Veterinarian

Job Description

Associate Veterinarian - Mentorship, Flexible Schedule, Exotics & Fear-Free Medicine

Southwest Illinois | Near St. Louis, MO

Looking for a veterinary hospital where you can practice high-quality medicine, have autonomy in your cases, and still have time to enjoy life outside of work?

At Northgate Small Animal Hospital, we are seeking an Associate Veterinarian to join our collaborative 4-doctor practice in southwest Illinois, just outside St. Louis . We are open to both full-time and part-time veterinarians and are happy to create a schedule that works for the right fit. Whether you are a new graduate seeking strong mentorship , an experienced veterinarian looking for more flexibility, or someone seeking a supportive, well-equipped hospital, we would love to connect.

We are a well-established, AAHA-accredited, full-service small animal hospital providing medical, surgical, and dental care for dogs, cats, exotics, reptiles, and pocket pets . Our caseload includes wellness care, preventive medicine, diagnostics, dentistry, and surgery.

Led by Managing Veterinarian Dr. Amy Edgar , our team values collaboration, clinical growth, and strong day-to-day mentorship for newer doctors, including hands-on guidance in medicine, surgery, and case management.

We also utilize Fear-Free handling techniques to improve patient comfort and create a better experience for pets, clients, and staff.

New Graduates Welcome - Strong Mentorship Included

At Northgate, mentorship is intentional. New graduates receive daily, hands-on guidance from Dr. Edgar and the hospital team , paired with structured support through NVA.

In addition to on-site mentorship, new graduates will participate in NVA's 12-month General Practice Mentorship Program , led by Dr. Larry Hill, designed to complement in-hospital training and support early-career veterinarians as they build confidence in day-to-day practice.

This program includes one-on-one mentorship with Dr. Hill, a cohort of new graduate veterinarians across Illinois, and structured wellness programming focused on stress management and building a sustainable career in veterinary medicine.

Flexible Schedule & Work-Life Balance

We are committed to building schedules that support both our hospital and our doctors. Full-time, part-time, and reduced schedule options are available.
• 4-day work week options available
• Flexible scheduling options
• No on-call shifts
• Closed on Sundays
• One 3-day weekend off per month (Saturday-Monday)
• Rotating Saturdays

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $100,000-$130,000 , depending on schedule & experience, plus production bonuses .

We also offer:
• No negative accrual
• Sign-on and/or retention bonuses
• Annual CE allowance and CE days
• Relocation assistance
• Medical, dental, vision, and ancillary benefits
• Life and disability insurance (including company-paid short-term disability)
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off, holidays, and sick days
• State license, DEA, and professional membership dues covered

About the Hospital
• Eight exam rooms
• Dedicated surgical suite
• Digital dental and full-body radiology
• Fully stocked pharmacy
• Diverse caseload (dogs, cats, exotics, reptiles, pocket pets)
• Services from wellness care to advanced diagnostics and dentistry
• Separate comfort room for clients

Located just outside St. Louis, Missouri , enjoy a balance of community living with access to restaurants, sports, entertainment, and outdoor activities.

If you are looking for a hospital where you can grow clinically, feel supported, and maintain work-life balance, we would love to connect.

Learn more:
Northgate Small Animal Hospital

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada. Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.

Purpose : Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together

Mission : Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life.


Values : Care Deeply, Do What's Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What's Next


One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together

NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet's life.


At National Veterinary Associates, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here's what to expect when interacting with us:

- We'll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @nva.com

- We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication

- All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.com

- There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position

If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at View email address on click.appcast.io. Thank you for exploring opportunities at NVA!

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.