Clinical Director – Small Animal

About the Role

This is a senior leadership opportunity at Maven Veterinary Care, a multi-award-winning small animal hospital in South London. You’ll take the helm of a clinical team that’s already performing at the highest level, with five RCVS ‘Outstanding’ Practice Standards Awards and Gold Cat Friendly status to prove it. Your role will be to maintain those standards, mentor a capable team of certificate holders, and drive the practice’s clinical direction and innovation forward.

The practice operates full-time with early shifts (7:30am–3:30pm or 8:00am–4:00pm) and late shifts (10:00am–8:00pm), with weekends to be discussed. Importantly, out-of-hours care is delivered onsite by Vets Now, so you won’t carry the OOH burden—you’ll have protected admin time and three early finishes per week to focus on strategy and clinical leadership.

North Cheam offers an ideal location: excellent transport links to Central London, easy access to Surrey countryside (Box Hill, Epsom Downs), and proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick. This is a practice built for the long term, part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, where you’ll have genuine operational support and the space to innovate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical direction and strategic development of Maven Veterinary Care
• Mentor and develop a team of experienced vets and certificate holders across medicine, surgery, and ophthalmology
• Maintain and elevate clinical standards across the practice, supported by robust RCVS accreditation and Gold Cat Friendly status
• Foster a collaborative culture of case discussion and shared decision-making
• Work with the nursing team and established leadership structure to ensure continuity of care and patient welfare
• Balance clinical responsibilities with strategic planning and service innovation
• Oversee case work-up and thorough diagnostic protocols using dedicated ultrasound, x-ray, and dentistry suites
• Contribute to recruitment, team growth, and practice progression

Requirements

• RCVS-registered Veterinary Surgeon with around 5–7+ years of UK small animal experience
• Proven leadership experience, ideally within a clinical setting
• Strong clinical skills and demonstrable commitment to high standards
• Certificate or working towards one in a relevant discipline (preferred)
• Ability to mentor colleagues and foster collaborative team culture
• Proactive, decisive, and forward-thinking approach
• Comfortable balancing hands-on clinical work with strategic leadership
• Excellent communication and professional demeanor

Benefits

• Salary: up to £80,000 depending on experience
• 5 weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• External CPD fully funded, plus extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Enhanced sickness pay and enhanced equal family leave
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Staff discount schemes
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellness program: employee assistance program, eyecare vouchers, free annual flu jab
• Career progression opportunities within the Linnaeus network
• Recruitment referral reward scheme

About the Practice

Maven Veterinary Care is a purpose-built, single-site hospital in North Cheam, South London, recognized for clinical excellence. With five RCVS ‘Outstanding’ Practice Standards Awards, Gold Cat Friendly accreditation, and Dog Friendly status, it’s an established leader in small animal veterinary care. The facility features dedicated ultrasound, x-ray, and dentistry suites, two large operating theatres, and separate dog and cat waiting areas and wards. Out-of-hours emergency care is provided onsite by Vets Now, ensuring continuity of care for complex cases without demanding after-hours commitment from the core team.

Maven is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, a privately owned veterinary company driven by purpose rather than short-term profit. With over 6,000 associates globally, Linnaeus offers access to specialist networks, development opportunities, and comprehensive wellbeing support. The practice operates with a strong culture of mentoring, case discussion, and shared decision-making, supported by a highly skilled nursing team and established leadership structure.