Clinical Director

About the Role

This is a Director of Practice and Clinical Services role at Academy Vet Centre, where your time will be split between hands-on clinical work and senior leadership. Around 80% of the role is spent in practice, covering a varied caseload that includes consults, surgery, dairy fertility, health planning, fertility testing and horses.

The rota is full time at 40 hours per week, working from 8:30am to 6:00pm with an hour lunch break, plus 1 in 4 Saturdays. The practice also provides its own out of hours currently. This is a chance to help shape how two busy sites grow, while supporting a highly driven team and contributing to clinical standards, service development and collaborative culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership across Academy Vet Centre and its branch in Newton Stewart.
• Spend most of your time in practice, working across a varied caseload of consults, surgery and mixed practice work.
• Lead and support the team through clinical discussions, confidence building and day-to-day guidance.
• Set and deliver the clinical vision for the practices in line with IVC Evidensia standards and values.
• Oversee clinical governance, quality improvement and performance across services.
• Work closely with senior operational leaders on patient outcomes, service delivery and business performance.
• Help shape the strategic direction, culture and future growth of the practices.

Requirements

• A Veterinary degree with RCVS registration.
• Significant senior clinical experience.
• Proven leadership experience within a complex veterinary or healthcare setting.
• Strong experience in clinical governance, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
• The ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• Salary up to £80,000 per year, depending on experience.
• Welcome bonus up to £3,000.
• Relocation allowance up to £3,000.
• CPD allowance and access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses.
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet.
• 6.8 weeks holiday including bank holidays.
• Private medical insurance.
• Enhanced family leave and pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy.
• BVA membership, VDS cover and RCVS fees.
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes, subject to eligibility.
• Retail discounts and cashback offers.
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets.
• Clear career pathways with progression into wider senior or executive leadership roles.

About the Practice

Academy Vet Centre is based in Stranraer and operates as a busy mixed practice in the southwest of Scotland. It is an RCVS accredited farm and small animal general practice with a main site in Stranraer and a branch in Newton Stewart.

The practice treats dogs, cats and small pets, farm animals, equine and is listed as exotic friendly, rabbit friendly and chicken friendly. The team includes 9 vets, 4 Registered Veterinary Nurses, 3 Auxiliary Nurses, 4 Receptionists and a Practice Manager. Facilities mentioned include small animal and large animal ultrasound, bull and tup fertility kit, digital radiography and an Idexx suite.