Senior Practice Director

CVS Veterinary Group; Stanley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RCVS fees paid in full

VDS fees paid in full

Generous CPD allowance

Postgraduate qualifications funded

Up to 33 days holiday

Job summary

CVS Veterinary Group is seeking a Senior Practice Director for a 12-month fixed-term contract covering the Southern Northeast sites including Ashfield Veterinary Centre, Castle Veterinary Centre and White Oak Veterinary Centre. The role is based at Ashfield Veterinary Centre with weekly or bi-weekly visits to other sites to ensure strong collaboration and leadership.

You will lead Practice Leadership Teams, drive clinical excellence, patient care and client service, and balance local needs with

Qualifications

• Strong experience across profit and loss management, recruitment, HR, health and safety, payroll, rota planning and diary management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high-performing Practice Leadership Teams, working closely with Clinical Directors, Head Nurses and the Regional Director to drive strategic, operational and commercial performance across multiple sites.
• Provide clear direction, consistent guidance and visible support while balancing local practice needs with wider regional priorities.
• Support change management and project delivery, strengthen colleague engagement, retention and succession planning, and deputise for the Regional Director when required.

Skills

Leadership

Profit and loss management

Recruitment

HR

Payroll

Rota planning

Diary management

Change management

Project delivery

Job description

Senior Practice Director, 12-month fixed term contract, County Durham

Exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join our Northeast team!

The role will cover the Southern Northeast sites - Ashfield Veterinary Centre, Castle Veterinary Centre and White Oak Veterinary Centre.

The successful candidate will be primarily based at Ashfield Veterinary Centre, whilst maintaining a regular leadership presence across Castle Veterinary Centre and White Oak Veterinary Centre through weekly or bi-weekly visits as required. This approach will ensure strong collaboration, visibility and support across all three practices.

Rota: Full time 40 hours a week.

At CVS, we put our colleagues first, giving you the support you need to provide the best possible care. From clinical to non-clinical challenges, you'll always have the resources and teams alongside you. We'll be your biggest supporter. It's in our nature.

With market-leading learning, on-the-job training, and collaboration with skilled colleagues, you'll have the tools to grow whether you're building confidence early in your career or looking to deepen your expertise. From advancing in your current role to exploring new leadership or specialist pathways, we provide the support and opportunities to help you achieve your goals.

The role

As a Senior Practice Director, you will play a pivotal non-clinical leadership role, ensuring high standards of clinical excellence, patient care and client service across your practices. Acting as both a strategic and operational leader, you will provide clear direction, consistent guidance and visible support while balancing local practice needs with wider regional priorities.

You will lead and develop high-performing Practice Leadership Teams, working closely with Clinical Directors, Head Nurses and the Regional Director to drive strategic, operational and commercial performance across multiple sites. Acting as a key link between the practices and the Regional Director, you will ensure regional priorities, strategic objectives and operational initiatives are clearly communicated and successfully implemented.

Through regular Business-as-Usual meetings, site visits, business planning and KPI performance reviews, you will strengthen collaboration, identify risks, support continuous improvement and help practices achieve both local and organisational goals. You will bring strong experience across profit and loss management, recruitment, HR, health and safety, payroll, rota planning and diary management.

The role will also involve supporting change management and project delivery, strengthening colleague engagement, retention and succession planning, managing complaints and urgent communications, and deputising for the Regional Director when required. With a people-first approach and a commitment to excellence, you will help enhance practice standards, team performance and the ongoing success of the wider organisation.

Most importantly, you live and breathe our I CARE leadership values:

• Inclusivity - Valuing diverse perspectives and adapting your approach to bring out the best in everyone.
• Collaboration - Encouraging open communication and addressing challenges early.
• Accountability - Supporting honest conversations through regular check-ins and constructive feedback.
• Role Modelling - Leading with integrity and following through on commitments.
• Empathy - Using emotional awareness to support both team wellbeing and high performance.

The benefits

At CVS, we know that care for our patients starts with dedicated people like you. That's why we invest in your growth and your future. When you join our team, you'll receive (pro-rated for part-time)

• RCVS & VDS fees paid in full
• Generous CPD allowance, BSAVA library access, 450+ courses, and fully funded postgraduate qualifications (CertAVP, PgCert) with tuition, exams and study leave covered
• Up to 33 days holiday (with option to buy/sell)
• CVS Pension Scheme
• Access to Vet Oracle telemedicine specialists, Advanced Clinical Services Network and
• Regional Clinical Leads for case support and mentoring
• Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and enhanced family leave policies
• Staff pet care discounts - 50% off services, MiPet food and medications

Join us at CVS

We're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We foster an inclusive and equitable workplace, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up.

Wellbeing support is always available, from monthly line-manager check-ins to our network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets and personal mentors. We offer leading benefits and policies, such as our Health Shield which provides support for physical and mental health.

Our aim is to free up clinical colleagues to do what they do best, so we offer practices a wide range of operational support. Central expert HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance and procurement teams are on hand to support with all aspects relating to the smooth running of each practice.

We prioritise investment in our facilities, delivering significant enhancements across numerous practices through a dedicated multi-million-pound improvement fund.

This role is based in Annfield Plain commutable from Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Chester-le-Street, Spennymoor, Ferryhill, Stanley, Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole, Washington, Crook, Sedgefield, Seaham, Peterlee, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe, Gateshead, Jarrow, Hebburn, Blaydon, South Shields, Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham, Middlesbrough, Belmont, Gilesgate, Neville's Cross, Framwellgate Moor, Shincliffe, High Shincliffe, Sherburn, Sherburn Hill, Croxdale, Bearpark, Ushaw Moor, Brandon, Langley Moor, Meadowfield, New Brancepeth, Bowburn, Pittington, Witton Gilbert, Sacriston, Nettlesworth, Coxhoe, West Rainton, Hett, Kelloe, Esh Winning, Great Lumley, Bournmoor, Cornforth, Fencehouses, Haswell, Lanchester, Burnhope, Byers Green, Kirk Merrington, Bishop Middleham, Thornley, South Hetton, Murton, Trimdon, Easington, Easington Colliery, Fishburn, Leadgate, Shotton Colliery, Castle Eden, Wingate, Annfield Plain, Dipton, Horden, Blackhall Colliery, Ebchester, Whickham, Rowlands Gill, Winlaton, Ryton, Crawcrook, Wolviston, Stillington, Thornaby.