Career Center

Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists is looking to welcome a Full-Time Emergency & Critical Care Chief of Staff to our team and rapidly growing hospital! 

Our Culture:

At Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists, we believe the best way to provide compassionate, quality care to pets is by putting relationships—with our clients, patients, 114+ Team Members (19 DVMs) and community—at the heart of everything we do.

• We are patient focused and provide high quality medicine in a positive environment
• Our team atmosphere is precise, fun, and extremely outgoing
• We are communication connoisseurs with mentorship available!

We’re a close-knit group of experienced veterinary professionals that pride ourselves on our ability to offer mentorship, support, and a collaborative workplace. In addition to taking care of pets, we also take care of each other. Through day-to-day interactions and organized team-building activities, we create an environment where personal health and well-being is important, and every individual matters.

To learn more about us Click Here!

Our Values:

The way we approach our work matters. Our core values—Trust, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Compassion, Knowledge, Loyalty, Wow Service, Fun, and Do the Right Thing—guide everything we do at Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists.

Community Impact:

Our commitment to pets extends beyond our hospital walls.

Our Team Members can give back to communities around the globe through our partnership with World Vets. Each year, we send a group of doctors and support staff abroad to help pets in need and support programs that nurture healthy relationships between people and animals.

Our Hospital and Benefits:

• We believe in nurturing the human-animal bond and creating a harmonious relationship between people and animals
• Our hospital is well-equipped: we have 5 surgical suites, 1 internal medicine procedure room, critical care, diagnostic imaging, intensive care unit, internal medicine, medical oncology, neurology, surgery, radiation oncology and Synovetin OA coming soon
• We have a well-trained technician staff who are highly skilled and able to support our doctors with procedures such as placing long lines, NG tubes, and IVCs
• We encourage our team members to utilize Fear Free techniques + promote a low stress environment

Additional info about Emergency Veterinary Care | Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists (slvetspecialists.com)

 When you join our team, you’ll receive:

• Competitive base salary with bonus potential
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance - with company contribution HSA account
• License reimbursement
• Continuing Education allowance $2,500 for FT DVM’s
• 401k with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off for work/life balance
• Flexible schedule - 3-day work week
• US National Park Pass to enjoy your time off!
• Practice freedom
• AVMA PLIT Professional Liability Insurance
• Sign-On Bonus for Full-Time Veterinarians

Life in Sugar Land, Texas:

Sugar Land, located in eastern Fort Bend County, is approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston. A full-service municipality, Sugar Land, provides the highest quality of affordable services to meet the needs of its residents. Welcoming neighborhoods enhance home values and create a sense of belonging. The community offers outstanding schools, libraries, civic organizations and other resources that make Sugar Land a great place to work, live and raise a family.

Sugar Land has been recognized as one of America’s Best Places to Live and has been named a Community of Respect by the Anti-Defamation League. 98% of Sugar Land residents say it is a ‘good’ place to live.

Please contact Angelique Sanchez, Talent Acquisition Partner, at asanchez@lakefieldvet.com with any questions or to submit your resume.

Position Summary

It is the Emergency and Critical Care Chief of Staff’s primary responsibility to directly over see patient care, which includes management of the client care and patient care teams through:

- mentoring and educating team members

- encouraging and inspiring teamwork among all hospital staff

- providing leadership to encourage and ensure continued personal and professional growth of team members

- support of Hospital’s, and every Section’s, mission and goals

- inspiring others’ commitment Hospital’s mission and goals

- integrity of action and purpose

The Chief of Staff is responsible for all day-to-day patient care of the Section. This leadership position sets the example for Section and Hospital staff to follow in client service, patient care, and inter-Section/interpersonal relations. While the Section Manager directly supervises the technical and client service employees in the Section to ensure that standards of care are followed for both patient care and client service, ultimate responsibility is the Chief of Staff’s. The Chief of Staff’s actions should reflect the Core Values of SLVS: Compassion, integrity, responsibility, trust, knowledge, respect, and loyalty and additional Core Values of Lakefield: Wow Service, fun and do the right thing.

Reports to: Medical Director

Works with: Specialty Section Heads and Medical Director, when applicable.

Job Responsibilities

The duties below are generally conducted in collaboration with the Section Manager.

