pets.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive patient medical records.
Collaborate effectively with credentialed veterinary technicians and support staff.
Work with veterinary medical leadership when additional clinical support is required.
Maintain high standards of patient care, professionalism, and client service.
Participate in continuing education and professional development.
Support a respectful, collaborative, and team-focused working environment.
Contribute to the development of hospital workflows and clinical standards.
Help establish a positive culture within the new hospital.
For candidates joining as a Hospital Medical Leader, additional responsibilities may include:
Provide clinical leadership for the veterinary hospital.
Help recruit and develop the clinical team.
Mentor and support associate veterinarians.
Establish and maintain high medical standards.
Support veterinarian and technician professional development.
Foster a collaborative and engaging hospital culture.
Promote high standards of patient care and client experience.
Partner with operational and veterinary leadership while maintaining a strong veterinarian-led clinical environment.
Identify opportunities to improve medical quality and hospital performance.
Serve as a clinical role model for the wider hospital team.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.
Candidates should also possess:
Active California veterinary licensure or the ability to obtain licensure by the start date
Current DEA license
Controlled Substance License where applicable, or ability to obtain one by the start date
USDA Category I Accreditation or ability to complete accreditation within two months of hire
Confidence performing anesthesia
Ability to perform routine canine and feline surgery
Confidence performing spays and neuters
Experience performing mass removals and routine dental procedures
Strong diagnostic and clinical problem-solving abilities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Compassionate and professional client communication
Ability to remain calm and professional during emotional or stressful situations
Commitment to high-quality veterinary medicine
Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills
Desire to contribute to a supportive and respectful workplace
Interest in continued professional development
Candidates interested in the Lead Veterinarian opportunity should additionally demonstrate strong leadership potential and enthusiasm for building, mentoring, and developing a veterinary team.
The dual-level nature of the position makes it suitable for experienced Associate Veterinarians seeking clinical autonomy as well as veterinarians ready to progress into a hospital leadership position.
Compensation & Benefits
The position offers a highly competitive compensation and employment package, including:
$150,000–$220,000 annual salary
Up to $75,000 sign-on bonus
Quarterly production bonus
No negative accrual
Full-time or part-time opportunities
Full-time schedules starting from 30 hours per week
No on-call shifts
No overnight shifts
Hospital closes by 6:00 PM
Dedicated lunch closure
Open time off
Paid continuing education
Leadership development opportunities
Career advancement pathways
Clinical autonomy
Veterinary medical leadership support
Strong doctor-to-support-staff ratios
Credentialed veterinary technician support
Ongoing technician training and continuing education
Hospital-wide bonus opportunities
Administrative and operational support
Apply Today
This is an outstanding opportunity for a veterinarian seeking an Associate Veterinarian or Lead Veterinarian job in San Francisco, California, offering $150,000–$220,000 per year, quarterly production bonuses with no negative accrual, and up to a $75,000 sign-on bonus.
Veterinarians looking for flexible scheduling, no on-call or overnight work, strong clinical autonomy, and the opportunity to help build a new San Francisco veterinary hospital from the ground up are encouraged to apply.
Contact:
Matt Doyle – Associate Talent Partner
T: (213) 258-1399
E: matt@supreme-ss.com