Lead Doctor, San Jose

About the role

Lead Doctor, San Jose directs emergency medical care and team development in a 24/7/365 setting. This role blends clinical leadership, coaching, and operational ownership to elevate hospital performance and the VEG experience. The position supports both patient care excellence and a people-centric emergency model.

Leaders set direction and build the conditions for their teams to succeed. They hire, coach, and hold people accountable. Leadership work spans strategy, communication, and decision making. Effective leaders give clear context and remove obstacles for the people who report to them. Leadership roles are measured by team outcomes, retention, and delivery. Most organizations expect leaders to be visible, predictable, and generous with context.

Key facts

What you'll do

Answer medical questions over the phone as part of emergency triage and customer-focused workflows.

Ensure patients receive immediate medical attention while allowing families to remain with their pets.

Share diagnosis and treatment options directly with customers.

Deliver treatments tailored to each pet's specific condition.

Maintain accurate medical records and review them for correctness.

Guide fellow doctors through their growth and development plans.

Provide backup Medical Director coverage during callouts or schedule changes.

Resolve customer complaints related to medical issues.

Requirements

Hold a DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree.

Possess 2+ years of ER experience and critical case management.

Have one year of leadership experience, when available.

Be trained in emergency surgery or endoscopy.

Be flexible to work a combination of clinical and administrative shifts.

Guarantee top-tier customer satisfaction and hospital revenue production.

Be ready to lead and support fellow doctors and handle administrative tasks outside regular hours.

Be comfortable working in a noisy environment with strong or unpleasant odors.

Be accessible to work nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating or as-needed basis.

Perform effectively in a fast-paced environment with diverse people and personalities.

Nice to have

Possess one year of leadership experience in emergency veterinary medicine.

Have training in emergency surgery or endoscopy.

Skills & tools

Emergency veterinary medicine, clinical leadership, coaching, medical documentation, customer communication, triage protocols, and emergency surgery/endoscopy when applicable.

Practical notes

This role requires clinical and administrative flexibility, including nights, weekends, holidays, and exposure to noisy settings with strong odors. Travel may be needed between locations as required by coverage needs. Typical interview steps

Leadership hiring usually includes a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation. Candidates may be asked to turn around a struggling team or plan for growth. Past results are examined closely, especially how decisions were made. Interviewers dig into specific decisions you made and their consequences. Preparing two or three decision stories with numbers and lessons is the best use of time.

Good to know

Emergency veterinary medicine operates in fast-paced, high-stress clinical settings where immediate decision-making affects outcomes. Teams rely on structured protocols, clear communication, and continuous learning to maintain standards. Mentorship and ongoing education support long-term career growth in veterinary practice. Modern emergency hospitals invest in technology, training, and wellbeing resources to sustain high-quality care.

Career growth

Leadership careers move from manager to senior manager, director, and executive roles. Each step adds more scope and more responsibility for outcomes. The best leaders keep learning how to delegate, communicate, and decide. Leadership careers reward a record of building and developing people. The higher you go, the more your communication shapes the whole organization.