Senior Veterinary Surgeon

Vets Now; Bedford; On-site; GBP 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £95k

7 weeks annual leave (pro rata)

CPD allowance & CPD hours

RCVS/VECCS/VDS cover

Private medical insurance

Family-friendly pay policies

Leadership development

AdvantEdge training

Pension contributions

Discounted pet care

Job summary

Vets Now is seeking a Senior Veterinary Surgeon (ECC) at Barton-le-Clay to lead a committed team delivering high-quality emergency care. The role combines clinical leadership with mentorship, overseeing a busy ECC service and guiding colleagues through complex cases.

The successful candidate will drive standards, support staff development and champion continuous improvement, ensuring exceptional patient care and strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• UK veterinary surgeon with valid RCVS registration.
• Experience leading ECC or emergency veterinary teams.
• Ability to mentor and develop clinical staff.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Emergency & Critical Care

Education

BVMS/BVMS (UK Veterinary Degree)

Job description

The Vacancy

Senior Veterinary Surgeon - Emergency and Critical Care (ECC)

Location: Barton-le-Clay

Salary: up to £95,000 DOE pro rata

Contract Type: Full-time or Part-Time, Permanent

Your purpose. Our passion.

At Vets Now, we believe that when your purpose is to make a difference, you deserve a team that shares your passion. In our Barton-le-Clay clinic, we're looking for a Head/Lead Veterinary Surgeon to 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.

High Wycombe is a large scenic village and features stunning natural chalk downlands, local independent shops, and historic community roots, all while sitting roughly 40 miles north of London for easy commuting.

Lead with Clinical Excellence

As Senior 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, rota pattern is as follows (protected time for leadership duties and meetings included):

• Week 1: Wednesday and Thursday 19:00-09:00
• Week 2: Monday and Tuesday 19:00-09:00, Saturday 12:00-19:30 and Sunday 08:30-19:30
• Week 3: Thursday 19:00-09:00
• Week 4: Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 19:00-09:00

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 £95,000 DOE pro rata
• 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.

Inclusion and Accessibility

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability or health condition, we’re committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.