Area Manager, VCA Canada Animal Hospitals

Area Manager

Location: Calgary

Hospitals: Marlborough Animal Hospitals, McKenzie Town Animal Hospital, Forest Lawn Animal Hospital and Riverbend Animal Hospital.

Employment Type: Full Time

VCA Canada Animal Hospitals is seeking an experienced Area Manager to lead a group of veterinary hospitals in Calgary. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished operational leader who enjoys coaching leaders, driving business performance, and creating exceptional experiences for associates, clients, and their pets. You'll partner closely with Hospital Managers, Medical Directors, and regional leadership to strengthen hospital performance while fostering an engaged, collaborative culture.

If you're passionate about developing people, solving complex operational challenges, and leading with purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

As Area Manager, you'll provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for four veterinary hospitals in Calgary. You'll work closely with hospital leadership teams to ensure exceptional patient care, outstanding client service, engaged associates, and strong financial performance.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leadership & Operations

• Lead, coach and mentor Hospital Managers while building high-performing teams.
• Partner with hospital leadership to ensure hospitals are appropriately staffed and operating efficiently.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement across all hospitals.
• Support organizational initiatives including CareClub, DISC, onboarding, and leadership development.
• Serve as the primary operational resource for hospitals while maintaining regular on-site presence.
• Foster strong relationships with Medical Operations, the Regional Operations Director, and VCA Support Office teams.

Financial Leadership

• Develop annual operating budgets and business plans.
• Monitor financial performance, analyze trends, and identify opportunities for growth.
• Review key performance indicators and implement action plans to achieve business objectives.
• Prepare monthly financial reports and provide recommendations to regional leadership.
• Support capital planning, equipment investments, and business case development.

People Leadership

• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain exceptional leaders.
• Lead performance management, succession planning, and associate development.
• Partner with Human Resources on employee relations, compensation, and compliance matters.
• Promote a culture focused on engagement, accountability, and continuous learning.

Client Experience & Community Engagement

• Champion an exceptional client experience across every hospital.
• Support local marketing initiatives and promote VCA Canada programs including CareClub, Pet Insurance, Pets Pantry, and Shelter & Rescue partnerships.
• Represent VCA Canada within the local veterinary community and build strong relationships with WCVM, veterinary technician colleges, and industry partners.

Administrative & Compliance

• Ensure operational policies, regulatory requirements, and hospital standards are consistently maintained.
• Oversee inventory management, reporting, controlled drug compliance, invoicing, accounts receivable, and operational processes.
• Monitor hospital maintenance, scheduling, and workflow efficiencies.

What You'll Bring

• Minimum 5 years of multi-site or operational management experience preferably within the veterinary industry
• Experience leading 10 or more direct reports
• Demonstrated success managing budgets and financial performance
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving abilities
• Experience leading organizational change and driving operational improvements
• Ability to analyze business performance and make data-driven decisions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and business management software
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams

Qualifications

• Inspires trust and builds strong relationships
• Leads with integrity, accountability, and empathy
• Enjoys mentoring leaders and developing talent
• Thinks strategically while remaining hands-on
• Stays calm under pressure and adapts quickly to changing priorities
• Has a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Loves making a positive impact for people, pets, and the communities we serve

What We Can Offer You

At VCA Canada, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day while leading exceptional teams that care for pets and the people who love them.

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Annual bonus program
• RRSP Employer 5% Match Program
• Opportunities for career growth within one of Canada's largest veterinary networks
• Leadership development and ongoing professional learning
• A culture built on collaboration, wellness, and appreciation
• Community involvement through VCA Canada charitable initiatives
• Generous personal pet care discounts
• Exclusive wellness programs and employee discounts

Our Story

VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighborhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy.

In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, solidifying an even stronger commitment to ensuring the strength and stability of the veterinary profession and our commitment to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers.

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