Director of Veterinary Nursing.

VCA Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced Veterinary Technician Specialist to join our growing leadership team full time as the Director of Veterinary Nursing.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management
  • Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and performance management for the RVT/veterinary nursing team, including hiring, onboarding, and ongoing development
  • Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and career development conversations with nursing staff
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning across the nursing team
• Clinical Standards & Patient Care
  • Establish and uphold clinical protocols, nursing care standards, and best practices across the hospital
  • Oversee patient monitoring, treatment administration, anesthesia support, and surgical assistance standards
  • Ensure compliance with drug handling, controlled substance logging, and inventory control policies
  • Partner with the medical director and veterinary team to maintain consistent quality of care across all departments
• Training & Professional Development
  • Design and lead ongoing CE programming to keep the nursing team current on clinical skills and certifications
  • Serve as a clinical coach and mentor for CVTs, VAs, and student externs
  • Support credentialing pathways and career advancement for technicians pursuing specialty certifications
• Extern & Student Program Support
  • Manage the hospital's veterinary nursing externship program, including scheduling, onboarding, and evaluation of student externs
  • Champion the externship pipeline as a strategic tool for recruitment and long-term retention
  • Represent the hospital's commitment to supporting the next generation of veterinary professionals
• Operations & Strategy
  • Collaborate with the Hospital Director/Practice Manager on staffing models, budget planning, and departmental KPIs
  • Monitor nursing team retention, satisfaction, and workload balance, and recommend improvements
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable veterinary practice acts, OSHA, and safety regulations
  • Report on nursing department metrics and outcomes to hospital and regional leadership

Requirements

• Believer in the possibilities of high-quality veterinary medicine and patient care
• Expertise and technical know-how to support high standards of care
• Positive, motivated, and collaborative attitude
• 5 years of experience and licensure status (RVT, VTS)

Benefits

• Access to the people and financial resources of a large veterinary community
• Free NAVTA Membership & RECOVER Training
• Discounts to Fear Free Certification & VetGirl
• Growth & leadership opportunities
• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Career development programs
• Veterinary Technician education tuition support and scholarships
• $750 continuing education funds for credentialed associates
• Veterinary Technician license reimbursement
• Generous hospital discounts and product discounts
• Employer-paid life, long- and short-term disability insurance
• VTS Career Path financial and mentorship support
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k)
• Free mental health resources and wellness subscriptions (Headspace)
• Referral bonuses
• Infertility benefits
• Competitive wage
• Free access to Plumbs and education platforms such as Vetfolio

Pay

$38.00 - $43.00 per hour based on skill set, experience, and licensure status

Schedule

Full Time, Variable