Clinical Director

About the Role

You’ll step into a unique opportunity to lead the clinical strategy and operations of Hillsborough Veterinary Hospital—a newly amalgamated facility bringing together three distinct services: the long-established Cromlyn House (40+ years of first opinion care), Hillsborough Veterinary Referrals (specialist CertAVP services), and MiNight Vets (dedicated out-of-hours and emergency care serving 30+ practices across Northern Ireland). This on-site, permanent role blends hands-on clinical work with strategic leadership—you’ll maintain your clinical presence while guiding the hospital’s direction.

The hospital offers a truly varied clinical environment: routine first opinion cases, complex specialist referrals, and the fast-paced demands of emergency and critical care. You’ll work alongside senior clinicians and nursing leaders to drive excellence, foster team development, and build a collaborative culture that spans all three services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership across the referral, first opinion, and out-of-hours service lines
• Champion clinical governance, quality standards, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead, mentor, and develop both veterinary and nursing teams across the multi-service hospital
• Support recruitment, staff retention, and succession planning across all departments
• Oversee clinical protocols, compliance, and safeguarding standards
• Drive collaboration and seamless patient care pathways between first opinion, referral, and emergency teams
• Contribute to financial performance, budgeting, and strategic growth planning
• Maintain strong client relationships and ensure consistent service excellence across all hospital areas

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with significant clinical experience
• Proven leadership or senior management experience
• Confident leading multidisciplinary teams with varied clinical backgrounds
• Commercial awareness and understanding of practice performance metrics
• Genuine passion for clinical quality, governance, and team development
• Clear, empathetic, and confident communication style
• Certificate holder or advanced practitioner status—advantageous but not essential

Benefits

• RCVS and VDS fees paid in full
• Generous CPD allowance with full access to 450+ courses, BSAVA library, and fully funded postgraduate qualifications (CertAVP, PgCert)—tuition, exams, and study leave all covered
• Up to 33 days annual holiday with the option to buy or sell additional days
• Relocation package and visa fees covered where applicable
• 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, dedicated Wellbeing Champions, and enhanced family leave policies
• Staff pet care discounts—50% off services, plus MiPet food and medications
• Competitive salary reflective of your experience
• Leadership support and development opportunities
• Well-equipped hospital with advanced diagnostic and surgical facilities
• Collaborative, multi-service clinical environment

About the Practice

Cromlyn House Veterinary Hospital is a well-established first opinion practice that has served the Hillsborough area for over 40 years. It has now integrated with Hillsborough Veterinary Referrals (a specialist CertAVP referral service, formerly known as Northern Ireland Veterinary Specialists) and MiNight Vets (a dedicated out-of-hours and emergency care provider supporting 30+ practices across Northern Ireland). Together, they form a comprehensive, multi-service veterinary hospital delivering first opinion, specialist referral, and 24/7 emergency care. The hospital is part of CVS Group and benefits from investment in modern facilities, advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment, and access to a regional clinical support network. The team is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and staff feel supported to do their best work.