Head Veterinary Surgeon

Head Veterinary Surgeon

Northumberland

£70,000 per annum, depending on experience

Permanent, on-site 37.5-40 hours across four days, with other options available

Re-location allowance

Visa sponsorship available, must have UK experience

Lead a first-opinion practice while keeping the clinical work you enjoy at the heart of your role. This Head Veterinary Surgeon position combines hands-on medicine, surgery and emergency care with the opportunity to develop colleagues, influence services and shape the future of a well-equipped practice.

The employer offers a supportive team culture, funded development and access to clinical expertise when you need it. For an experienced veterinary surgeon who enjoys mentoring others, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to both patient outcomes and the people delivering care.

Your role

You'll lead, motivate and support the veterinary team, setting high clinical standards and delivering compassionate patient and client care in line with best practice and RCVS guidelines. Alongside managing surgical, medical and emergency cases, you'll encourage progressive techniques and practical improvements that enhance outcomes.

Working closely with the Practice Manager, you'll contribute to strategic planning, service development, budgeting, financial planning and improvements to the client experience. Your people-management responsibilities will include regular check-ins, competency assessments, salary discussions and collaborative rota planning.

Building trusting relationships will be central to your work, whether you're supporting a colleague through a challenging case or helping a client understand their pet's treatment options.

Clinical support and practice life

The practice is staffed around the clock to support hospitalised inpatient care and an out-of-hours service. Clinical resources include a visiting diagnostic imager, dermatology and referral dentistry services, alongside colleagues holding emergency and critical care and internal medicine certificates.

You'll also have access to telemedicine specialists, an advanced clinical support network and regional clinical leads for case advice and mentoring. Central operational teams provide support across HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance and procurement, backed by wider investment in practice facilities.

The experienced team enjoys regular meals out, brunches and dog walks. The practice has accessible facilities and parking, with Northumberland's coast and countryside within reach, as well as access to Newcastle and Edinburgh.

About you

You'll bring strong clinical capability and experience as a veterinary surgeon, with confidence across medicine, surgery and emergency cases. Just as importantly, you'll enjoy coaching colleagues and helping them develop their confidence and skills.

A proactive, solutions-focused approach, resilience and compassionate communication will help you succeed. You'll be comfortable balancing clinical leadership, team development and the commercial considerations involved in running a practice.

Your package and development

Alongside the salary, the package includes re-location allowance, fully paid RCVS and VDS fees, a generous CPD allowance, access to a clinical library and more than 450 courses. Certificates are encouraged, with fully funded postgraduate qualifications, including CertAVP and PgCert, covering tuition, examinations and study leave.

Benefits also include up to 33 days' holiday with buy/sell options, a pension scheme, a health cash plan, an Employee Assistance Programme and enhanced family leave. Wellbeing support includes regular manager check-ins, wellbeing champions, pastoral veterinary support and personal mentors. Staff pet-care discounts include 50% off services, plus discounts on pet food and medications.