Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Veterinary Jobs Marketplace; Melton Mowbray; Remote; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave

Relocation support

RCVS and VDS fees paid

Life assurance

Electric car salary sacrifice scheme

Enhanced equal family leave

Extensive internal CPD

Funded external CPD

Support for further qualifications

Clinical Director pathway

Job summary

Kings Veterinary Centre in Melton Mowbray seeks an experienced Lead Veterinary Surgeon to partner with the Clinical Director, mentoring the team and guiding clinical governance.

This hands-on leadership role combines a varied small animal caseload with protected time for mentoring, governance and broader leadership responsibilities. A clear pathway to Clinical Director is available.

Qualifications

• Experienced small animal Veterinary Surgeon with leadership background.
• Must hold a postgraduate certificate.
• Good diagnostic reasoning and clinical governance.
• Mentor and develop veterinary professionals.
• Calm, collaborative leadership style in a busy hospital.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day clinical caseload and clinical governance.
• Provide guidance to veterinary colleagues and ensure high standards of care.
• Support rota planning, team wellbeing, and operational performance.
• Promote adherence to practice protocols and clinical decision-making.
• Develop a positive, supportive and accountable team culture.
• Contribute to strategic growth and leadership development of the hospital.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Decision making

Education

Postgraduate certificate

Job description

The salary for this role is up to £75,000 per annum + a wide range of attractive benefits

Full Time

You must currently have the right to work in UK.

Combine a varied caseload with protected leadership and mentoring time

Lead an experienced clinical team within a modern hospital equipped with CT

Develop towards Clinical Director with structured support and opportunity

Bring your clinical experience and leadership skills to a modern small animal hospital where you can mentor an established team, influence clinical standards and continue developing your own interests. With CT, a varied caseload, protected leadership time and a clear pathway towards Clinical Director, this role offers the resources and support to make a meaningful contribution.

About us

Kings Veterinary Centre is a purpose-built small animal hospital in Melton Mowbray, designed to support advanced clinical care within a collaborative and progressive environment.

Our hospital offers modern diagnostic and treatment facilities, including CT, alongside an experienced veterinary team, highly skilled nurses and strong administrative support. Our varied caseload extends from routine consultations and procedures to more complex cases, creating a rewarding environment for clinicians who value both clinical quality and continued development.

We already have six certificate holders across the business, including Advanced Practitioners in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. Further qualifications, professional interests and leadership development are actively encouraged and supported.

Kings Veterinary Centre is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary care organisation in the world. This provides access to a wide clinical network, specialist knowledge, professional development opportunities and comprehensive wellbeing support, while allowing our hospital to remain focused on its people, patients and local community.

When my cat became ill suddenly they saw him right away and started treatment. While he was in I was given updates. The staff that saw me yesterday were brilliant, I was an emotional wreck and they were so kind when dealing with me. Thank you to everyone who looked after Heathcliff, he is now home with us and his brother - Emma D - Google Review

About this role

We are looking for an experienced Lead Veterinary Surgeon to work in partnership with our Clinical Director, support the continued development of our clinical team and help guide the next stage of growth for our recently opened hospital.

This is a hands-on clinical leadership position that combines a varied small animal caseload with protected time for mentoring, clinical governance and broader leadership responsibilities.

You will oversee the day-to-day clinical caseload, provide guidance to veterinary colleagues and help ensure consistently high standards of patient care, clinical decision-making and client service.

Working closely with the Clinical Director and Practice Manager, you will:

• Provide approachable clinical leadership across the veterinary team
• Mentor and support colleagues, including graduate veterinarians
• Promote strong clinical governance and adherence to practice protocols
• Contribute to rota planning, team wellbeing and operational performance
• Help develop a positive, supportive and accountable team culture
• Support the strategic growth and continued development of the hospital
• Represent our clinical values across the wider Linnaeus network

You will have meaningful input into how the hospital develops, supported by an experienced clinical team and established resources across human resources, finance, health and safety, and practice operations.

For someone seeking further leadership progression, the role also offers a clear pathway towards a future Clinical Director position.

About you

You are an experienced small animal Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys combining clinical practice with mentoring, decision-making and team leadership.

Previous leadership experience is essential. As part of the requirements for our PSS Hospital status, you must also hold a postgraduate certificate.

You will bring:

• Confident clinical judgement and strong diagnostic reasoning
• The ability to provide clear direction and support to colleagues
• A genuine interest in mentoring and developing veterinary professionals
• An understanding of clinical governance and practice protocols
• A calm and considered approach within a busy hospital environment
• Clear, empathetic communication with colleagues and clients
• A collaborative leadership style that strengthens team culture
• A commitment to high standards of patient care and client service

You will be comfortable making informed clinical decisions while remaining approachable, supportive and open to the perspectives of those around you.

Melton Mowbray is a characterful Leicestershire market town surrounded by open countryside and well connected to Leicester, Nottingham and the wider East Midlands.

The area offers an appealing balance of town and country living, with local markets, independent businesses, schools, walking routes and welcoming communities. It provides space to enjoy life outside work while keeping larger regional centres within easy reach.

Relocation support is available for the successful applicant.

Our offer

The salary for this role is up to £75,000 per annum, depending on experience, with a welcome bonus of up to £5,000 available to direct applicants.

The position is based around a four-day working week, with shifts of either 8am to 6pm or 8.30am to 6.30pm. Protected leadership and administration time is built into your schedule, giving you dedicated space to manage responsibilities away from the clinical caseload.

There is no on-call commitment. Weekend and bank holiday daytime duties are shared equally across the team on a 1:5 rota.

We understand that important commitments outside work matter, and our diary is planned wherever possible to accommodate family events, personal responsibilities and unexpected situations.

In addition, you will receive:

• Five weeks' annual leave
• Bank holidays and birthday leave
• Relocation support
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Life assurance
• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Extensive internal CPD
• Funded external CPD
• Support for further qualifications
• A clear pathway towards Clinical Director

Lead Veterinary Surgeon