Lead Advanced Veterinary Care. Drive Operational Excellence. Inspire Teams.

Friendship Hospital for Animals (FHA), a premier AAHA-accredited specialty hospital in Washington, DC, is seeking a strategic, people-focused Specialty Manager to lead our advanced medical departments.

This is a high-impact leadership role designed for an experienced veterinary operations professional who thrives at the intersection of clinical excellence, team development, and operational performance.

You will play a critical role in shaping the future of specialty care—partnering with top-tier specialists and hospital leadership to deliver exceptional patient outcomes, elevate team engagement, and drive sustainable growth.

Position Overview

The Specialty Manager provides operational leadership across all specialty departments, ensuring seamless workflows, strong financial performance, and an outstanding client and patient experience.

Working closely with the Managing Director, Practice Manager, Clinical Leadership, and hospital team, you will align medical excellence with operational discipline to support a high-performing hospital environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day operations across specialty departments
• Optimize scheduling, patient flow, and case coordination
• Identify and resolve operational inefficiencies and bottlenecks
• Lead implementation of new services, technologies, and workflows

People & Culture Leadership

• Directly manage department leads, supervisors, and support staff
• Lead hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management
• Develop future leaders and strengthen leadership bench
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous growth
• Partner with HR on employee relations, engagement, and retention

Financial & Business Performance

• Manage labor, productivity, and staffing models aligned with hospital goals
• Monitor scheduling efficiency, overtime, and resource allocation
• Partner with leadership on budgeting and financial tracking
• Identify opportunities to improve revenue, efficiency, and cost control

Quality of Care & Client Experience

• Ensure exceptional patient care and client service standards
• Support implementation and adherence to clinical protocols
• Monitor client feedback and lead service recovery initiatives
• Maintain compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards

Collaboration & Strategic Alignment

• Partner closely with specialists and clinical teams
• Collaborate across departments within specialty, the ER/ECC and Primary Care clinical teams as well as non-clinical teams such as CSR, Inventory and Facilities
• Communicate clearly and consistently across all levels of the organization
• Participate in hospital leadership meetings and strategic initiatives

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of experience in hospital operations/management within veterinary specialty and/or emergency medicine (required)
• Proven leadership experience managing teams and driving performance (required)
• Strong understanding of specialty hospital workflows
• Demonstrated financial and operational acumen (labor management, productivity)
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• A collaborative, people-first leadership style with a commitment to excellence

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package
• Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA
• Generous PTO and CE allowance
• 401(k) with company match
• Life insurance
• Commuter/Metro benefits (convenient DC location)
• Employee pet care discounts
• A collaborative, inclusive culture focused on learning, growth, and teamwork

Why Join Friendship Hospital for Animals?

At FHA, you’ll work alongside some of the most respected professionals in veterinary medicine in a hospital that values innovation, compassion, and continuous improvement.

We are committed to creating an environment where individuals can grow as leaders, contribute meaningfully, and deliver the highest standard of specialty care—while supporting one another along the way.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Friendship Hospital for Animals celebrates diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace for all team members.