Veterinary Surgeon / Head Veterinary Surgeon

CVS Vets; Ponteland; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RCVS & VDS fees paid

Generous CPD allowance

33 days holiday

CVS Pension Scheme

Vet Oracle telemedicine access

Wellbeing programme

Staff pet care discounts

Job summary

CVS Group plc. is seeking a Veterinary Surgeon or Head Veterinary Surgeon to join our Ponteland practice in Northumberland. This leadership role involves coaching a capable team, maintaining outstanding patient and client care, and driving clinical excellence.

The position offers a 37.5‑40 hour week across four days, with other options available, and a salary of up to £70,000 per annum FTE depending on experience. Ponteland is easily commutable from surrounding areas in the North East of England.

Qualifications

• Experienced veterinary surgeon with strong clinical capability and a natural mentor who develops colleagues.
• Proactive, solutions‑oriented and able to lead a team while maintaining high standards of patient and client care.
• Forward‑thinking leader eager to shape the future of the practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outstanding care to animals and support patients and owners.
• Take on cases and carry out diagnostic investigations with precision.
• Develop clinical skills and lead on various case types.
• Mentor and inspire colleagues to help them thrive.
• Ensure a positive, reassuring client experience that builds trust.
• Guide the wider team and contribute to shaping clinical standards.

Skills

Veterinary surgeon

Head Veterinary Surgeon

Leadership

Mentoring

Coaching

Client care

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon / HeadVeterinary Surgeon,Alnorthumbria Ponteland, Northumberland.

Rota: 37.5 - 40 hours per week across 4 days a week. Other options available so please get in touch.

Up to £70,000 per annum FTE depending on experience.

Alnorthumbria, Northumberland, is looking for a Veterinary Surgeon or Head Veterinary Surgeon to join our Ponteland practice. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career within a well-equipped practice, supported by an experienced team and collaborative culture.

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.

Life at Alnorthumbria

Our practice is easily accessible, with disabled access and parking. We are staffed 24/7 to enable a high level of hospitalised inpatient care and out-of-hours service.

Alongside our facilities and specialist equipment, our friendly and experienced veterinary team provides the highest quality of veterinary care, surgery and treatment – along with regular check-ups and routine procedures.

We fully support CPD and career progression, whichever path that may be, and strive to ensure all staff have fantastic job satisfaction. Certificates are encouraged and funded.

We have a visiting diagnostic imager, dermatology, referral dentistry service, ECC and internal medicine certificate holders.

We are a sociable and welcoming team that works hard and plays harder. We hold regular meals out, brunches, and dog walks, and can enjoy the nearby coasts and hills that Northumberland has to offer, as well as being close to both Newcastle and Edinburgh.

About you

You’ll be passionate about coaching, empowering your team, and consistently driving high standards of patient and client care. Your leadership will be key to our continued development as a centre of excellence.

You will be an experienced veterinary surgeon with strong clinical capability anda natural mentor who enjoys developing and supporting colleagues. Proactive and solutions‑focused, you will bringresilience and a positive outlook while collaborating effectively as a team player who adds professionalism and energy. As a forward‑thinking leader, you will be eager to help shape the future of the practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Driven by shared passion to provide the best possible care to animals, you're committed to delivering outstanding care to support our patients and their owners.
• Confident in your clinical skills, you'll be able to take on cases and carry out diagnostic investigations with precision.
• Keen to develop, you're committed to gaining further confidence in clinical skills so that you can manage or lead on different case types
• A natural mentor and team player, you'll enjoy supporting and inspiring all colleagues to help them thrive.
• Client care comes naturally to you, you know how to create a positive, reassuring experience that builds trust and long-lasting relationships.
• As a vetyou'll be comfortable handling a varied caseload, offering guidance to the wider team and contributing to shaping clinical standards.

The benefits

• 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, 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. We are based in Ponteland commutable from Darras Hall, Medburn, Prestwick, Kirkley, Milbourne, Berwick Hill, Dinnington, Stamfordham, Matfen, Throckley, Belsay, Whalton, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Hazlerigg, Newburn, Stannington, Seaton Burn, Wideopen, Brunswick Village, Killingworth, Lemington, Wylam, Blaydon, Benwell, Meldon, Gosforth, Horsley, Cramlington, Prudhoe, Newcastle upon Tyne, Whickham, Seghill, Bedlington, Gateshead, Morpeth, Backworth, Seaton Delaval, Hartburn, Rowlands Gill, Wallsend, Shiremoor, Hebron, Felling, Pegswood, Burnopfield, Lamesley, Blyth, Tanfield, Jarrow, Rothley, Whitley Bay, North Shields, Corbridge, Ashington, Healey, Tynemouth, South Shields, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Annfield Plain, Pelton, Longhorsley, Stanley, Consett, Ryton, Ovingham, Ovington, Stocksfield, Riding Mill, Stocksfield, Mickley, Chopwell, Ebchester, Burnhope, Dipton, Leadgate, Sunniside, Marley Hill, Swalwell, Dunston, Low Fell, Birtley, Washington, Chester-le-Street, Hebburn, Boldon Colliery, East Boldon, West Boldon, Whitburn, Cullercoats, Monkseaton, Seaton Sluice, Earsdon, New Hartley, Holywell, Bebside, Choppington, Guide Post, Stakeford, Bomarsund, Bothal, Longhirst, Mitford, Tranwell, Hepscott, Clifton, Stannington Station, Duddo, Capheaton, Bolam, Hartburn, Cambo, Wallington, Scots Gap, Kirkwhelpington, Great Whittington, Matfen, Ryal, Ingoe, Fenwick, Dalton, Dissington, Eachwick, Black Callerton, Callerton, Dalton, Great North Park, Dudley, Camperdown, Burradon, Annitsford, East Cramlington, Seaton Burn, Dudley, Fordley, Forest Hall, Benton, Longbenton, Killingworth Village, Holystone, West Allotment, Murton Village, New York, Battle Hill, Howdon, Walker, Byker, Pelaw, Bill Quay, Ryton, Crawcrook, Clara Vale, Greenside, High Spen, Hamsterley Mill, Medomsley, Shotley Bridge, Blackhill, Castleside, Tantobie, Lanchester, Sacriston, Great Lumley, Ouston, Beamish, Craghead, Langley Park, Witton Gilbert, Corbridge, Acomb, Hexham, Warden, Wall, Slaley, Riding Mill, Newton, Bywell, Prudhoe, Wark, Humshaugh, Chollerford, Barrasford, Stamfordham, Kirkwhelpington, Acklington, Amble, Felton and Longframlington and other locations in the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear.