Director of Veterinary Services

PDSA; Shrewsbury; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent veterinary charity is seeking a Director of Veterinary Services to lead nationwide operations and drive strategic initiatives. The role requires substantial leadership experience, particularly in managing complex service delivery across multiple sites. Responsibilities include ensuring high clinical standards and contributing to decision-making within the Senior Leadership Team. Strong commercial acumen and ability to manage change are essential. The position offers a rewarding work environment focused on improving veterinary care for pets in need.

Benefits

Car allowance of £5,500 annually

25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

Generous pension options

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Retail and lifestyle discounts

Enhanced family leave policies

Discount on Pet Insurance

Access to private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Substantial operational leadership experience within a service delivery environment.
• Experience leading major change initiatives in complex, multi-site settings.
• Strong accountability for clinical standards and governance.

Responsibilities

• Shape and implement strategic initiatives for nationwide veterinary services.
• Lead service delivery and operational teams across multiple locations.
• Ensure alignment with business plans while delivering pragmatic veterinary services.

Skills

Leadership experience

Operational management

Change management

Commercial acumen

Job description

Director of Veterinary Services

• Location UK Wide
• Salary: Competitive Salary
• Contract Type: 35 hours per week
• Position Type: Full Time Permanent

About Us

For over a century, PDSA has provided vital veterinary care to pets belonging to people in financial hardship. We are now on a journey to expand our reach, supporting even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future‑focused PDSA.

Together, we will build a stronger organisation to ensure our services continue to help those who need us most for the next hundred years. If you’re ready to make a real difference and be part of a team creating positive change, we want you to join us.

The Role

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity to join our Senior Leadership Team as Director of Veterinary Services. In this role you will collaborate closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Veterinary Advisor and Executive Leadership Team to shape and implement strategic initiatives that drive efficiency, elevate quality, expand accessibility and enhance client satisfaction across our nationwide veterinary services.

With 46 PDSA Pet Hospitals and clinics delivering more than 2.2 million veterinary treatments annually, supported by over 2,000 employees and 2,000 volunteers, no other charity matches our scale or impact on people and their pets in their time of need.

As Director of Veterinary Services, you will play a central role in defining the future of PDSA’s veterinary operations. You will lead service delivery and operational teams through the full employee lifecycle, developing high‑performing teams and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. You will directly manage seven senior leaders and oversee more than 1,600 colleagues across our Pet Hospitals and clinics. You will ensure alignment with our business plan while delivering a pragmatic veterinary service to those most in need.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will inspire collaboration, compassion and excellence, ensuring our veterinary services remain sustainable, efficient and aligned with PDSA’s overarching goals.

About you

As Director of Veterinary Services, you will provide senior leadership for PDSA’s UK‑wide, multi‑site veterinary service, playing a pivotal role in delivering our charitable mission through consistently high standards of care, strong clinical governance and an excellent client experience. This is a role of significant scale and complexity, requiring a highly visible leader who can set clear direction and translate strategy into measurable delivery across multiple sites and teams.

Sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to decision‑making that shapes PDSA more broadly, bringing a strong operational and clinical perspective to organisational priorities, risk, performance and transformation. While the day‑to‑day focus remains leading veterinary services at a senior level, the impact of the role extends across the charity, supporting sustainable, joined‑up decisions that maximise our reach and impact.

We are looking for an innovative, values‑led leader who can modernise services, champion new ways of working, embed a culture of continuous improvement and have impact beyond their direct area of responsibility. You will use data, insight and best practice to strengthen performance, improve consistency and lead large‑scale change, ensuring our services remain accessible, effective and sustainable while maintaining the highest standards of professional practice and animal welfare.

You will bring substantial operational leadership experience within a service delivery environment, including leading major change initiatives in complex, multi‑site settings. You will take clear accountability for clinical standards and governance, ensuring quality, safety and compliance are embedded consistently, and that risk is actively managed across a national footprint.

Strong commercial acumen is essential. You will be accountable for budgets, resource allocation and financial planning, making confident, evidence‑based decisions that deliver value for money and long‑term sustainability while protecting quality and outcomes. You will be comfortable shaping investment choices, improving productivity and optimising resources to maximise impact for pets and the people who love them.

This is a UK‑wide leadership role requiring extensive travel to maintain visibility, engagement and strong connection with teams and services.

Rewards, support and benefits

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people‑focused culture, we also offer a range of benefits, including:

• Car allowance £5,500 per annum
• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days.
• Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.
• Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.
• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.
• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support
• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.
• Access to Vitality Private Medical Insurance single cover with the option to upgrade to cover family members.
• 15% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.

If you have any questions regarding your application, please reach out to us at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to help.

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