Personnel Duties, 8%:

• In support of the Section Manager, help ensure optimal staffing levels for maximum productivity and client service
• Develop orientation and train Section Associate DVM(s); ensure that education programs are updated regularly to reflect current hospital protocols
• In conjunction with the Section Manager, conduct personnel evaluation process to ensure that performance evaluations reflect appropriate review of performance and expected job behaviors
• Support the Section Manager in use of appropriate incentive, reward, and discipline processes as needed
• With the Section Manager, mediate personnel issues where appropriate
• Interview applicants for Section positions
• Provide advice and assistance to team members

Operational Duties, 75%:

• Maintain and supervise medical protocols
• Review cases and medical records of the Section, randomly or using other methods deemed appropriate, to ensure accuracy and thoroughness, as well as adherence to appropriate protocols and laws governing records and veterinary medicine
• Consult, diagnose, recommend, and provide treatment plan for, and monitor progress of, pets placed under Section’s medical care
• Communicate well with staff and clients and gives instructions clearly and effectively.
• Performs medical, surgical and procedures; provides emergency services in accordance with hospital standards of care.
• Interprets the results of laboratory procedures and determines the appropriate protocol based on the results; reads radiographs and interprets EKG’s.
• Prescribes medications in accordance with manufacturers label instructions and uses. Understands common side-effects and common drug interactions with other medications.
• Understands and carries out treatment orders from other veterinarians; makes necessary changes in treatment plan when diagnostic results support the decision to do so.

Financial Duties, 2%:

• With Section Manager, assist Hospital Administrator and Medical Director in developing, managing, and monitoring an annual budget

Administrative Duties, 5%

• In conjunction with the Section Manager establish, implement, and monitor progress of Section goals
• Maintain Section excellence in client service and patient care

Strategic and General Duties, 10%

• Contribute to development of SLVS strategic business plan
• Meet as part of the Management Team periodically to review hospital performance, set goals and budgets, and adjust office systems/procedures/processes as needed
• Maintain professional appearance and courteous attitude, fostering respect of hospital staff toward all other team members
• Perform other related duties as directed Hospital Administrator and/or the Medical Director
• Conduct staff meetings in conjunction with Section Manager.
• Ensure that Section goals are achieved with regard to patient and client care, hospital hygiene/cleanliness, employee knowledge/qualifications, client retention, professionalism, adherence to ethical guidelines

Education, Licensure, And Accreditation Requirements

• D.V.M. licensed in Texas
• D.E.A licensed in Texas
• Specialty Sections – Diplomate status in College appropriate for Section

Experience Preferences

• Emergency Section - 2 years of previous experience as a D.V.M. (general practice or emergency medicine)
• Specialty Sections – 2 years of previous experience as a D.V.M., plus internship and residency training in the Section specialty

Personal Requirements

• Significant continuing education achievements, beyond licensing requirements.
• Ability to recognize that teamwork is essential for a quality practice; ability to work as a team member as well as a doctor.
• Working knowledge of and interest in the business aspect of a veterinary practice.
• Ability to deliver medical/technical presentations to peers and colleagues in a continuing education and/or professional conference setting.
• Willingness to stay after hours or work extra hours when needed.
• Interest in marketing and growth of the practice. • Display tact and diplomacy with staff members and clients.
• Work to actively maintain and build referring veterinarian relationships.
• Perform basic computer skills.
• Physical Effort: Work requires lifting and carrying animals (will be assisted by other staff members in lifting animals over 40 lbs). Walks or stands for extended periods or time; frequently works in a bent position.
• Working conditions: May be exposed to unpleasant odors, noises and animal feces. May be exposed to bites, scratches and contagious diseases.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Applies SLVS’ and Lakefield’s core values to every aspect of professional life
• Provides compassionate care to patients
• Works with owners to set practical medical policies and procedures; performs all duties in accordance with them
• Plans and carries out a significant program of personal medical continuing education
• Works with the leadership team on plans for developing and growing the business
• Is active in professional organizations and community activities.
• Communicates objectives, motivates staff, builds and maintains morale; maintains core values and standards
• Helps to develop new programs and processes that meet clients’ changing needs
• Sets an example for the staff in dealing with clients; promotes the concept of the client-centered environment. Performs staff coaching regarding client interactions regularly
• Delivers in-house medical training to the support staff when asked to do so.
• Works toward and attains practice productivity standards
• Promotes cooperative working environment among staff members; understands the value of teamwork; shows enthusiasm and willingness to perform as necessary to help the practice function as a unit
• Maintains positive, cooperative relationships with other employees
• Performs physical examinations using preliminary data provided by the veterinary technicians; diagnoses physical condition and presents diagnostic and treatment alternatives to the client being sensitive to their emotional as well financial needs
• Performs medical and surgical procedures; provides emergency services in accordance with hospital standards of care
• Interprets the results of laboratory procedures and determines the appropriate protocol based on the results; reads radiographs and interprets EKG’s
• Prescribes medications in accordance with manufacturers label instructions and uses. Understands common side-effects and common drug interactions with other medications
• Promptly, accurately and legibly updates client records in support of the SOAP reporting method
• Understands and carries out treatment orders from other veterinarians; makes necessary changes in treatment plan when diagnostic results support the decision to do so
• Performs other duties as assigned