Medical Director - Mission Viejo, CA

ABOUT VEG

In 2014, VEG was born with a mission to help people and their pets when they need it most. This meant challenging the status quo and fixing everything that was wrong with the ER experience. Since then, we’ve expanded rapidly, with hospitals nationwide open 24/7, 365 days a year, and created a better emergency experience—not only for people and their pets, but also for everyone who works here—our VEGgies!

At VEG we find a way to say yes to the career you want in veterinary emergency medicine. This means transforming how ER works, from our open-concept hospitals, where you can handle emergency cases of every kind (even exotics!) to our immersive, customer-focused experience, which helps us give people and their pets the care they deserve.

This also means saying yes to creating the greatest experience possible for our VEGgies. Yes to working in an environment where you can find your place and feel valued for the amazing work you do. Yes to having unparalleled opportunities for learning and mentorship so you can grow where you want to go in your career. And yes to making an impact here in ways you never thought possible.

VEG is a 2025 and 2026 certified Great Place to Work®.

THE JOB

Our Medical Directors (MDs) are not only exceptional emergency veterinarians and criticalists. They’re also visionary leaders, who take pride in guiding each hospital to medical excellence, the VEG Way. In a culture that places them on the frontlines of change, VEG MDs have true ownership over their careers and the autonomy to make impactful decisions that are right for their hospitals. They build and grow their hospitals and teams in alignment with VEG's core values, from triage through discharge. As servant leaders, they prioritize the needs of their people; lead with integrity, authenticity, and humility; and always find a way to say YES to our VEGgies. Passionate about mentorship and unwavering in their support for their teams, our MDs create an environment where openness, togetherness, heroic helping, and meaningful moments define every interaction and elevate the VEG experience.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Establish and maintain a positive culture through team huddles, recognizing achievements and demonstrating appreciation for performance of the VEG Spikes, our unique, customer-centered way of doing things—like ensuring people see a doctor right away and allowing families to stay with their pets
• Create a culture where doctors and technicians collaborate to deliver clinically excellent care
• Lead team meetings for your VEG with a focus on relationship building, medical quality, team member concerns, hospital performance, and clinical team well-being
• Aid growth and development of the doctor team through 1:1 meetings and creation of personalized development plans
• Head VEG’s patient safety initiative in your VEG to ensure you are delivering safe and clinically excellent care
• Establish a strategy for doctor recruitment, candidate experience, and succession planning in collaboration with your talent partner
• Partner with your market owner to establish and implement a marketing strategy
• Create and maintain the doctor schedule
• Ensure your VEG is compliant with federal, state, and local regulations

WHAT YOU NEED

• A DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree
• 5+ years of traditional 24/7 ER experience and critical case management
• Unrelenting passion for customer satisfaction through providing the highest medical care to patients
• Training in emergency surgery/endoscopy preferred
• Leadership skills training and mentorship experience preferred
• Must be willing to work in a noisy environment with strong or unpleasant odors
• Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating or as needed basis based on hospital needs
• Work well in a fast-paced environment with people from all backgrounds and different personality types

WHO YOU ARE

• Empathetic, instinctively taking a people-centric approach, whether supporting your colleagues or making an effort to understand different perspectives
• Have a sense of humility; acknowledging mistakes, sharing credit with others, and lifting up your team’s’ accomplishments
• Feel a strong sense of ownership over your work, taking responsibility for outcomes and staying committed to achieving long-term, impactful results
• Curious by nature; you ask insightful questions and continuously seek out opportunities to learn and grow your skills and knowledge

HOW WE INVEST IN YOU

• Competitive compensation, including base and 401K match
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits that start on day one, including QPR training and access to free therapy or counseling
• Based on your role, you may be eligible for equity after one year of full time, active employment with VEG, so you can share in our growth and success
• A BIG focus on learning and growth, from VEG-created clinical and leadership programs to unlimited ER CE + travel stipend (no really!). Full-time credentialed VEGgies receive a $2,500/year travel stipend. Full-time uncredentialed VEGgies receive a $1,000/year travel stipend.
• Clinical student loan repayment so you don’t need to worry about your student debt
• Paid parental leave, up to 12 weeks at 100% of regular salary and inclusive fertility and family-building care for all types of families
• Flexible work schedules to support your life outside of work
• Generous employee referral program, so our awesome people can bring in more awesome people
• And the little (big) things, like comfy scrubs, cool VEG swag, and food in the fridge for when you’re hungry

DEI

At VEG, diversity is not just a word—it's a strength that fuels innovation and kindness. Our mission is “Helping people and their pets when they need it most.” And we do that better when our VEGgies (employees) feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. That's why we're devoted to creating an environment that reflects the diverse communities we serve—where different perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated.

We are focused on providing equitable opportunities for growth, promoting inclusive decision-making, and ensuring that everyone's perspective is considered. Saying yes to VEG means helping us build a culture where your unique experiences and background contribute to a shared vision: being the world’s veterinary emergency company.