Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Emergency Out of Hours

IVC Evidensia Group; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£10,000 Recognition Bonus

Relocation Allowance up to £5,000

Seven weeks annual leave (pro rata)

CPD allowance £1,875 + 35 CPD hours

RCVS/VECCS/VDS cover

Private medical insurance

Family-friendly pay policies

Leadership Development Programme

AdvantEdge training access

Pension contributions 5%/3%

Pet care discounts up to 50%

Job summary

Vets Now Emergency is seeking a Lead Veterinary Surgeon for our Gateshead clinic to oversee emergency and out-of-hours care. You will lead by example in high-pressure ECC situations, mentor the team and drive clinical standards across the clinic.

This leadership role offers a competitive salary up to £90,000 DOE, a £10,000 recognition bonus, and a relocation allowance up to £5,000, plus generous CPD and pension benefits. Flexible arrangements may be discussed to support work-life balance.

Responsibilities

• Driving and upholding clinical standards across the clinic
• Supporting the growth, training and wellbeing of your veterinary team
• Identifying clinical development opportunities and shaping team progression
• Championing innovation and service improvement within the clinic

Job description

Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Emergency Out of Hours

Vets Now Doncaster are welcoming applications from Out of Hours (OOH) Veterinary Surgeons with a passion for Emergency & Critical Care to lead their team on a full-time basis. Vets Now is the UK’s leading provider of emergency veterinary care, with a nationwide network of out of hours clinics and 24/7 emergency hospitals. As part of Inspiring Vet Care, our teams make a difference to pets and their owners when they need us most.

At Vets Now, we believe that when your purpose is to make a difference, you deserve a team that shares your passion. We want to find someone who can lead from the front, inspiring clinical excellence and guiding a high-performing and collaborative team that supports pets and people when they need it most. In return, we can offer a £10,000 recognition bonus (pro-rata) and up to £5000 relocation allowance for the right candidate.

A large borough, Gateshead sits on the River Tyne and features many famous landmarks like the Angel of the North. With close links to the MetroCentre for shopping and the stunning Northumberland coast and countryside, rent is more affordable in Gateshead than nearby Newcastle.

Lead with Clinical Excellence

As Lead Vet, you’ll lead by example by blending clinical expertise with mentorship and collaboration. You’ll set the tone for quality care, lead in emergency situations, and support the development of your fellow clinicians. You’ll have responsibility for:

• Driving and upholding clinical standards across the clinic
• Supporting the growth, training and wellbeing of your veterinary team
• Identifying clinical development opportunities and shaping team progression
• Championing innovation and service improvement within the clinic

This is more than a job. This is a vital leadership role with real impact where your guidance helps shape the future of ECC, while making a difference to patients, clients, and colleagues every day.

Work-Life Balance That Works for You

This full-time role averages 40 hours per week, including:

• Weekday nights and 1:2 weekends (mix of nights and days)
• Night shifts 18:00–09:00, Saturday day 12:00–18:30 and Sunday day 08:30–18:30
• Shared bank holidays
• No more than three consecutive nights
• Protected time for leadership duties and meetings
• We understand that life outside of work matters too. That’s why we offer flexibility and can explore part-time arrangements, depending on clinic requirements because your balance is our priority.

Rewarding Work, Your Way

We look after you, so you can look after them, by offering a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Salary up to £90,000 DOE
• £10,000 Recognition Bonus
• Up to £5,000 Relocation Allowance
• Seven weeks pro rata annual leave
• £1,875 CPD allowance plus 35 paid CPD hours
• RCVS fees, VECCS membership, and VDS cover
• Private medical insurance
• Family-friendly policies – enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Leadership Development Programme
• Access to our AdvantEdge clinical training platform
• Standard pension contributions (5% employee / 3% employer)
• Up to 50% discounted pet care

Support That Sets You Up for Success

You’re never alone at Vets Now: on-shift you’ll work alongside a registered vet nurse, an animal care assistant and a receptionist, and you can contact any of our clinics or referral centres across the UK at any time, day or night, if needing to discuss a particular case or share ideas.

You’ll also be supported by our Support Office in Dunfermline, where our teams work behind the scenes to help you thrive. Our Call Handlers and Customer Care Advisors ensure you can focus on what matters most to your patients.

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

Vets Now Emergency, Gateshead

Stoneygate Lane, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 0LX, United Kingdom

At IVC Evidensia we are a committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

Any questions before applying?

Speak to Anne Longmire from our recruitment team who would be happy to help you with any questions you have before applying for this role.