Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Blythwood Vets; Bushey, Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four-day week

No on-call

Relocation support up to £5,000

Five weeks’ holiday

Job summary

Blythwood Vets in Bushey is seeking a Lead Vet to combine leadership with hands-on surgery and consultations. You will shape clinical standards, mentor colleagues and steer how the practice develops, while maintaining a varied caseload.

Working mainly across Bushey and Hatch End, the role offers a four-day week, no on-call, and strong nursing support. Relocation assistance up to £5,000 is available for eligible direct candidates.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of small animal veterinary experience in UK practice.
• Proven leadership, mentoring or clinical leadership experience.
• Excellent communication with clients and colleagues.
• Able to balance hands-on clinical work with strategic leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinically while maintaining hands-on surgery and consultations.
• Shape clinical standards and mentor team members.
• Manage a 40% consulting / 60% surgery caseload across Bushey and Hatch End.
• Support development of colleagues and refine practice protocols.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Clinical excellence

Communication

Decision making

Job description

£70,000 to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus benefits and relocation support of up to £5,000 for eligible direct candidates.

Full Time
Part Time

You must currently have the right to work in UK.

Lead clinically while staying hands-on with surgery and consultations

Shape standards, mentor colleagues and influence how the practice develops

Enjoy a four-day week, no on-call and London less than 20 minutes away

Step into a genuine clinical leadership role without leaving hands-on practice behind. You’ll shape standards, mentor colleagues and work alongside an experienced team while keeping a varied consulting and surgical caseload. With strong nursing support, visiting clinical expertise, a four-day week and no on-call, there is room to lead well and still enjoy being a vet.

About us

At Blythwood Vets, you will join a long-established first opinion small animal practice where clinical standards, collaboration and continuity of care matter. Our main clinical hubs are in Bushey and Hatch End, supported by an experienced team of Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs and client care colleagues who know the practice and its clients well.

Our nurses take an active role in patient care and inpatient monitoring, while vets are encouraged to discuss cases, share knowledge and ask for another perspective when it will improve the outcome. Visiting expertise in ultrasonography and orthopaedics adds another layer of support for more complex cases, and a high proportion of insured patients gives you scope to investigate and manage cases thoroughly.

The atmosphere is professional without being stiff. This is a sociable team that takes its medicine seriously, enjoys working together and wants its next clinical leader to add to that culture rather than simply manage it.

Really good experience with the vet we saw. He suggested a diet change before going ahead with expensive tests. The reception team were also lovely. – Helen Phillips – Google Review

About this role

This is a genuine clinical leadership role for an experienced vet who wants more influence without giving up the hands‑on work that made them choose veterinary medicine in the first place.

Working mainly across Bushey and Hatch End, you will partner with the Directors to shape clinical standards, support the development of colleagues and identify practical ways to improve how the practice works. You will have room to bring ideas forward, help refine protocols and turn good clinical discussions into meaningful change.

You will also remain firmly part of the clinical team. The caseload is approximately 40% consulting and 60% surgery, giving you substantial time with patients while you mentor colleagues and help guide the wider team.

Previous Lead Vet experience is not essential. If you are already the person colleagues turn to for advice, regularly mentor others or naturally take responsibility for clinical standards, this could be the right next step.

About you

You will suit this role if you are an experienced, confident clinician who enjoys helping other people do their best work. You will be comfortable making decisions, open to discussing cases and approachable enough that colleagues feel able to bring questions and ideas to you.

You will also bring:

• A collaborative, positive leadership style
• Confidence across a varied first opinion consulting and surgical caseload
• Strong communication skills with both clients and colleagues
• A genuine interest in mentoring, coaching and developing others
• The initiative to identify opportunities for improvement and help make them happen
• Previous line management, mentoring or clinical leadership experience, highly desirable
• At least five years of small animal veterinary experience, ideally within UK practice

Bushey gives you a quieter, greener base while keeping London within easy reach. The area has a village feel, independent cafés, green spaces and a strong local community, while Watford is only minutes away for shopping, restaurants and leisure.

Watford Junction offers direct trains into central London in under 20 minutes, making the area a practical option if you want more space without losing easy access to the city. Relocation support of up to £5,000 is available for eligible direct candidates.

Our offer

The salary is £70,000 to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience.

The full‑time roster is 40 hours across four days, with one in three Saturdays, one in six full weekends and no on‑call. Part‑time applications are also considered.

You will also receive:

• Five weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays and your birthday off, pro rata for part‑time
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Funded external CPD and access to Linnaeus online CPD
• Career progression opportunities across the wider Linnaeus network
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Employee assistance and wider wellbeing support
• Eyecare vouchers, annual flu vaccination and cycle to work scheme
• Relocation support of up to £5,000 for eligible direct candidates

If you want to take more ownership of clinical standards and people development while continuing to consult, operate and follow your own cases, this role gives you room to do both.