
Lead a thriving small animal practice with full clinical autonomy and zero out-of-hours commitments. This is a genuine leadership role where you'll mentor a team of 3 vets, shape clinical standards, and enjoy a 1:4 weekend rota in a supportive, modern environment.
1:4 weekend rota (Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm). No out-of-hours, on-call, or bank holiday requirements.
You'll step into a key senior clinical leadership position at a well-established, standalone small animal practice in Rayleigh. This is a full-time role with genuine autonomy over clinical decision-making and case management. Working closely with the practice owner, you'll guide and mentor a team of 3 vets while remaining hands-on clinically, helping to shape the continued growth and reputation of the practice.
The schedule includes a straightforward 1:4 weekend rota (Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm) shared fairly across the team. There are no night shifts, on-call duties, or bank holiday requirements, giving you real work-life balance alongside meaningful leadership responsibility.
Rayleigh is a well-connected Essex market town with excellent transport links: just 40 minutes to London Liverpool Street by train, easy access to Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea, and close to the Essex coastline and open countryside. The practice location combines city access with coastal and rural living.
This is a modern, purpose-built small animal practice with a broad, varied caseload and advanced clinical equipment. The team comprises 3 veterinary surgeons (whom you will lead), 4 registered veterinary nurses, 1 student nurse, 4 veterinary care assistants, and a dedicated client care team. The practice culture is genuinely team-focused, with strong communication systems including weekly updates and regular clinical discussions to maintain high standards of care. Clinical freedom is actively encouraged and supported by in-house CPD and collaboration with a visiting orthopaedic certificate holder.