At Firehouse, we take our work seriously but don’t take ourselves too seriously!
We hire the brightest, most caring, experienced veterinary professionals who truly love animals and understand the human-pet bond.
What makes us different?
We have fun together each day!
We call our team “a team” because we work hard to act like one.
We know you have a life and strive for a work-life balance. And we know this helps you feel refreshed when you walk through our doors each morning.
What else?
We prioritize training in leadership, communication, and diversity to help us work together as a unit:
The Hospital Manager and Medical Director lead the team to foster good relationships and mentor individuals.
We embrace an open-door policy. Quarterly check-ins help us assess if each person’s needs are being met.
Each team member is encouraged to achieve their personal goals in education, career progression, and/or leadership.
Is there more? You bet!
We love to gather outside of work and host events that foster meaningful social connections.
Our team chooses which philanthropic activities we pursue, so there’s a personal connection to giving back to our pet nonprofits.
We onboard our new team members into the Firehouse culture during 60 days of training to teach our style, expectations, and methodologies.
We support our team in continuing their veterinary education: our doctors attend conferences, and our hospital managers attend annual leadership and communication seminars. Vet Techs and Client Service Coordinators receive support that syncs with their personal needs and goals.
We’re focused on developing leaders within our organization. We love to promote from within.
We value JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)
Our JEDI Mission Statement is: We believe each individual has unique needs and experiences. Our culture nurtures diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve our clients, patients, and communities by laying the groundwork to enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for our organization while promoting the best within each other.
We want every team member to feel like they’re part of a bigger mission, to feel empowered to carry out important tasks, to develop their own skills, and to achieve their own goals.
Our team members agree. They’ve helped us place among the top dozen companies in the Austin American-Statesman’s Top Workplaces. We’re the ONLY Austin veterinarian to make a showing!
At Firehouse, we’re like family: we truly care about each other personally and professionally.
If you’re interested in joining, contact us today!
Position Overview
As an Associate Veterinarian, your responsibility is to provide high quality medical care and client education. As a leader in the practice, you will mentor an effective and productive veterinary medical team, advocate for patients and clients, ensure a safe and effective work environment, and improve both the medical quality and business performance of the hospital. You will report directly to the Medical Director (MD), with accountability to the Hospital Manager (HM). Your work will directly support the HM – MD partnership in support of hospital goals.
Responsibilities
The Associate Veterinarian is responsible for the following. This list may be revised at any time and additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed.
Client Service:
- Work with hospital team on efficient client flow to ensure an excellent experience
- Foster an educational experience for the client
- Effectively communicate the treatment plan to the client and the team, including cost
- Keep clients informed regarding patient status, results of diagnostics, and prognosis
- Assist HM – MD team in handling difficult client interactions
- Ensure thorough client communication by the hospital team
- Maintain client communication when their primary veterinarian is not available
- Conduct follow up correspondence
Medical Service:
- Work with MD to create systems enabling efficient delivery of medical care by the team
- Minimize patient stress while performing high quality exams, diagnostics, and procedures
- Create individual patient plans based on the case specifics, including follow up care
- Work with referral partners to provide comprehensive oversight of patient care
- Work with MD to review cases, assess skills, and continuously develop skills
- Keep current with highest standards of medical care
Clerical Service:
- Maintain accurate medical records
- Work with MD to effectively manage global glossary for quick AVImark data entry
- Respond to emails in a professional, timely manner
- Participate in modifying and updating systems, guidelines, and procedures as needed
- Accurately charge clients for all services performed
- Perform other duties as assigned
Staff Management:
- Assist the HM – MD team in onboarding new staff, including veterinarians
- Participate in individual staff Leadership Sessions as requested by the HM – MD team
- Participate in training, education, development, supervision of staff
- Ensure an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect
Marketing:
- Understand, participate, and support public relations, marketing events, and programs
- Assist HM – MD team in creating marketing tools and materials
Meetings:
- Actively participate in regular doctor meetings
- Attend monthly hospital meetings; actively assist HM – MD team with content and flow
Professional Experience / Skills
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Ability to build long term relationships
- Ability to develop visionary products and services
- Comfortable in high growth environments
- Experience with or willingness to learn budgeting and financial management
- Willingness to learn management and leadership skills
- Practical experience with client relations
- Strong general medical and surgical experience
Personal Characteristics
- Strong enjoyment of client relationship and education
- Compassion toward animals and people
- Strong relationship building skills
- High energy, passion, and drive to be successful
- Aptitude for technology, or willingness to learn
- Ability to process and respond to all communication
- Fast learner, able to multi-task and be flexible to change
- Ability to think creatively and problem solve
- Team player who can work effectively in a fast growing, dynamic environment
- Effective communicator in a variety of situations
- Great attention to detail
- An entrepreneurial mindset
Things you Need to Know
- Dependable attendance / presence at the hospital is a must
- Allergies to animals must be controllable through medication
- Moves equipment weighing up to 40 pounds
- Must be willing to work Saturday mornings and until all patients have been discharged
- Potentially subject to high noise levels, bites and scratches, and hazardous chemicals
Education
- DVM, VMD, or equivalent degree
- Licenses / registrations in compliance with local, state, and national laws
- Training / certification in business management, HR, finance, accounting desirable
Compensation
- Firehouse offers a competitive salary and benefits package for full time employees. Most benefits are available after 60 days.
- Salary Range: $95,000 – $200,000 per year
