Position Function:
Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU-CVM) seeks a talented, caring leader committed to community building to serve as Director of the Small Animal Hospital within the Animal Health Center (AHC), located in Starkville, MS. The Small Animal Hospital provides general practice, referral specialty care, and 24/7 emergency services for the state of Mississippi and region. As an academic teaching hospital, it delivers high-quality clinical care for small animals while training third- and fourth-year veterinary students and fourth-year veterinary medical technology (VMT) students during clinical rotations. Graduate veterinarians completing internship or residency programs also work in the hospital alongside faculty clinicians, technicians, and students.
Salary Grade: UC
Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Area of Specialization:
Small Animal Hospital
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Primary responsibilities include: 1) leadership and oversight of clinical services to optimize patient care and teaching; 2) support and supervision of faculty, staff, interns, residents, and students; and 3) implementation of initiatives to streamline workflows, improve systems, and enhance client and referring veterinarian satisfaction. The Small Animal Hospital Director works closely with the AHC business manager and with the service chiefs for Anesthesia, Community Veterinary Services (Primary Care), Dermatology, Diagnostic Imaging, ICU/ER, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Small Animal Medicine, and Small Animal Surgery.
The Small Animal Hospital Director collaborates with the Large Animal Hospital Director, Director of Hospital Business Operations, and Associate Director for Clinical Staff Success and works with the Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences on matters pertaining to faculty, interns, and residents. Administrative on-call duties are split between the Small Animal Hospital Director, Large Animal Hospital Director, and Director of Hospital Business Operations. The Director also works with the House Officer Committee to optimize internship and residency programs and serves on the college leadership team.
Community enhancement: Work with AHC personnel to build and maintain a positive, collaborative hospital community. Foster open communication, mutual respect, and teamwork. Support recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and house officers.
Operational Oversight: Oversee daily operations across general practice and specialty services providing care to small animals. Coordinate with Facilities, Information Technology Services, and other support units. Address client and referring veterinarian concerns, determine when invoice adjustments are appropriate, and consult with University Counsel as needed.
Efficiency and Innovation: Lead initiatives to streamline workflows, enhance hospital systems, and improve client and referring veterinarian satisfaction. Support clinical teaching and research activities. Develop, update, and maintain standard operating procedures and policies.
Engagement: Engage directly with clients and referring veterinarians. Represent the MSU-CVM at events and help to provide tours for higher level visitors. Coordinate with the Office of Development during donor visits and as new opportunities present themselves.
Financial Leadership: Work with the Director of Hospital Business Operations and AHC Business Manager to prepare annual budgets for the small animal hospital, approve purchase requests, monitor account balances, and manage expenditures. Implement strategies to enhance financial sustainability.
Human Resources Management: Oversee the clinical work of faculty and residents and contribute to their annual performance evaluations. Manage internship programs, provide an intern handbook, and coordinate onboarding activities. Supervise administrative staff and work closely with MSU Human Resources Management.
Compliance and Accreditation: Ensure compliance with university policies, state and federal regulations, and veterinary medical standards. Assist with preparation for American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education reports and accreditation site visits.
Depending on qualifications and interests, a faculty appointment in the Department of Clinical Sciences is available. Additional responsibilities and leadership opportunities may be assigned based on the strengths of the successful candidate.
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent.
Proven leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Familiarity with academic veterinary hospital operations and teaching environments is highly desirable.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred qualifications: A minimum of 5 years’ experience in veterinary hospital administration. Additional preferred qualifications include specialty board certification, and/ an advanced degree (e.g., MHA, MBA with a healthcare focus, or PhD).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
This position consists of 80% administrative effort, with a 20% faculty appointment in the Department of Clinical Sciences. This 20% will be tailored to the candidate’s qualifications and interests, which may include teaching, research, or clinical service. The role offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Mississippi State University provides a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, tuition remission for children, and professional development opportunities.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands. Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Applications can be submitted online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu . Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Bridget Willeford (willeford@cvm.msstate.edu).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
