Head Veterinary Surgeon

CVS Vets; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RCVS & VDS fees paid in full

CPD allowance

33 days holiday (with buy/sell)

Relocation package

Vet Oracle telemedicine support

Wellbeing programme

Health cash plan

Staff pet care discounts

Job summary

CVS Vets in Barnstaple, North Devon, is seeking a Head Veterinary Surgeon to join our 4-vet team. The role is 40 hours per week, typically 4 days, with 1:6 Saturday rota (TOIL). Flexible/part-time options available.

You'll lead with mentoring, improve services, and balance clinical work with people leadership. We offer strong benefits and a supportive environment in beautiful North Devon.

Qualifications

• Evidence of confident leadership and mentoring skills.
• Experience in leading a veterinary team and driving clinical improvements.
• Ability to balance clinical work with people management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and nurture a close-knit 4-vet team.
• Maintain high clinical standards while supporting professional development.
• Drive ongoing improvement and support day-to-day practice operations.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Team management

Clinical excellence

Job description

Are you a forward thinking andcollaborative team player? Are you keen to provide best practice and continue to learn?

We have a rare opportunity for a Head Veterinary Surgeon to join our practice in Barnstaple, North Devon.

This role is 40 hours per week and we normally split this over a 4 day week. 1:6 participation in the Saturday rota is required (TOIL for this). Flexible/part time options available. Please do let us know what you are looking for and we may be able to accommodate you!

Argyll is based inbeautiful North Devon in an area of outstanding natural beauty with stunning coastline, which our team love exploring, and offers a wide range of leisure activities.

About You

We are looking for aconfident, experienced Vet, who has a passion for mentoring and leadership and a drive for implementing ongoing improvement. This would be a great opportunity as a step up for you to lead and nurture a friendly, close knit, 4 Vet team. Ideally we are looking for someone with a surgical bias.

As a leader, we want you to bring energy and enthusiasm along with confidence and professionalism and be able to share this with the team and clients. You should have a genuine desire to support and promote development in your fellow vets. We are looking for someone who prides themselves on providing great leadership and coaching to their own teams coupled with a consistently high level of service to their clients.

This is arole which will allow you to maintain your clinical skills whilst utilising and developing people leadership and business management skills. Experience is not critical as full support and training will be available.Your ability to gain trust and fit with the team in combination with a desire to learn more about the day to day running of a practice.

The benefits

At CVS, we know that care for our patients starts with dedicated people like you. That's why we invest in your growth and your future. When you join our team, you'll receive:

• RCVS & VDS fees paid in full
• Salary up to £72,000 DOE
• Generous CPD allowance, BSAVA library access, 450+ courses, and fully funded postgraduate qualifications (CertAVP, PgCert) with tuition, exams, and study leave covered
• Up to 33 days holiday (with option to buy/sell)
• Relocation package and visa fees covered (where applicable)
• Access to Vet Oracle telemedicine specialists, Advanced Clinical Services Network and Regional Clinical Leads for case support and mentoring
• Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and enhanced family leave policies
• Staff pet care discounts – 50% off services, MiPet food and medications

Join us at CVS

We'recommitted to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We foster an inclusive and equitable workplace, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up.

Wellbeingsupport is always available, from monthly line-manager check-ins to our network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets and personal mentors..

We offer leading benefits and policies, such as our Health Shield which provides support for physical and mental health.

Weprioritise investment in our facilities, delivering significant enhancements across numerous practices through a dedicated multi-million-pound improvement fund.

Our aim is to free up clinical colleagues to do what they do best, so we offer practices a wide range of operational support. Central expert HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance, procurement teams are on hand to support with all aspects relating to the smooth running of each practice.