Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Emergency Out of Hours

IVC; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £90,000

Relocation allowance

CPD allowance

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions

VECCS membership

RCVS fees

Job summary

Vets Now is seeking a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to head the Emergency & Critical Care team at Doncaster. You will lead by example, blending clinical expertise with mentorship and collaboration to deliver outstanding patient care.

You’ll drive standards, support training and wellbeing, and push service improvements while guiding a high-performing team through busy nights and weekends. Relocation and a strong salary package are available.

Qualifications

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with leadership experience in ECC.
• Ability to mentor and guide a high-performing clinical team.
• Proven track record delivering clinical excellence in emergency settings.

Responsibilities

• Drive and uphold clinical standards across the clinic.
• Support growth, training and wellbeing of the veterinary team.
• Identify development opportunities and shape team progression.
• Champion innovation and service improvement within the clinic.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical excellence

Team development

Emergency care

Education

Qualified Veterinary Surgeon

Job description

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.

Ready to Lead with Purpose?

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.

£0 - £0 a year

Salary up to £90,000 DOE per annum