Veterinary Medical Director

Job Description

Veterinary Medical Director


Emergency Veterinary Medical Director Opportunity in Asheville, NC
Schedule: Full-time


Why Join South Asheville Veterinary Emergency & Specialty


For years, SAVES has been a trusted leader in specialty and emergency veterinary care. Our Medical Director will work alongside and support a talented team that includes:

• Board-certified specialists in Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Neurology
• A robust 24/7 Emergency team with 9 clinicians
• Highly trained and dedicated technicians and support staff
• A modern, spacious clinical setting designed for top-tier care and efficiency

Advanced Technology at Your Fingertips:

• Advanced imaging technology, including the Optima CT520 and GE 1.5T MRI.
• Three Phillips EPIQ5 ultrasound machines with exams conducted by a human-trained Ultrasound Sonographer, supported by Board-Certified Radiologist Review.
• I-Stat point-of-care blood analyzers for immediate diagnostics.
• Two digital radiography systems for precision imaging.
• Comprehensive benchtop in-hospital lab systems and access to Lacuna Digital Cytology for fast and accurate diagnostic support.
• Olympus 180 gastroscopes, including one scope dedicated exclusively to emergency use.
• Dedicated spaces for chemotherapy preparation and administration in a USP 800-compliant facility.

Location Highlight


Asheville is a vibrant mountain city known for its resilient spirit, thriving community, and blend of Appalachian heritage with modern amenities. Located minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, it offers breathtaking hiking trails, a celebrated food scene, and a lively dog-friendly brewery culture. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and community, Asheville continues to grow into an even more welcoming and dynamic place to live and work.


Perks & Benefits


Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

• Competitive compensation
• Sign-on or relocation assistance
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• CE allowance and professional development support
• Paid time off
• Retirement savings options
• Employee assistance programs

In your day-to-day, you will:


As Medical Director, you'll play a key role in shaping medical standards, mentoring clinicians, fostering a positive culture, and driving clinical excellence across departments. You'll also maintain a partial clinical caseload, allowing you to stay close to patient care while shaping the future of the hospital.

• Medical Leadership: Provide medical leadership and strategic direction, partnering with the Hospital Director to drive clinical excellence, quality assurance, patient safety, and evidence-based medical practices.
• Team Development & Mentorship: Mentor and develop DVMs, lead teaching rounds and CE, provide performance feedback, support engagement and retention, and oversee DVM scheduling and clinical operations.
• Recruitment & Talent Development: Partner with the Hospital Director and recruiting team on DVM recruitment, interviews, candidate experiences, onboarding, internal referrals, and retention initiatives.
• Hospital Strategy & Business: Collaborate on hospital strategy, budgeting, P&L review, service development, pricing, equipment and facility improvements, and initiatives that support operational and financial performance.
• Client & Referral Relations: Address medically related client and referring veterinarian concerns, support resolution of complaints, strengthen rDVM relationships, and promote strong communication and client service.
• Compliance & Professional Standards: Ensure compliance with medical, regulatory, DEA, controlled drug, OSHA, licensing, credentialing, and medical record requirements while supporting the highest standards of patient care.

What You Bring

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for state veterinary licensure.
• Completion of a rotating internship or 5+ years' experience practicing emergency medicine in a referral setting is required.
• Confidence managing emergency cases and making sound clinical decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care.
• A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing emergency veterinary medicine.

Join Us


At Ethos, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care. Candidates can confidentially submit their CV to Senior Talent Acquisition Partner Sarah Harvey, LVT at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.