Associate Veterinarian

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

 

Join a Team That Puts Pets, People, and Purpose First

At Cara Veterinary, we believe exceptional medicine starts with exceptional people. As an Associate Veterinarian, you'll practice high-quality medicine alongside a collaborative team that values mentorship, trust, and genuine relationships with clients and each other.

Whether you're an experienced doctor or a recent graduate looking for mentorship, you'll have the support, technology, and autonomy to grow your career while making a meaningful impact every day. 

When you join Cara Veterinary, you're joining a team committed to supporting your success both professionally and personally. You'll enjoy:

• Competitive base salary + commission
• $125,000 - $160,000 yearly base
• Sign-on bonus eligible
• Relocation expense reimbursement eligible
• Medical, vision & dental insurance
• Flexible schedule with no on-call
• PTO & Floater days, including a for Personal Celebration Day
• Paid family & medical leave (WA state offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to eligible employees)
• 401K with employer match
• License and professional organization dues (AVMA, State Medical Assoc, AAHA, VMB)
• Liability insurance
• Paid CE time
• Employee pet discount
• Uniform allowance
• Career growth opportunities
• Great culture w/ a supportive team
• Collaborative, team-centered culture 
• Mentorship and professional growth opportunities 
• Modern medicine with high standards of patient care 
• Continuing education support 
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community 
• A workplace where your voice, ideas, and career goals matter 

What Makes You Successful? 

• Compassionate communicators 
• Passionate about delivering outstanding patient care 
• Collaborative team players 
• Adaptable and eager to learn 
• Committed to practicing high-quality medicine 
• Excited to contribute to a positive hospital culture 
• Excellent communication skills
• Positive attitude
• An interest or specialty you can bring to the practice or would like to pursue
• A desire to build long-term relationships with pet parents & the community

Our Location

Lower Queen Anne puts you right in the center of Seattle’s culture and energy. Steps from the Space Needle, theaters, museums, and iconic city landmarks, it’s a vibrant, walkable neighborhood with endless things to explore. It’s ideal for candidates who love urban living with quick access to the outdoors. 

Ready to Apply?

We’d love to see a cover letter highlighting why you think you’d be a good fit for our practice as well as a fully updated resume.

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CARA VETERINARY CORE VALUE PILLARS

• Put pets first: Our first priority is always with the health, happiness, and comfort of our patients. We have designed the Cara experience with the animal perspective in mind. And our care advice is based only on what is best for the pet.

• Trust the parent: We believe that caring for an animal is a partnership built on mutual trust and humility. We trust parents to make the right decisions for themselves and their pets and invite them to actively participate in care alongside us.

• Authentically human: Caring for a pet involves the full spectrum of emotions, from joy to grief. We must lean into openness, empathy, and compassionate listening. We know when to be fun, and when to be serious. At all times, we foster supportive, positive, and authentically human hospital culture.

• Good neighbors: Although our business is growing, we retain the attitude and spirit of a neighborhood vet. We welcome people in. We get to know our clients' families and are proud to play an active role in our local communities.

• Shake things up: We are always looking for a better way. In an industry that hasn't seen a lot of innovation, we are experimenting with new ways of delivering care, delighting customers, providing unexpectedly human (and animal) touches, and infusing out hospitals with fresh ideas.

Requirements:

 

As an Associate Veterinarian, you'll provide compassionate, high-quality care while building lasting relationships with pets, their families, and your teammates.

Your responsibilities will include:

Patient Care 

• Perform wellness and sick patient examinations 
• Diagnose and treat medical conditions 
• Perform soft tissue surgery and dentistry appropriate to your experience 
• Develop individualized treatment plans focused on the best patient outcomes 
• Recommend referrals when specialty care is in the patient's best interest 
• Provide compassionate end-of-life care when needed 
• Stay current with advances in veterinary medicine through continuing education 

Client Experience 

You'll help create an exceptional client experience through education, transparency, and trust by:

• Clearly explaining exam findings and treatment options 
• Developing personalized preventive care recommendations 
• Presenting treatment plans and estimates 
• Keeping clients informed throughout their pet's care 
• Following up to ensure successful recovery and ongoing care 

Collaboration

• Creating a positive, respectful workplace 
• Supporting mentorship and professional development 
• Collaborating on complex medical cases 
• Providing guidance and education to team members 
• Helping maintain efficient hospital workflow 

Medical Record Keeping

Help maintain the highest standard of patient care by:

• Completing thorough SOAP medical records 
• Maintaining accurate medical and surgical documentation 
• Ensuring appropriate medical coding and billing 
• Supporting hospital quality initiatives and continuous improvement 

Our Core Competencies 

• Connection – Build meaningful relationships with pets, clients, and teammates. 
• Advocate – Empower pet owners through education and support. 
• Communication – Foster open, honest, and respectful conversations. 
• Trust – Practice with integrity, empathy, and accountability. 
• Resilience & Adaptability – Embrace growth, teamwork, and continuous improvement. 

Qualifications

We're looking for candidates who have:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree (or equivalent) from an accredited veterinary school 
• Active (or ability to obtain) state veterinary license before employment 
• Commitment to practicing high-quality, evidence-based medicine 
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills 

Physical Requirements 

This position requires the ability to:

• Lift and assist with patients weighing up to 50 pounds (or more with assistance) 
• Stand and move throughout the hospital for extended periods 
• Safely handle and restrain companion animals 
• Work around anesthesia, radiology, laboratory equipment, and controlled substances while following established safety protocols