Hospital Administrator

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Lead, Elevate, and Make an Impact

Hickory Veterinary Hospital has served the community since 1956, growing from a single-doctor practice into a full-service, AAHA-accredited hospital offering General Practice, 24/7 Emergency, and a broad range of specialty services. As part of COVE Animal Health, we’re committed to a veterinarian-led, community-focused mission: preserving each hospital’s local identity while empowering teams to deliver advanced care.

Our core values—Professional Excellence, Teamwork, Integrity, Compassion, and Service—guide everything we do for patients, clients, and each other.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and people-focused Hospital Administrator to lead hospital operations. This senior leadership role has broad influence across clinical, financial, operational, and cultural outcomes. The Hospital Administrator reports to regional leadership and partners closely with medical leaders and specialty service heads to drive performance and an exceptional client and team experience.

What You’ll Do

Leadership & Team Development

• Partner with HR/Recruiting to lead hiring, onboarding, mentoring, performance management, and career development for support teams.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with Hickory’s values and COVE’s veterinarian-led model.
• Serve as an effective bridge between medical staff, specialty services, and administrative teams to ensure seamless communication and workflow.
  
  

Operations & Client Experience

• Own day-to-day operations: scheduling, workflow design, equipment, inventory, safety, and regulatory readiness.
• Champion a consistent, patient- and family-centered client experience; address concerns and optimize communication standards.
• Partner with medical teams on process improvements, quality assurance, and protocol implementation to support clinical excellence.
  
  

Financial & Business Management

• Manage budgets, financial reporting, and KPIs (revenue, expenses, client retention, productivity) with accountability to goals.
• Oversee procurement and vendor relationships; optimize inventory and equipment utilization.
• Contribute to pricing, cost control, and revenue growth initiatives while safeguarding standards of care.
  
  

Strategic Planning & Growth

• Collaborate with hospital and regional leaders on operational goals, growth opportunities, and community/referral relationships.
• Analyze performance data to identify improvements; plan and execute change initiatives that drive efficiency, quality, and profitability.
• Enhance Hickory’s reputation with clients, the community, and referring veterinarians.
  
  

Regulatory & Quality Management

• Ensure compliance with laws, safety regulations, AAHA standards, licensing, and internal policies.
• Oversee facility maintenance and upgrades; maintain a safe, clean, and functional environment for patients, clients, and staff.
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience, with performance-based incentives/bonus potential.
• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) with match.
• Generous PTO and holiday schedule; pet care discount and team perks.
• Professional development support: CE and leadership training.
• Lead within a respected, well-established hospital while benefiting from the resources of the COVE network—a mission-driven, values-aligned environment where legacy, innovation, and compassionate care coexist.
  
  

Equal Opportunity

Hickory Veterinary Hospital and COVE Animal Health are equal-opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment where every qualified individual is encouraged to apply.

If you’re ready to shape operations, empower teams, and advance a culture of excellence in veterinary care, we’d love to connect. Apply today to join Hickory Veterinary Hospital.

Requirements

• 5 years of progressive leadership/management experience—ideally in veterinary (GP, ER, specialty) or related medical service environments.
• Strong business acumen: budgeting, financial reporting, P&L responsibility, KPI development/interpretation.
• Exceptional people leadership: talent development, retention, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Proven change leadership with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain quality under pressure.
• Working knowledge of veterinary hospital operations (scheduling, inventory, compliance); exposure to specialty/ER workflows preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, practice management, or related field preferred; CVPM or similar certification a plus.
• Flexibility for occasional evening/weekend responsibilities based on hospital needs.