Practice Director

IVC Evidensia Group; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks holiday including bank + 1

Private medical insurance

Enhanced family leave

Cycle to Work

Retail discounts

Reduced-cost veterinary care

Job summary

Dragon Vets in Prestbury Park, Cheltenham seeks a Director of Practice to lead the main hospital and four branches. You will work with the Lead Vet to shape the future of the practice and drive operational and clinical excellence across sites.

Located in Cheltenham, the practice features advanced equipment and a substantial team, including 16 veterinarians and a dedicated out-of-hours unit. The role requires strategic leadership, financial oversight, and a commitment to high-quality client care

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience with accountability for operational and commercial performance.
• Strong financial and business management, including planning and P&L oversight.
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading through change and driving cultural initiatives.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Veterinary/healthcare experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational, commercial, and financial performance of the veterinary practice(s), working in partnership with the Leaders to achieve business and clinical objectives.
• Drive business growth through strategic planning, continuous improvement initiatives, and effective management of practice performance and budgets.
• Build, engage, and develop a high‑performing team culture by providing leadership, coaching, and effective resource management.
• Ensure the delivery of exceptional clinical standards, regulatory compliance, and outstanding client and patient care across all locations.
• Champion a safe, compliant, and collaborative working environment while supporting the implementation of company goals and best practices.

Skills

Senior leadership

Financial management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Job description

Dragon Vets - Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, South West

Director of Practice - Dragon Vets
Salary up to £60,000 DOE
Closing date: 2nd November Subject to change

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.

We have a unique opportunity for a Director of Practice to lead our teams at Dragon Vets which is made up of our main hospital and 4 branches. You will work closely with the Lead Vet to shape the future of the practice.

Located in the heart of Cheltenham, renowned for horse racing and a thriving bar and restaurant scene, Dragon Vets is an established practice and has invested in specialist equipment including CT, DR, rigid and flexible endoscopy, high-end Doppler ultrasonography and well‑equipped operating facilities including laparoscopic kits and TPLO kits, and much more.

Practice Highlights

We have a team of 16 vets, including certificate holders with Advanced Practitioner status in Small Animal Surgery, Cardiology and Medicine, and value evidence‑based medicine with regular clinical discussions and readily available colleague support. We're also classed as a mid‑tier referral centre.

We function as more than a first‑opinion practice, often performing complex surgeries and treating intensive medical cases that may otherwise have been referred. Having been established for decades, we have a huge client base which comes with lots of variety in caseload.

We have a dedicated, separate out‑of‑hours team – Vets Now – based within the same building, enabling 24‑hour care. Our nursing team is made up of 17 RVNs and 4 SVNs in various stages of their training.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As Director of Practice , you will have overall responsibility for the operational, commercial and people performance of multiple practices, working closely with clinical leadership to deliver outstanding patient and client care.

You’ll set and execute the strategic direction of the practices, lead multidisciplinary teams, and ensure the delivery of high standards across operations, client experience and business performance. This role plays a critical part in shaping culture, driving results and supporting sustainable growth.

Working Pattern

• Working 40 hours per week
• Across Monday - Friday
• Travel across all sites required

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the operational, commercial, and financial performance of the veterinary practice(s), working in partnership with the Leaders to achieve business and clinical objectives.
• Drive business growth through strategic planning, continuous improvement initiatives, and effective management of practice performance and budgets.
• Build, engage, and develop a high‑performing team culture by providing leadership, coaching, and effective resource management.
• Ensure the delivery of exceptional clinical standards, regulatory compliance, and outstanding client and patient care across all locations.
• Champion a safe, compliant, and collaborative working environment while supporting the implementation of company goals and best practices.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are a senior operational leader with strong commercial acumen and a people‑centred leadership approach. You’ll bring:

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role with accountability for operational and commercial performance
• Strong financial and business management capability, including experience with planning and P&L oversight
• The ability to lead, engage and develop high‑performing multidisciplinary teams
• Experience leading through change and driving cultural or transformational initiatives
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Veterinary/Healthcare experience is desirable

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting you in a senior executive leadership role. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Overall leadership of a practice / hospital with the autonomy to shape strategy, culture and performance
• Senior‑level influence across operations, client experience and business outcomes
• Opportunities to lead large‑scale change and drive long‑term organisational impact
• Ongoing learning and development to support executive and leadership growth
• A collaborative, values‑led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays plus an extra days leave
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy
• 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.

Dragon Vets - Prestbury Park

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