Clinical Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Axe Valley Vets; Wedmore; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Private medical insurance

Parental leave

RCVS membership

VDS cover

Cycle to work

Green car scheme

Retail discounts

Pet care discount

Job summary

Axe Valley Vets, a six-site small animal practice in Somerset, seeks a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to drive clinical standards while maintaining hands-on care. You will provide clinical leadership, oversee governance, mentor colleagues, and help shape the future of the practice across busy sites with a strong team culture.

This rare leadership role combines strategic governance with day-to-day clinical work, ensuring outstanding patient and client care and continued clinical excellence across the

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a veterinary practice.
• Strong clinical expertise with the ability to manage complex cases.
• Proven mentoring and development of others.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience contributing to clinical governance, audits and quality improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical standards, governance and delivery of patient and client care.
• Provide clinical leadership to the veterinary team and oversee complex cases.
• Support strategic direction and drive continuous improvement across sites.
• Mentor and develop colleagues, fostering a collaborative culture.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial acumen

People leadership

Clinical expertise

Mentoring

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Veterinary degree

RCVS registration

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK's number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

Axe Valley Vets is a six site, highly respected small animal practice set in semi-rural Somerset. If you're an experienced vet ready to shape the future of a well-established practice while continuing hands-on work, this could be the perfect next step with the support of an experienced management team.

This role offers the best of both worlds. Around 80% of your time will be spent in practice, working across a varied and rewarding caseload, from consults to surgery. Alongside this, you will play a key leadership role, supporting and developing your colleagues, guiding clinical discussions and helping to build confidence in less experienced vets and new graduates. You’ll also have the opportunity to influence how the practice grows and evolves, contributing to clinical standards, continuous improvement and a strong, collaborative culture across our busy sites.

You’ll be joining a genuinely friendly, experienced and supportive team of vets, RVNs and client care colleagues who enjoy working together and supporting one another. The practice is well equipped with digital and dental X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy and multiparameter monitoring, giving you everything you need to deliver high-quality care. We are also having a considerable refurbishment at our main site in Blackford in October 2026.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a true leadership role while staying close to what you love most, delivering excellent clinical care.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As Lead Veterinary Surgeon, you will be the most senior veterinary clinician within the practice, responsible for leading clinical standards, governance, and the delivery of outstanding patient and client care.

You’ll provide clinical leadership to the veterinary team, oversee complex cases, and act as the primary source of clinical guidance and decision-making within the practice. Working closely with the senior practice leadership team, you’ll support the strategic direction of the practice and drive continuous improvement in clinical quality, outcomes, and ways of working.

Responsibilites and working hours

• We are looking for a senior operational leader with strong commercial acumen and a people-centered leadership approach.
• Proven experience in a senior or leadership role within veterinary practice
• Strong clinical expertise with the confidence to support complex case discussions and decision-making.
• A collaborative and people-focused leadership style, with experience mentoring and developing others.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Working 40 hours per week across either 4 or 5 days
• Working a share of 1:8 late vet and 1: 10 Saturdays

You’ll oversee clinical governance, quality improvement and performance across services, working closely with senior operational leaders to drive excellent patient outcomes, sustainable service delivery and a strong clinical culture. This role combines strategic leadership with accountability for clinical standards, people development and continuous improvement.

This is an ideal role for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon looking to combine hands-on clinical work with the chance to shape and lead a well-established practice.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are a highly experienced veterinary surgeon with strong clinical expertise and a passion for leadership and clinical excellence. You’ll bring:

• A Veterinary degree and registration with the RCVS with significant experience in small or mixed animal practice, including advanced surgical and medical capability
• Proven experience in mentoring, coaching, and supporting veterinary colleagues
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
• Experience contributing to or leading clinical governance, audits, and quality improvement initiatives
• The ability to manage clinical complaints and provide professional guidance in complex situations
• Professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to the highest standards of patient and client care

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we're committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities across primary care, referral, leadership, and specialist roles
• Funded learning and development including CPD allowance and access to IVC academy training centres & role-relevant courses
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet
• Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches, and peer networks
• Support to develop clinical interests and expand your capabilities
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' holiday including bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy
• BVA membership, VDS cover & RCVS fees
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

We're committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

Up to £75,000 FTE DOE