Associate Veterinarian

Associate Veterinarian | Fairfield, CT

Heartline Staffing, in partnership with Purple Cow Recruiting, is seeking a compassionate and skilled Associate Veterinarian for a full-time opportunity in Fairfield, Connecticut. This position offers the opportunity to practice in a progressive, AAHA-accredited, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital while collaborating with an experienced and supportive clinical team.

The Associate Veterinarian will provide high-quality medical and surgical care to companion animals, primarily dogs and cats. Responsibilities include diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries, performing surgical and dental procedures, administering preventive care and vaccinations, counseling pet owners, and coordinating care with referring veterinarians and hospital leadership.

The practice is open to both experienced veterinarians and new graduates. Candidates with two or more years of veterinary hospital experience are preferred, but recent graduates who demonstrate strong clinical potential, teamwork, and a commitment to continued learning will be considered.

Key responsibilities include examining and diagnosing diseases and injuries in companion animals, developing and managing appropriate medical treatment plans, performing surgical procedures as clinically appropriate, performing dental procedures, administering core vaccinations, providing preventive and wellness care, counseling pet owners regarding preventive care, treatment options, and ongoing medical needs, interpreting diagnostic information and managing patient outcomes, collaborating with veterinary technicians, support staff, and other veterinarians, communicating and coordinating with referring veterinarians, working with hospital and regional leadership to maintain high standards of patient care, participating in continuing education, seminars, and professional training, managing clinical time and prioritizing cases effectively, working efficiently in a busy, fast-paced veterinary hospital environment, and contributing to a positive and collaborative workplace for staff, clients, and patients.

The successful veterinarian will practice within a collaborative hospital environment equipped to provide high-quality companion-animal care. Relevant clinical responsibilities may include physical examinations, medical diagnosis and treatment, preventive medicine, vaccinations, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry, dental extractions, anesthesia/analgesia management, diagnostic interpretation, case management, client education, referral coordination.

New veterinary graduates are encouraged to be considered for this opportunity. Internship training is preferred but not required. Candidates should be prepared to discuss clinical rotations, internships, externships, mentorship experience, surgical exposure, dentistry, and other hands-on small-animal experience.

The position offers a competitive compensation structure that may include a base salary starting at $130,000, production-based compensation opportunities, additional financial incentives, a sign-on bonus of up to $100,000, and a relocation bonus when applicable.

Benefits include medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) with company match of up to 4% after 6 months, generous paid time off, company-paid or applicable state bonding leave, employer-assisted student loan repayment, mental health resources, veterinary service and product discounts, reference laboratory testing discounts, pet food discounts, and pet insurance discounts.

Requirements include a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent qualification from an accredited institution, eligibility to obtain a Connecticut state veterinary license, hands-on small animal clinical experience, ability to examine, diagnose, and medically treat companion animals, ability to perform appropriate surgical procedures, dental procedure experience/clinical training, preventive care and vaccination knowledge, strong client communication and education skills, ability to collaborate with veterinary teams and referring veterinarians, strong time management and prioritization skills, ability to thrive in a fast-paced veterinary hospital environment, and ability to work on-site in Fairfield, CT.