Veterinary Practice Manager in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Santa Fe Animal Shelter Inc

The Santa Fe Animal Shelter is seeking an experienced Veterinary Practice Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of THAW Animal Hospital, our full-service, community-facing veterinary practice.

THAW provides high-quality veterinary care while helping make that care more accessible to Santa Fe families. The right leader will bring strong veterinary practice management experience, financial and operational discipline, excellent people-management skills, and a commitment to treating every client with dignity and respect.

• Hire, train, schedule, and manage veterinary support staff.
• Coordinate staff and veterinarian schedules, including coverage for PTO and unexpected absences.
• Establish clear expectations and provide regular coaching and performance feedback.
• Lead staff meetings and foster open communication, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Human Resources and organizational leadership to address employee concerns appropriately and consistently.
• Support the onboarding of veterinarians and other clinical team members.

• Foster a welcoming, client-centered environment that reflects the shelter’s values.
• Ensure every client is treated with respect, regardless of financial circumstances.
• Resolve client concerns with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Help the team balance excellent service, access to care, and responsible use of hospital resources.

• Oversee efficient and consistent day-to-day operations at THAW.
• Maintain current facility licenses, veterinarian credentials, permits, and required records.
• Ensure safety and security procedures are understood and consistently followed.
• Manage medical and nonmedical inventory to support patient care while controlling costs.
• Oversee the practice-management system and ensure timely, accurate data entry and recordkeeping.

• Assist in developing and managing THAW’s annual budget in partnership with the Finance team.
• Monitor revenue, expenses, productivity, and other key performance measures.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, capacity, client service, and financial sustainability without compromising care.
• Monitor invoicing and payments and ensure financial policies are applied consistently.
• Make or escalate decisions regarding special financial arrangements in accordance with organizational policy.

• Serve as the primary operational connection between THAW and other shelter departments.
• Partner closely with veterinary and organizational leadership to align priorities, processes, and resources.
• Participate in shelter-wide planning and department-leader meetings.
• Communicate organizational initiatives clearly and help the THAW team understand how its work supports the shelter’s broader mission.

• At least five years of experience in a veterinary setting, including supervisory responsibility.
• Demonstrated success managing people, schedules, workflows, client service, and day-to-day veterinary practice operations.
• An understanding of veterinary practice finances and the ability to use operational data to improve performance.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, veterinarians, clients, and organizational leadership.
• Sound judgment, emotional maturity, and the ability to address difficult situations directly and respectfully.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, cloud-based applications, and veterinary practice-management systems.
• The ability to work independently, solve problems, manage competing priorities, and follow assignments through to completion.
• A bachelor’s degree in business, veterinary technology, or a related field is preferred.
• CVPM certification is preferred, or a willingness to pursue certification.

This position requires regular and punctual attendance and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation. The employee must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds and communicate clearly in person and by telephone.

THAW Animal Hospital is an important part of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter’s commitment to keeping pets healthy and with the people who love them. This role offers the opportunity to shape a growing veterinary practice, strengthen its financial and operational performance, and help make high-quality veterinary care more accessible in our community.