Lead Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

This is a genuine leadership opportunity for an experienced veterinary surgeon ready to shape the future of a thriving small animal practice. Based in the beautiful Wye Valley market town of Ross-on-Wye, you’ll take on a hybrid clinical and leadership role—75% hands-on clinical work, 25% non-clinical leadership responsibilities—giving you the best of both worlds. The practice explicitly operates no weekends and no out-of-hours, so you can finally have a proper work-life balance. You’ll work flexibly across 4 or 5 days per week, depending on what suits you.

Vine Tree Vets is part of IVC Evidensia, but this role is genuinely about building something locally. You’ll mentor colleagues, develop clinical protocols, deliver training, and help drive the practice through an exciting recruitment and growth phase. This isn’t a figurehead position—you’ll be clinically active while inspiring and supporting your team to deliver gold-standard care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care across general small animal medicine and surgery, working alongside a supportive team
• Develop and implement clinical protocols to maintain high standards of patient care
• Mentor and support veterinary colleagues through hands-on guidance and formal training sessions
• Take an active role in recruitment—help shape the team and practice culture
• Champion a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and clinical excellence
• Contribute to practice strategy and decision-making during a key growth phase
• Leverage the practice’s modern equipment and facilities to provide comprehensive care and expand clinical experience

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with strong clinical experience
• Natural leadership ability and genuine enthusiasm for developing others
• Commitment to building a collaborative, supportive team culture
• Willingness to take on strategic involvement in practice direction and growth
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Welcome bonus: Up to £5,000
• Relocation allowance: Up to £8,000
• Holiday: 6.6 weeks’ annual leave including bank holidays, plus your birthday off
• Professional development: £1,250 CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD time annually; access to IVC Evidensia Training Centres and Vetlexicon online resources
• Care Fund: £1,250 annual Care Fund to support your professional development
• Professional memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Health & wellbeing: Private medical insurance, enhanced family-friendly leave and pay, 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Additional perks: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (where eligible), retail discounts and cashback, reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets
• Flexibility: Choice of 4 or 5-day working week
• Leadership development: Support and training for clinical leadership growth

About the Practice

Vine Tree Vets is a modern, forward-thinking small animal practice located on Walford Road in Ross-on-Wye. The practice is equipped with digital X-ray, dental X-ray, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, ultrasound, and a fully equipped in-house laboratory, enabling comprehensive diagnostics and treatment. The team also benefits from monthly peripatetic ophthalmology and cardiology services, providing access to specialist expertise and broadening clinical learning opportunities for the whole team.

As part of IVC Evidensia, the practice benefits from regional collaboration, shared best practice, and access to training resources, while maintaining its own strong local identity and commitment to community care. The practice serves dogs, cats, and small pets, and is actively recruiting to build a supportive, clinically focused team. Ross-on-Wye itself is a charming market town nestled in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering excellent walking, cycling, watersports, and a vibrant independent community.