Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Inspiring Vet Care; Honiton; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

6.6 weeks’ holiday

Cycle to Work

Pet care discounts

RCVS fees coverage

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care’s New Street Vets in Honiton, Devon seeks a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to manage a busy first-opinion practice, mentoring the team and guiding clinical development. You’ll handle a varied caseload across cats, dogs, rabbits, and small furries, with opportunities to focus on surgery and emergency care.

The role offers 40-hour weeks, no out-of-hours or on-call commitments, and a path to clinical certificates as the practice grows with you.

Qualifications

• Experience leading veterinary teams and mentoring colleagues.
• Strong clinical skills across companion animals and small mammals.
• Willingness to pursue clinical development and certificates.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on clinical work with cats, dogs, rabbits and small mammals, including surgery and medical cases.
• Mentor and coach junior vets and RVNs, supporting professional development.
• Contribute to shaping the future of New Street Vets while delivering high-quality patient care.

Job description

Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

New Street Vets - Honiton, Devon

Salary up to £80,000 DOE, Welcome Bonus up to £5,000 and Relocation Allowance up to £5,000

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

New Street Vets, part of ivc, is looking for a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly and experienced team. This is an opportunity to combine hands-on clinical work with mentoring, coaching and helping shape the future of the practice.

This is an ideal role for an experienced vet who enjoys supporting others, sharing knowledge and making a difference while continuing to develop your own clinical interests.

A Clinical Role With Variety

As a busy first-opinion practice, no two days are the same. You'll see a varied caseload of cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries, the occasional chicken and even local wildlife.

You’ll enjoy a great mix of consultations, surgery and medical cases, with the flexibility to focus more heavily on surgery if that's where your interests lie. There's also exposure to emergency and critical care, giving you plenty of clinical variety and opportunities to use and develop your skills.

Lead, Mentor and Make a Difference

You’ll be part of an experienced team of Veterinary Surgeons and RVNs, supported by a dedicated Practice Manager.

As Lead Vet, you'll have the opportunity to mentor and coach colleagues, share your experience and help shape how the practice continues to develop. You'll have a voice in the future of New Street Vets while still enjoying the clinical work you love.

We're also keen to support your own development, whether that's pursuing a clinical certificate or developing a particular area of interest.

A Practice Investing in Its Future

Housed in a charming converted property close to Honiton's high street, New Street Vets combines a welcoming community feel with modern clinical facilities, including dedicated consulting rooms, dental radiography, a recently installed ultrasound machine and a comprehensive in-house laboratory.

With an exciting refurbishment underway, it's a particularly good time to join as we continue investing in the practice and the team.

A Rota That Gives You Balance

Full-time hours are 40 per week across four or five days, with part-time applications welcomed from 30 hours. You'll work just 1:4 Saturday mornings, 9am-1pm, with no out-of-hours or on-call commitments.

Discover Life in Honiton

Nestled in East Devon, Honiton offers the perfect blend of market town charm and countryside living. Surrounded by rolling hills and just a short drive from the Jurassic Coast, you'll have easy access to beautiful beaches, scenic walks and endless outdoor adventures. The town is known for its variety of shops and cafés with a strong sense of community, while excellent transport links make Exeter, Taunton and the wider South West easily accessible.

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities across primary care, referral, leadership and specialist roles
• Funded learning and development including CPD allowance and access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet
• Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches and peer networks
• Support to develop clinical interests and expand your capabilities
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy
• BVA membership, VDS cover and RCVS fees
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Salary up to £80,000 DOE