Associate Veterinarian

Join us as an Associate Veterinarian, DVM, at VCA Avondale Veterinary Hospital in Des Moines, IA and you’ll quickly discover that you’re well supported by world-class medicine, technology, facilities, and a talented team. You’ll be empowered to do your best work with a team you can count on. At VCA, the future of veterinary medicine is in our hands.

Questions? Please reach out to laurel.norman@vca.com

Why Join the Team?

At VCA Avondale Animal Hospital, you can truly practice medicine your way. We’re an AAHA-accredited, Fear Free Certified, and Gold-Level Cat Friendly practice located in Des Moines, IA. Our hospital is home to a dedicated, close-knit team of patient advocates who care deeply about great medicine and client communication.

Students and new graduates are encouraged to apply and will receive dedicated mentorship

When fully staffed, we’re a 5–6 doctor hospital supported by a caring team that’s actively growing. While we primarily serve dogs and cats, we welcome veterinarians with interest in exotics or pocket pets. You’ll also enjoy access to special services and equipment including a full rehab room, echocardiogram and ultrasound, laparoscopic surgery, orthopedic capabilities, and a separate cat hospital.

Our culture blends the personal, relationship-driven feel of a community practice with the resources and professional network of VCA. Whether you’re a seasoned veterinarian or a recent graduate, you’ll benefit from mentorship, CE opportunities through WOOF University, and a network of over 4,500 VCA doctors—including 600+ specialists.

Beyond the hospital, you’ll be part of the South Des Moines community, where we build lasting client relationships and partner closely with the Animal Lifeline of Iowa, a rescue for special needs animals. Located just minutes from downtown, Altoona, and Indianola, you’ll have easy access to all that Des Moines has to offer.

Schedule

Full-time Associate Veterinarian

Flexible scheduling designed to support work-life balance

Collaborative culture with 4–6 doctor coverage when fully staffed

Cases

At Avondale, you’ll see a wide variety of cases, from routine wellness and preventive care to advanced diagnostics and procedures. Our doctors have opportunities to focus on their interests, with support for areas such as :

Dentistry

Ultrasound and echocardiography

Orthopedics and laparoscopic surgery

Rehabilitation medicine

Potential to expand into exotics or pocket pets

Our clients value the time we take to explain conditions and treatment plans, and our Fear Free approach ensures a positive experience for pets and their families. With a separate cat hospital, you’ll have the ability to provide feline patients with a calm, dedicated space.

Who we look for

People obsessed with pets and their care

Dedicated experts who want to provide world-class medicine

Collaborators who enjoy teaching others and working as a team

Curious lifelong learners who want to grow and thrive for a dynamic and fulfilling career

Empathetic partners who develop strong client and Associate relationships built on trust

Total Rewards

As a VCA Associate, eligible full-time employees will be rewarded with a comprehensive package, including :

Compensation

• Salary is negotiable based on experience, skills, knowledge, abilities and other relevant credentials. The salary range listed is based on a 40-hour work week. This position may also be eligible for other variable pay programs.

Health & Well-being

Innovative Associate health and well-being resources (Headspace app, Fidelity financial wellness tool, and access to additional mental health resources including Lyra Health)

401k retirement savings plan with company match

Health / dental / vision insurance, infertility and gender affirmation benefits

Paid parental, vacation and sick leave

Professional Development

Continuing Education Allowance and paid Continuing Education Days

WOOF University – offering abundant CE for Doctors and the care team

Opportunities to participate in a robust Clinical Studies program

Discover Additional Benefits Benefits | VCA (vcacareers.com) () (open link in new window)

Qualifications

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, from an accredited university or equivalent

Licensure in good standing to practice in (IA), or the ability to obtain

A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics

About VCA

VCA is a leader in veterinary care and is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. With a network of 1,000 animal hospitals, we impact pets, people and our communities by delivering world-class medicine with hometown care to over 4.5 million pets annually.

Trusted and empowered, our 35,000 Associates collaborate and unleash their unique power to achieve the best outcomes. With access to endless resources, we continuously learn and share knowledge to build fulfilling careers, push our profession forward and make a lasting impact on our shared future.

VCA is part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, working towards A Better World for Pets™. Learn more at www.vca.com or find us on social media.

Learn more about the hospital [Link to hospital website] ()

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits : We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation / sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com