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Posted: 11-Dec-25
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Type: Full Time
Salary: Based on Candidate Experience
Categories:
Occupation:
Species:
Preferred Education:
Internal Number: 57993
The College of Veterinary Medicine at MU is on a mission to educate and train outstanding clinicians and scientists, generate new knowledge, engage stakeholders, and foster economic growth, all of which promote and protect the health and welfare of animals and people. Our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional program boasts a unique curricular structure, which provides nearly two years of hands-on training in the college’s general and specialty clinics. Additionally, the College is a leader in the training of Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students in the areas of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Pathobiology. Simply put, our mission is to Teach, Heal, Discover, and Serve.
The Director of the Veterinary Health Center (VHC) serves as the chief administrative officer responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial leadership of the VHC, a premier academic veterinary medical center. This role is pivotal in advancing the College of Veterinary Medicine’s mission to teach, heal, discover, and serve by ensuring the delivery of exceptional clinical services, fostering a dynamic learning environment, and supporting innovative research.
This position will have a great impact on the mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine:
- Teach: Enhances clinical education by providing a robust, well-managed environment for student learning, house officer learning, and faculty instruction.
- Heal: Ensures the delivery of high-quality veterinary care that improves animal health and well-being.
- Discover: Supports research by facilitating clinical trials, data collection, and collaboration with academic departments.
- Serve: Elevates the standard of care for animal patients and strengthens community trust through compassionate service.
About the Veterinary Health Center
Veterinarians throughout the Midwest refer patients to the Veterinary Health Center for specialized diagnoses and treatment. With sophisticated therapeutic and diagnostic equipment, including an underwater treadmill, gait analysis monitors, advanced imaging, and groundbreaking equine lameness diagnostic methods, we are a regional center for animal health care. Additionally, the VHC offers primary care services across the spectrum of treated species. Clinical services are provided by faculty, house officers (interns and residents), technicians and other nursing staff, and students.
- The VHC is divided into small animal, shelter medicine, equine, and food animal hospitals. The equine and food animal hospitals provide both in-clinic and ambulatory services.
- The VHC generates approximately $25 million annually in clinical revenues.
- In Fiscal Year 2025, the VHC had a caseload of 31,592 cases. The Small Animal Hospital accounted for approximately 80% of the total caseload, with the Large Animal Hospitals (Equine and Food Animal combined) accounting for the remaining 20%.
- The VHC has 55 board-certified clinicians in 19 clinical services.
- The VHC receives referrals from over 1,200 veterinary clinics.
- The Oncology service houses all three oncology sub-specialties: medical, surgical, and radiation oncology; and is equipped to perform leukapheresis for cancer immunotherapy.
- Our Radiology Department is one of the most advanced and comprehensive veterinary imaging centers in the country. Equipment of note includes PET/CT, digital 3T MRI, equine standing CT, and high-resolution fluoroscopy.
- In Fiscal Year 2025, the Shelter Medicine program performed 4,131 surgeries for our shelter partners. In addition to spay and neuter, these surgeries include (but are not limited to) dental cleaning/extractions, enucleations, amputations, orthopedic repairs, and lump removals.
- The VHC is home to a full-service on-site pharmacy and a dedicated social worker who provides client support and programming.
- The VHC has access to a wide range of diagnostic testing through the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL), another service operation of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Position Responsibilities
The Director will oversee all aspects of the VHC’s operations, including hospital administration, financial management, clinical service delivery, client relations, and staff development. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with a strong background in veterinary clinical operations, business administration, and team leadership.
- Responsible for strategic plans, initiatives, and operational alignment:
- Develop and implement strategic plans that align VHC operations with the college’s strategic plan, mission, and goals.
- Lead initiatives to improve operational efficiency, patient outcomes, and client satisfaction.
- Foster and encourage behaviors with the VHC team that align with the vision, mission, and values of the University of Missouri, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the practice of veterinary medicine.
- Oversee VHC operations, compliance, and communications:
- Oversee the VHC’s budget, financial planning, and revenue cycle management, monitor financial performance, and implement strategies to optimize revenues and sustainability.
- Collaborate with college and university finance teams to ensure fiscal accountability and transparency.
- Engage in effective communication and build relationships with the referral community and the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.
- When concerns arise, correspond and communicate with clients of the VHC to address the situation.
- Ensure compliance with university policies, AVMA best practices, and state and federal regulations including overseeing outside review and inspections of the VHC, fiscal oversight of the VHC budget, and the audit and review of medical records.
- Manage and provide direct supervision to a management team that includes a Hospital Administrator, Pharmacy Manager, Radiology Supervisor, Social Worker, Veterinary Technician Supervisors, and other support staff.
- Work collaboratively with CVM leaders in areas such as fiscal and business operations, human resources, and strategic communications to accomplish VHC goals and align activities with college initiatives, policies, and practices.
- Lead the VHC in identifying new opportunities, operational efficiencies, and ways to operate more effectively and sustainably, while simultaneously improving the experience for clients, students, and staff:
- Unlock new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and visibility across the hospital and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Elevate the VHC’s performance and ensure alignment with the college’s mission.
- Execute focused reviews of workflows and resource utilization across all hospital units.
- Implement best practices and process improvements that reduce costs and improve service delivery.
- Provide strategic oversight of staffing models, scheduling, and service coordination to maximize productivity and patient care.
- Support the educational mission of the VHC:
- Encourage and support a mentality of continuous improvement, growth, and professional development across all levels of the VHC.
- Work in tandem with the Department Chair of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery to facilitate teaching, research, and service activities of the department.
- Based on incumbent interest, continue to engage with their medical specialty through involvement in resident training and / or clinic rotations.
This position will report directly to the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Veterinary Health Center is housed within the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. This position works in close collaboration with the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Department Chair of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, the CVM Business Officer, and the Assistant Director of Human Resources, as well as others across the college and university.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
- Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree (such as VMD, BVSc).
Candidates will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:
- Eligibility for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in Missouri
- Residency training and Diplomate status in a veterinary specialty recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) or the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS)
- Advanced education or credentials in business management, practice management, or veterinary operations
- Prior experience in management or leadership in a veterinary teaching hospital, an academic veterinary medical setting, or a large veterinary medical facility or practice
- Background in strategic visioning, planning, and implementation
- Ability to be an effective collaborator and successfully work with other leaders to accomplish goals and objectives
- Strong communication skills and ability to engage a variety of stakeholder and constituent groups.
- Interest in and passion for academic veterinary medicine and its goals of teaching, research, and service
Application Materials
Interested candidates should be prepared to attach:
- Letter stating professional interests and career goals.
- Curriculum Vitae.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates may apply through the University of Missouri careers website: https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings. Select “Academic Positions” and search for Job ID: 57993.
Please contact Noah Hartsfield, HR Recruiter, at hartsfieldn@missouri.edu or 573-882-3761 with questions or to learn more.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.
Community Information
MU is a nationally competitive, global university. Many states fund separate research and land-grant universities, but Missouri combines those roles at its flagship institution. MU is both a land-grant university with a statewide mission of service to citizens and Missouri’s largest public research university. Mizzou is one of only five universities nationwide that offers law, medicine, veterinary medicine, and a nuclear research reactor on one campus.
MU is a national leader in comparative medicine, in which researchers collaborate by sharing discoveries, innovations and treatments for humans and animals. For more about the College of Veterinary Medicine and our impact on Missouri, the nation, and the world, go to:
- University of Missouri/College of Veterinary Medicine- http://cvm.missouri.edu/
- Veterinary Health Center- http://www.vmth.missouri.edu/
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab- http://vmdl.missouri.edu/
Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!