What are the responsibilities and job description for the Area Director of Operations position at COVE Animal Health?
About COVE Animal Health
COVE Animal Health is a veterinarian-led network of primary care, emergency, and specialty hospitals united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional, community-rooted veterinary medicine while preserving the identity of each partner hospital.
Built on nearly 90 years of clinical excellence, COVE continues to grow as a multi-state network, connecting hospitals through shared leadership, infrastructure, and a commitment to high-quality care. Pieper Veterinary, the Connecticut region, is a trusted name in veterinary medicine with deep roots across the state. Known for its strong community identity and commitment to clinical excellence, Pieper operates a growing network of primary care and specialty hospitals serving communities in the state.
Position Summary
We are seeking a strategic, people-first Area Director of Operations in Connecticut to lead the COVE Animal Health’s primary care network of hospitals within Connecticut. This leader will partner closely with the Group President, Medical Leadership, and Hospital Directors to drive operational excellence, scalable growth, and an exceptional team and client experience.
This role is responsible for multi-site performance, regional strategy execution, and building strong operational leaders across hospitals.
Key Responsibilities
COVE Animal Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
COVE Animal Health is a veterinarian-led network of primary care, emergency, and specialty hospitals united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional, community-rooted veterinary medicine while preserving the identity of each partner hospital.
Built on nearly 90 years of clinical excellence, COVE continues to grow as a multi-state network, connecting hospitals through shared leadership, infrastructure, and a commitment to high-quality care. Pieper Veterinary, the Connecticut region, is a trusted name in veterinary medicine with deep roots across the state. Known for its strong community identity and commitment to clinical excellence, Pieper operates a growing network of primary care and specialty hospitals serving communities in the state.
Position Summary
We are seeking a strategic, people-first Area Director of Operations in Connecticut to lead the COVE Animal Health’s primary care network of hospitals within Connecticut. This leader will partner closely with the Group President, Medical Leadership, and Hospital Directors to drive operational excellence, scalable growth, and an exceptional team and client experience.
This role is responsible for multi-site performance, regional strategy execution, and building strong operational leaders across hospitals.
Key Responsibilities
- Regional Leadership & Operational Excellence
- Provide leadership and oversight to multiple hospital leaders, driving consistency in operations and client experience
- Translate enterprise strategy into actionable plans at the hospital level
- Establish and monitor KPIs across service, quality, and financial performance
- Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Recruiting, Marketing, and IT to support hospital success
- Lead crisis management, escalation support, and operational risk mitigation
- Growth & Expansion
- Support regional growth initiatives, including De Novo hospital openings and service line expansion
- Partner on site selection, buildout planning, and operational readiness for new hospitals
- Drive volume growth, service utilization, and market expansion strategies
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Integrations
- Lead operational integration of newly partnered hospitals
- Ensure alignment with COVE standards while preserving each hospital’s unique culture
- Drive change management and adoption of systems, processes, and reporting
- Talent Leadership & Development
- Build, coach, and develop high-performing Hospital Directors and operational leaders
- Partner with recruiting and HR to support hiring, retention, and workforce planning
- Lead performance management, succession planning, and leadership development
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Financial Performance & Accountability
- Own regional financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management
- Partner with Finance to analyze trends, optimize cost structure, and improve profitability
- Monitor labor, revenue, and expense drivers across hospitals
- Ensure strong financial discipline while maintaining high standards of care
- Opportunity to lead within a rapidly growing, veterinarian-led organization
- High-impact role with visibility and influence across a multi-state network
- Collaborative leadership environment focused on clinical excellence and team well-being
- Competitive compensation, bonus structure, and benefits aligned with executive-level responsibility
- 7 years of progressive leadership experience in multi-site veterinary or healthcare operations
- Proven success leading through others in a regional or area-level role
- Strong understanding of hospital operations, including clinical workflows and financial drivers
- Experience supporting growth initiatives such as new site openings or integrations
- Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing teams
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and P&L
- Excellent communication, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Willingness to travel within region and provide leadership support as needed
COVE Animal Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.