Lead Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

Join Vets for Pets as Lead Veterinary Surgeon in a thriving first opinion small animal practice located within Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre in Leicester. This is a full-time position working 40 hours over 4 or 5 days, with a 1-in-3 Saturday rota and bank holidays shared across the team. Importantly, there is no out-of-hours work required, as this is covered by a local OOH provider.

You'll be leading a well-established team of 3 vets, a Head RVN, 3 RVNs, 2 SVNs, 1 VCA, and an experienced reception team. Your clinical insight will be valued as you help shape protocols, guide the team's development, and serve as the first point of contact for case discussions. While you won't be expected to have every answer, you should be confident in identifying the best diagnostic and treatment pathways alongside your colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead clinical decision-making across consultations, surgeries, and inpatient management, shared across the vet team on a rota
• Act as the team's first point of contact for clinical queries and case discussions
• Support and mentor junior vets and JVPs in developing clinical skills and best practice decision-making
• Contribute to the regular review and refinement of clinical protocols
• Provide clinical input on client concerns and complaint situations as needed by the Practice Manager
• Perform a diverse range of surgical cases including routine neutering, dentals, lumpectomies, orthopaedics (at sister clinic), splenectomies, foreign body surgeries, and caesareans
• Conduct thorough case work-ups using on-site diagnostic equipment including X-ray, handheld dental X-ray, ultrasound, and laboratory analysers

Requirements

• RCVS registered veterinary surgeon with solid experience across consultations, surgeries, and inpatient management
• Well-rounded clinical knowledge and confidence guiding colleagues on diagnostic and treatment pathways
• Certificate holder, particularly in medicine or surgery, highly desirable
• Ability to work up cases to high clinical standards
• Comfortable working with and developing a team of junior vets and support staff

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £70,000 to £80,000 depending on experience and rota requirements
• 224 hours annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing to 264 hours after 2 years
• RCVS and VDS fees paid in full by the practice
• CPD funding available including monetary contributions and allocated days for professional development
• Contributory pension scheme
• High street discounts and colleague discounts with Pets at Home
• No out-of-hours work required
• Rota flexibility to discuss individual needs and preferences
• 40-hour week with choice of 4 or 5-day working patterns

About the Practice

Vets for Pets is an RCVS accredited first opinion small animal practice located within the Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre in Leicester. The practice is Dogs Trust dog friendly and part of Pets at Home. The team is committed to establishing a passionate, collaborative culture focused on high-quality patient care and offering a range of medical and surgical options.

The practice is well equipped with modern diagnostic facilities including X-ray, handheld dental X-ray, and a brand new AI-enabled ultrasound machine. The on-site laboratory suite features the latest Idexx analysers covering haematology, biochemistry, and SNAP testing, enabling the team to manage the majority of cases in-house. Consultation rooms are spacious with dedicated storage, scales, sinks, vaccine fridges, and climate control.