Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Medivet Group; Horsham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Medivet Faygate 24-Hour Hospital is seeking a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to oversee a skilled team and enhance clinical practices. This pivotal role offers the chance to lead in a vibrant hospital known for delivering exceptional veterinary care, supported by advanced facilities. Ideal candidates should have at least five years of UK clinical experience and a passion for leadership and team development.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance from day one

Health cash plan from day one

Life Assurance 3 x salary

5 weeks’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 6 weeks

Clinical CPD: £1,500 per year plus 3 days’ paid leave

Funded certificate opportunities

Interest free Season Ticket Loan

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ UK clinical experience required.
• Demonstrable clinical leadership skills.
• Experience in implementing a progressive clinical culture.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional clinical care and engage with clients.
• Mentor and develop team members, enhancing their skills.
• Maximize commercial performance alongside the Practice Manager.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Exceptional patient care

Client communication

Team mentorship

Commercial performance

Education

RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon

Job description

Are you a confident and experienced veterinary surgeon who thrives in a busy hospital environment? Do you have a passion for leading teams and shaping the future of clinical practice? Medivet Faygate 24-Hour Hospital is seeking a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our dedicated team and help guide the continued growth of this flagship hospital.

Set amidst acres of rolling woodland and tranquil countryside, Medivet Faygate offers a truly unique setting — surrounded by wildlife, yet within easy reach of the South Downs National Park and the stunning Jurassic coastline. Despite its peaceful location, the hospital is a vibrant, high-performing hub known for delivering market-leading care to our patients and clients.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced veterinary surgeon with a minimum of five years’ UK clinical experience to step into a pivotal leadership role. You’ll work alongside a friendly and highly skilled team, helping to coordinate clinical workflow, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the practice. Excellent time management and a proactive, collaborative approach to team leadership will be key to your success in this role.

Our hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical facilities, including digital radiography, dental radiography, multiparameter anaesthetic monitoring, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, full in-house laboratory, CT scanner, and two dedicated theatres. Patient wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, supported by thoughtful design elements such as separate cat and dog wards, a dedicated isolation area, and species-specific waiting areas to ensure the highest standards of care.

You’ll be leading a warm and supportive team committed to clinical excellence and continuous improvement. As one of Medivet’s 24-hour centres, Faygate also plays a key role in our broader network, offering referral-level facilities and opportunities to work on complex and varied cases.

If you’re ready to lead a talented and passionate team in a thriving hospital environment — with the autonomy to make a real impact on both clinical standards and team culture — we’d love to hear from you.

For a friendly, informal conversation or more information, please contact [e-mail].

Key Benefits

• Private Medical Insurance from day one.
• Health cash plan from day one (covering dental, physio and optical services) with 24/7 Private GP Service.
• Life Assurance 3 x salary.
• Access to 24-hour counselling by phone or in person should you feel you need support.
• Quarterly Lead Vet Contribution Scheme with the potential to earn up to 20% on top of your salary.
• 5 weeks’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 6 weeks with length of service.
• An additional ‘Day for You’, a paid day’s leave for you to use as you wish.
• Clinical CPD: £1,500 per year plus 3 days’ paid leave
• Internal CPD and access to Clinical Communities
• Funded certificate opportunities.
• VDS, RCVS and BVA fees paid.
• Sabbatical based on length of service.
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discounts on Medivet products and services.
• Support for Certificates of Sponsorship for a Tier 2 (General) Visa and relocation support.

Role Accountabilities

Exceptional care is at the heart of everything we do at Medivet. That’s the care for our patients, our clients and for each other – we really want to make a positive difference through every interaction we have.
In this role you will:

• Deliver exceptional clinical care to your patients during consultations and procedures.
• Provide exceptional care to your clients, giving clear updates on patients.
• Deliver professional excellence, observing the highest standards of regulatory, practice and operational compliance.
• Prepare accurate estimates for clients, ensuring payment and minimising debt.
• Work closely with the Practice Manager to maximise commercial performance with a focus on key measures.
• Engage, mentor and develop your team, enhancing their skills and utilising these in the most effective way.
• Inspire your team, sharing new or evolving practice standards and changes to processes.
• Complete clinical handover and arrange transfer of any patient needing out of hours or enhanced care.
• Pro-actively support and share clinical best practice within and across practices and the wider Medivet community.

Your Skills and Experience

• RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon.
• Able to demonstrate clinical leadership skills.
• Experienced in delivering exceptional care to both patients and clients.
• An understanding and appreciation of exceptional care and how this improves the client experience.
• Experience of implementing a progressive clinical culture.
• Experience of delivering strong commercial performance through effective allocation of clinical activity.
• Experienced in working effectively as part of a team.
• Experienced in using coaching and influencing skills to get the best out of every colleague.

About Us

Medivet is a leading veterinary care provider, with practices across the UK including a number of 24-hour veterinary centres and referral centres. We also have a growing presence overseas with practices in France, Germany and Spain.

We’re proud to support a large, connected and growing community of colleagues who provide exceptional care that’s always there. That’s more than a strapline for us, we truly believe every interaction we have matters and that we can make a real difference. This is as true for our colleagues as it is for our patients and clients. Being part of Medivet means being part of a forward-thinking and caring environment with the very best equipment and treatment options available, and the very best treatment for you as a valued member of the team.

This is the home of talented people like you who want to stand out in their field and whose compassion for animals goes way beyond their job. Join us and be part of our exciting plans for the future.