Head Veterinary Surgeon | £80,000 + Welcome & Retention Package - Lincoln

Veterinary Staff; Lincoln; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£1,000 recognition payment per quarter

£5,000 relocation allowance

£5,000 Golden Hello

£5,000 Golden Thank You after 18m

Job summary

The Vet Office in Lincoln is seeking an experienced Head Veterinary Surgeon to lead a growing small animal practice. This is a hands‑on clinical leadership role, mentoring an established team and maintaining high clinical standards.

You will oversee day‑to‑day veterinary operations, deliver exceptional patient care, and collaborate with neighbouring clinicians and support staff to drive growth and performance. Competitive salary and relocation packages accompany the role.

Qualifications

• MRCVS registration or eligible.
• Significant experience in small animal practice.
• Previous leadership or mentoring experience is desirable.
• Strong communication and people management skills.
• Passion for delivering high‑quality patient care.
• Interest in developing both people and clinical standards.
• Special clinical interest welcomed but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the veterinary team.
• Mentor and develop colleagues.
• Deliver outstanding clinical care.
• Drive clinical excellence and best practice.
• Support case discussions and clinical decision‑making.
• Help build a positive, collaborative culture.
• Work closely with Head Nurse and Practice Management.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

People management

Clinical excellence

Small animal surgery

Education

MRCVS registered

Job description

Are you an experienced Veterinary Surgeon ready to lead an established team and help shape the future of a thriving small animal practice?

We are recruiting a Head Veterinary Surgeon for a modern, purpose-built practice in Lincoln. This is a fantastic opportunity for a confident clinical leader who enjoys mentoring others, driving high clinical standards, and working within a collaborative environment.

This practice has recently undergone an exciting transformation and is now rebuilding its permanent veterinary team with ambitious professionals committed to delivering outstanding patient care.

Why Join This Practice?

Designed with both patient care and team wellbeing in mind, this purpose‑built clinic offers an excellent working environment with state‑of‑the‑art facilities and a loyal client base that values high‑quality veterinary medicine.

The practice now has a stable and highly motivated nursing and client care team, creating the ideal environment for an experienced Head Vet to lead the next stage of its growth.

The Team

You will lead and work alongside:

• An experienced permanent Veterinary Surgeon.
• Highly experienced Head Nurse leading an exceptional nursing team.
• Four experienced RVNs with advanced Schedule 3 skills including:
  • Orthopaedics
  • Complex soft tissue surgery
  • Stage 1 dental procedures
  • Nurse consultations
  • Diagnostic imaging
• Four experienced Client Experience Coordinators.
• Weekend Animal Care Assistants.
• Ongoing clinical collaboration from neighbouring experienced vets with interests in:
  • Surgery
  • Internal Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
• Monthly support from a visiting Cardiologist.

The Role

As Head Veterinary Surgeon, you will play a key role in rebuilding and developing the veterinary team while maintaining exceptional clinical standards.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and supporting the veterinary team.
• Mentoring and developing colleagues.
• Delivering outstanding clinical care.
• Driving clinical excellence and best practice.
• Supporting case discussions and clinical decision‑making.
• Helping to build a positive, collaborative culture.
• Working closely with the Head Nurse and Practice Management team.

This is a hands‑on clinical leadership role where you'll continue to enjoy a varied caseload while influencing the future direction of the practice.

Candidate Requirements

• MRCVS registered (or eligible).
• Significant experience in small animal practice.
• Previous leadership or mentoring experience is desirable.
• Strong communication and people management skills.
• Passion for delivering high‑quality patient care.
• Interest in developing both people and clinical standards.
• A special clinical interest is welcomed but not essential.

Salary & Benefits

Salary

From £80,000 (depending on experience)

• Salary reviewed twice per year.

Financial Package

• £1,000 recognition payment per quarter (guaranteed for the first two quarters)
• £5,000 relocation allowance
• £5,000 Golden Hello
• £5,000 Golden Thank You after 18 months

Why This Role?

Purpose‑built, modern practice

Excellent facilities and equipment

Loyal and engaged client base

Highly skilled nursing team

Strong support from neighbouring experienced clinicians and visiting specialists

Genuine opportunity to shape and grow the veterinary team

Competitive salary and one of the strongest relocation and retention packages available

Excellent career progression within a supportive organisation

Apply Today

If you’re an experienced Veterinary Surgeon looking to take the next step into a rewarding leadership role—or you’re already an established Head Vet seeking a fresh challenge—we’d love to hear from you.

The Vet Office

[e-mail] REF: Head Vet Lincoln