Job Description

Director of Group Operations, Midwest US

NVA Compassion-First Specialty + ER Hospitals National Veterinary Associates

Summary

NVA Compassion-First has an exciting opportunity to join our team of talented Group Leaders, who lead regional multi-site operations for our veterinary hospitals. We are currently looking to add a Director of Group Operations for our Ohio River Valley region. This position can be based out of a home office anywhere in the territory or nearby states and will require frequent travel within the group.

Company Background

Based in Greater Los Angeles, National Veterinary Associates (“NVA”) is the largest private owner of freestanding veterinary hospitals in North America, with 1,000+ companion animal veterinary hospitals and pet resort locations.

NVA has grown rapidly over its history and continues to aggressively execute its growth plans via a combination of acquisition, de novo and same-store initiatives. NVA competes in a $25 billion industry that has grown faster than GDP over 20+ years with few exceptions. The industry is highly fragmented with approximately 22,000 veterinary hospitals; fewer than 4,000 are part of large chains. Advancing medical sophistication and technology combined with the evolving human-animal bond is driving greater spend per pet and veterinarians will look to partner with companies that have the capital, expertise and management talent as the industry evolves.

NVA Compassion-First (NVA CF) was formed in January 2021 as a merger of NVA’s Specialty and ER business line with its sister company Compassion-First. Together, NVA CF comprises a portfolio of 90+ Specialty and ER veterinary hospitals across the US and Canada. NVA CF is NVA’s fastest growing business segment.

The Position

Due to continued growth, NVA CF is seeking to hire a Director of Group Operations for its fast-growing Specialty+ER business, which consists of the largest and most complex veterinary hospitals that focus on 24-hour emergency care and specialty medicine.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of veterinary hospitals with full responsibility for a $70M+ P&L
• The successful candidate will work directly with the hospitals to improve processes & profitability, including identifying and implementing local growth initiatives
• The individual will build and maintain exceptional relationships with Hospital Administrators, Medical Directors, and their teams. This will extend to new practices as they are acquired, preserving their unique cultures as the hospitals grow
• Opportunity to frequently travel in the field to support business decisions, leadership development, and operational efficiency – all critical to success
• Balance the need for preserving each unique hospital culture, while ensuring future positive growth and innovation

The Director will report directly to the Vice President of Operations, East, who is responsible for field operations across NVA CF hospitals in the eastern US.

Qualifications & Competencies
• Multi-site, multi-state experience including full P&L responsibility, with the ability to adapt to a flexible location management model versus conformation to rigid standardization
• Demonstrated business acumen and knowledge of staffing, capacity, ROI, budget, margins, service and product offerings, to implement and drive strategic and relevant operational outcomes
• Results orientation as demonstrated by strong business planning skills and the ability to instill a sense of ownership and accountability in organizations. The Director will communicate objectives clearly to their teams, define meaningful performance measures, follow up regularly, and provide coaching and assistance toward meeting goals
• Team leadership and collaboration as demonstrated by the ability to build relationships with local management teams, delegate appropriately, use the talents of the team in the best combination, and actively engage the team in collective problem-solving
• Strategic orientation as demonstrated by translating a vision into actionable plans and activities. The Director will have the ability to contribute to the company’s overall strategy, resolve strategic issues, and help manage operations effectively to achieve objectives
• Commercial orientation as demonstrated through improving revenue (including service mix and pricing) and profitability
• Time management skills to manage priorities across and within several hospitals; ability to ruthlessly prioritize tasks and opportunities

Requirements / Personal Attributes
• 7+ years of progressive operational management experience with a record of success
• Bachelor Degree required; MBA preferred
• Passion for and understanding of the human-animal bond
• Veterinary / animal health or human health management experience is a plus
• Learns quickly, and can rapidly absorb new information
• Self-motivated while also expert at motivating, coaching and inspiring others
• Ability to travel up to 60% of the time
• Ability to roll up your sleeves and get things done with enthusiastic participation

Location
The ideal candidate will be based out of their home in the US Midwest region, with easy access to an airport. This position works with sites in the Midwest, which currently includes hospitals in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and northwestern Virginia. This footprint will expand as the overall business grows.