Associate Veterinarian - Deschutes Animal Clinic - Tumwater, WA

Career Opportunities with Deschutes Animal Clinic

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Deschutes Animal Clinic , a state-of-the-art medical, small animal veterinary hospital and a leader in pet health care dedicated to serving the well-being of Tumwater's furry friends, is seeking a Full-Time Veterinarian to join our happy team in this well-established practice.

Nestled into the base of the Puget Sound, Tumwater is the southern gateway to the Seatle/Tacoma metro area. We are a short drive to downtown Olympia, with its eclectic selection of restaurants, art galleries, and quaint shops. With close access to Mount Rainer and Olympic National Park, Tumwater is a picturesque community with convenient access to all the beauty and recreation the Pacific Northwest offers.

We believe in nurturing the human-pet bond and creating a harmonious relationship between people and pets. We provide professional and trusted services, from vaccinations to advanced surgical procedures, and we proudly care for our clients, pets, and each other. We also work with Local 5013C non‑profit animal rescue groups and enjoy a close relationship with our local humane society.

Job Summary

The Associate DVM ensures a high quality of veterinary care, client service, employee well-being, and productivity of the veterinary medical team. The Principal Doctor and Practice Manager will lead the Associate DVM to ensure the well-being of the hospital environment, medical quality, and business performance of the hospital.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure consistent, high-quality care, safe and exceptional service to maintain a positive hospital environment, uphold medical standards, and support business performance
• Adhere to all WellHaven protocols and practices and oversee employees to prioritize practice goals
• Collaborate with the Principal Doctor to establish development plans that align with hospital objectives
• Practice veterinary medicine in compliance with the State Veterinary Practice Act, Federal and/or State Controlled Substance laws, WellHaven Code of Ethics, and maintain appropriate medical record documentation
• Maintain thorough and accurate medical charting for all patients, consistently meeting hospital quality control standards
• Provide comprehensive client communication, including in‑person, phone, and email as needed
• Participate in community events, external marketing initiatives, and hospital projects
• Demonstrate proficiency in anesthesia, surgery, dentistry, and current medical practices
• Advocate for exceptional client service and patient well‑being
• Provide medical training to support staff (new graduates will gain experience over time).
• Willingness to train/lead/manage support staff as required

Customer Service Delivery

• Consistently provide professional, efficient, and exceptional service
• Demonstrate excellent communication and organizational skills when interacting with the veterinary team and clients
• Effectively adapt to individual clients and their needs
• Effectively resolve customer complaints as appropriate

Other

• Lead and guide the team to ensure the hospital meets safety standards and regulations set by the DEA and OSHA (new graduates will gain experience over time).
• Meet all OSHA standards and regulations as outlined in company policies
• Ability to perform other job duties as assigned

Required Skills and Knowledge

• Uphold integrity and ethics in all actions and behaviors
• Stay current with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine through ongoing professional development and continuing education to maintain certification and improve knowledge and skills
• Drive for results by demonstrating motivation and determination to achieve goals and deliver high‑quality outcomes
• Provide consistent, high‑quality care, safe and exceptional medical services
• Remain action‑oriented and effectively set priorities
• Work well in an extremely fast‑paced work environment, remaining calm and resilient
• Learn new computer software systems (EMR, Scheduling, etc.)
• Provide a high level of accountability

Education and Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent degree required
• State Veterinary Board License
• On the first day of employment, must be in good standing with the state(s) employed to work for WellHaven
• Current USDA Accreditation is a plus!

Work Location, Environment, and Physical Requirements

• The Associate Doctor position is performed onsite at our hospital or an approved offsite event location. Remote work is not available for this position
• The hospital environment includes limited space, smells from pet waste, and noise (barking, etc.)
• Schedules may include 10+ hour shifts, Saturdays, evenings, and holidays
• Good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to reach and grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment, and read information
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Able to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb
• Ability to lift 50+ pounds
• May routinely be exposed to pets that may bite or scratch, biological hazards, anesthesia medications (smells), radiation if near an Xray machine, prescription medications, including controlled substances

Additional Information

Our hospital is part of the WellHaven Pet Health (“WellHaven”) network of hospitals. This allows us to have a more extensive and stronger support system, connecting with other hospitals in the area while remaining autonomous.

WellHaven helps veterinarians and their teams succeed both personally and professionally. We value our medical teams and strive to support each team member each and every day. Our focus on personal growth, practice support, and life balance frame the relationship we want to have with our hospital teams. This people‑first approach has made a considerable difference in the lives of our teams, clients, pets, our communities, and the health of our hospitals.

We’ve been recognized in Inc. Magazine for making a difference in our community and in Forbes for being named one of America’s Best Startup Employers. It is an exciting time to be part of the WellHaven team and an excellent time for you to consider joining us!

Please learn more about WellHaven at

WellHaven Benefits

WellHaven offers competitive pay and an excellent benefits package.

Please review our benefits package at:

Commitment to Diversity

WellHaven is an Equal Opportunity Employer. WellHaven is committed to complying with all applicable federal, state, and/or local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including transgender status), marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, age, military or veteran status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other status protected by law.

In accordance with federal, state, and local law, WellHaven may provide reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of applicants during the hiring process unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on WellHaven. For more information, please contact WellHaven HR at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Pay Transparency Disclaimer

WellHaven Pet Health provides wage range information in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Third‑party job boards and recruiting platforms may omit or misrepresent this information when reposting our job requisitions. WellHaven Pet Health is not responsible for any discrepancies in such postings. For the authoritative and most up‑to‑date wage range information for all positions and locations, please refer exclusively to our official careers page: .