Lead Veterinary Surgeon, Small Animal

About the Role

This is a genuine leadership opportunity at Easipetcare Chatham, where you'll drive clinical standards and mentor a talented team without being pulled into constant firefighting. You'll enjoy a healthy mix of hands-on clinical work and protected management time, with a varied caseload covering orthopaedics, soft tissue, cardiology, and diagnostic imaging. There are no out-of-hours shifts, and your rota is limited to Saturday mornings only, with genuine flexibility around working hours and patterns between 8am and 7:30pm.

The location strikes an excellent balance between professional opportunity and lifestyle. You're under 5 minutes' walk from Chatham mainline train station (easy London commute), right next to historic Rochester with waterfront views of the Chatham Dockyard, and a private, fully furnished 1-bedroom flat is available immediately on-site to make your move seamless.

The clinic is modern and fast-paced, fully equipped for excellent practice. You'll have direct access to a visiting cardiologist on-site and a certificate-holding imaging vet at the nearby Dartford site, plus top-tier nursing and support staff to back your clinical decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership and Mentorship: Guide, inspire, and develop vets and nurses while building a proud, supportive team culture
• Caseload Management: Deliver excellent care across a varied caseload including orthopaedics, soft tissue, cardiology, and diagnostic imaging
• Clinical Governance: Embed meaningful Quality Improvement principles that actively improve patient outcomes
• Balanced Workflow: Maintain a healthy split between hands-on clinical work and dedicated, protected management time
• Collaborative Practice: Work alongside the wider practice team to maintain high standards of patient and client care

Requirements

• Veterinary degree and current RCVS registration (or eligibility to register)
• Clinical experience with growing confidence in routine medical and surgical cases
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues
• Proactive approach to learning, with openness to feedback and development
• Professionalism, reliability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Passion for delivering excellent patient and client care

Benefits

• Salary: up to £85,000 depending on experience
• Welcome bonus of up to £10,000
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000
• On-site accommodation: private, fully furnished 1-bedroom flat available immediately
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for professional development
• 6.6 weeks' holiday including bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay covering maternity, paternity, adoption, and surrogacy
• BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees paid
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (subject to eligibility)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets
• Funded CPD and access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses
• Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches, and peer networks
• Clear career pathways across primary care, referral, leadership, and specialist roles

About the Practice

Easipetcare Chatham is part of IVC Evidensia (inspiring vet care), the UK's number one veterinary care provider, trusted with the care of over 2 million animals. The practice is modern, fast-paced, and fully equipped with diagnostic imaging and specialist support, including a visiting cardiologist and imaging certificate holder at the nearby Dartford site.

IVC Evidensia is committed to supporting ongoing professional development, wellbeing initiatives, and access to world-class learning resources. The organisation fosters a collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement, and is a Disability Confident Employer actively encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds and abilities.