Surgery Department Manager, Summit at Ethos Veterinary Health – Tacoma, Washington

Summit Veterinary Referral Center is hiring a Surgery Manager for our Surgery Department!

Summit Veterinary Referral Center is hiring a Surgery Manager for our Surgery Department.
The Surgery Manager is a highly skilled veterinary professional who demonstrates strong leadership, advanced technical expertise, and excellent interpersonal communication skills. This individual maintains a calm and proactive approach in high-pressure environments while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and exceptional patient care.

This role balances hands-on technical leadership with departmental management. The Surgery Manager oversees surgical technical staff, supports the surgeons and department leadership, and helps guide the continued growth, efficiency, and operational success of the Surgery department.

Compensation
Starting at $82k based on experience, certification and credentials

Anticipated Schedule:

• 4 days a week with flexibility based on departmental needs.
• Full-time (40 hours a week)
• Weekends may be required based on departmental needs

Primary Responsibilities:
Leadership
Represent the Surgery technical staff (20+ team members) while fostering a professional, respectful, and supportive work environment. Address conflicts constructively and help strengthen team communication and collaboration.
Staff Management
Oversee staff performance, hiring, onboarding, coaching, and accountability. Assign responsibilities, monitor progress, and ensure fair and effective workload distribution across the department.
Operational Management
Oversee day-to-day operations of the Surgery department, ensuring efficient workflows, strong communication, and consistent delivery of high-quality patient care.
Financial Management
Monitor and manage departmental financial performance, including labor utilization, operational budgets, and expense oversight. Partner with hospital leadership to review profit and loss performance and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining high standards of care.
Training and Development
Collaborate with surgeons and hospital leadership to maintain training programs, implement new protocols, and support professional development through performance reviews, coaching, and goal setting.
Communication and Coordination
Lead departmental meetings, maintain regular communication with surgeons, and partner with department supervisors and leads to address operational challenges and support leadership development within the team.
Staff Scheduling and Coverage Planning
Develop and manage schedules to ensure appropriate surgical coverage while balancing staff availability, PTO, and hospital operational needs.
Policy and SOP Management
Ensure compliance with hospital policies and maintain departmental standard operating procedures as workflows evolve.
Interdepartmental Collaboration
Work closely with other departments to maintain clear communication, coordinate patient care, and support overall hospital operations.

Requirements:

• 2 years in Spec/ER experience in veterinary management including professional communication, performance management, operational management.
• Dedicated to outstanding client service and high-quality patient care
• Culture focused through promoting trust, collaboration, and accountability

• Adaptable communicator and supports authentic communication and supports the individuality of their team members

Why Summit Veterinary Referral Center
Summit is the largest Emergency and Specialty Center in the South Puget Sound. With specialists in Anesthesia, Cardiology, Emergency/Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Nutrition, Oncology, Surgery, and we work collaboratively to provide comprehensive patient and client care in our region. Grand rounds occur daily, and our specialists are readily available for consultation.
Our facility includes 7 surgical suites, CT/MRI, endoscopy, telemetry, digital radiography, echocardiography, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and more.

Our culture centers on collaboration and a commitment to exceptional medicine. We support professional growth with a robust CE budget and opportunities such as VTS support. We prioritize sustainable excellence and have systems in place to help reduce burnout and support long-term career success.

We have grown steadily over the past 13 years while maintaining a strong sense of heart and community. We are looking for talented leaders who want to help us continue delivering exceptional patient and client care.
Interested in Joining Our Team?
If you meet the qualifications and are interested in applying, please complete the application and include an updated resume.

About Ethos Veterinary Health
Ethos Veterinary Health is a network of specialty and emergency hospitals across North America, committed to innovation and world-class veterinary medicine. Ethos supports veterinary professionals through advanced technology, collaborative networks, and evidence-based medicine.
Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information, consistent with applicable regulations.