Associate or Lead Veterinarian – Union City, California

Location Union City
Discipline: USA Veterinary
Job type: Permanent
Salary: $150000 to $203000
Contact name: Matt Doyle

Contact email: matt@supreme-ss.com
Job ref: VBE16-09

Associate or Lead Veterinarian – Union City, California

Location: Union City, California
Salary: $150,000–$203,000 per year plus quarterly production bonus
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 the option to practice as an Associate Veterinarian or step into a Lead Veterinarian role
Work-Life Balance: Open time off, no negative accruals, dedicated lunch closure, flexible scheduling, and no sales quotas

About the Role

A brand-new small animal veterinary practice is seeking an Associate Veterinarian or Lead Veterinarian to join its team in Union City, California.

Offering $150,000–$203,000 per year, quarterly production bonus opportunities, and up to a $75,000 sign-on bonus, this position provides veterinarians with the flexibility to pursue either a clinically focused Associate Veterinarian pathway or a broader medical leadership role.

The hospital is being built around clinical autonomy, collaboration, strong veterinary support, and high-quality medicine, giving incoming veterinarians the opportunity to help shape the culture and medical standards from the outset.

For candidates interested in leadership, the Lead Veterinarian pathway offers the opportunity to help build and mentor the veterinary team, establish clinical expectations, and influence the working culture of a new hospital.

Those preferring an Associate Veterinarian position can focus on comprehensive small animal medicine while benefiting from local medical leadership, strong technician support, and structured career development.

About the Practice

This is a newly opening full-service small animal veterinary hospital in Union City, California, designed to provide veterinarians with significant clinical autonomy alongside operational and administrative support.

Veterinarians are encouraged to make appropriate medical decisions based on the needs of each patient rather than sales targets or rigid production quotas.

The practice is committed to developing strong doctor-to-support-staff ratios, with credentialed veterinary technicians, skilled support colleagues, and continued technician education.

The hospital environment is designed around teamwork, professional development, and sustainable veterinary careers, with flexible scheduling, no on-call responsibilities, no overnight shifts, dedicated lunch closures

Administrative areas such as payroll, HR, licensing, and broader operational support are handled separately, allowing veterinarians and medical leaders to focus primarily on patients, teams, and clinical medicine.

Responsibilities

Depending on whether the successful candidate joins as an Associate Veterinarian or Lead Veterinarian, responsibilities may include:

  • Deliver high-quality small animal veterinary medicine.

  • Perform comprehensive physical examinations.

  • Diagnose and treat medical conditions.

  • Provide preventive and wellness care.

  • Develop appropriate diagnostic and treatment plans.

  • Communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners.

  • Perform anesthesia safely and appropriately.

  • Perform routine canine and feline surgery.

  • Perform spays and neuters.

  • Perform mass removals and other appropriate soft tissue procedures.

  • Perform routine dental procedures.

  • Maintain accurate and comprehensive medical records.

  • Work collaboratively with credentialed veterinary technicians and support staff.

  • Contribute to a respectful, supportive, and team-focused hospital culture.

  • Participate in continuing education and professional development.

  • Maintain high standards of patient care and veterinary professionalism.

  • Practice autonomous medicine within appropriate clinical and regulatory standards.

  • Collaborate with local veterinary medical leadership when additional clinical support is required.

  • Help establish clinical workflows and standards within the new hospital.

  • Contribute ideas that improve patient care, team effectiveness, and the client experience.

For candidates pursuing the Lead Veterinarian pathway, additional responsibilities may include:

  • Help recruit and build the veterinary and clinical support team.

  • Mentor and develop veterinarians and support colleagues.

  • Shape hospital medical standards and clinical expectations.

  • Foster a positive and collaborative working culture.

  • Support continued improvement in clinical quality.

  • Provide day-to-day medical leadership.

  • Encourage professional development throughout the clinical team.

  • Help create an environment where veterinary professionals feel respected, supported, and able to grow.

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 the ability to obtain one by the start date

  • USDA Category I Accreditation or the ability to complete accreditation within two months of hire

  • Confidence performing anesthesia

  • Confidence performing routine canine and feline surgery

  • Ability to perform spays and neuters

  • Ability to perform mass removals

  • Confidence performing routine dental procedures

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Compassionate and professional client communication

  • Ability to remain calm and professional in emotional or stressful situations

  • Commitment to high-quality veterinary medicine

  • Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills

  • Interest in working within a collaborative hospital culture

Candidates considering the Lead Veterinarian position should also demonstrate an interest in mentoring, team development, medical leadership, and shaping hospital culture.

This opportunity may suit an experienced veterinarian seeking greater autonomy, an Associate Veterinarian looking for a strong clinical environment, or a veterinarian ready to progress into a formal medical leadership role.

Compensation & Benefits

The opportunity includes:

  • $150,000–$203,000 annual salary

  • Quarterly production bonus

  • Up to $75,000 sign-on bonus

  • Full-time and part-time opportunities

  • Full-time schedules starting from 30 hours per week

  • Flexible scheduling

  • Open time off

  • No negative accruals

  • No on-call responsibilities

  • No overnight shifts

  • Hospital closes by 6:00 PM

  • Dedicated lunch closure

  • No sales quotas

  • Strong doctor-to-support-staff ratios

  • Credentialed veterinary technician support

  • Ongoing technician education and training

  • Paid continuing education

  • Leadership development

  • Career advancement opportunities

  • Hospital-wide bonus opportunities

  • Local veterinary medical leadership support

  • Clinical autonomy

  • Operational and administrative support

Apply Today

This is an outstanding opportunity for a veterinarian seeking an Associate Veterinarian or Lead Veterinarian job in Union City, California, offering $150,000–$203,000 per year, quarterly production bonuses, and up to a $75,000 sign-on bonus.

Veterinarians interested in a new small animal hospital in Alameda County and the East Bay with flexible scheduling, no on-call or overnight work, meaningful clinical autonomy, and the opportunity to help shape a new veterinary team are encouraged to apply.

Contact:
Matt Doyle – Associate Talent Partner
T: (213) 258-1399
E: matt@supreme-ss.com