Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Ferndown, Dorset, England

Primary Care - Vet Surgeon – Small Animal /

St Marys Veterinary Clinic [1116] /

On-site

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Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal
St Mary's Veterinary Clinic - Ferndown, Dorset

Salary up to £80,000 DOE, Welcome Bonus up to £5,000 and Relocation Allowance up to £5,000

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

St Mary's Vets, part of inspiring vet care, is a long-established practice with a loyal client base and an excellent reputation within the local community. We're looking for a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly and supportive team as we enter an exciting new chapter.

This role offers an excellent balance of consultations and surgery, with the opportunity to manage a varied first-opinion caseload and work cases through from initial presentation to diagnosis and treatment. You'll see everything from routine procedures to emergency and critical care cases, with referral support available whenever required.

As part of an exciting merger with our sister practice, Aniwell Vets, you'll have the opportunity to work across both sites, benefiting from the support of a larger clinical team while enjoying an even broader and more varied caseload. This collaborative approach provides excellent opportunities to share knowledge, develop your skills and build strong relationships across the wider practice.

We're looking for a confident Veterinary Surgeon who is comfortable with sole charge and enjoys the variety of first-opinion practice. You'll care for a wide range of patients, including cats, dogs, rabbits and the occasional exotic, while working within a welcoming team that values collaboration, high clinical standards and continuity of care.

Practice Highlights

* Well-established practice with a loyal client base and an excellent local reputation

* Opportunity to work across both St Mary's and Aniwell practices

* Varied first-opinion caseload with a great balance of consultations and surgery

* Opportunity to work cases up in-house, from routine procedures through to emergency and critical care

* Referral support available whenever required

* Caseload includes cats, dogs, rabbits and occasional exotics

* Well-equipped with digital and dental radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy and an in-house laboratory

* Full practice refurbishment planned, creating an even better working environment

How You’ll Make a Difference

As Lead Veterinary Surgeon, you will be the most senior veterinary clinician within the practice, responsible for leading clinical standards, governance and the delivery of outstanding patient and client care.

You’ll provide clinical leadership to the veterinary team, oversee complex cases and act as the primary source of clinical guidance and decision-making within the practice. Working closely with the senior practice leadership team, you’ll support the strategic direction of the practice and drive continuous improvement in clinical quality, outcomes and ways of working.

Working Pattern

* Full-time over 4 or 5 days per week

* 1 in 3 Saturday mornings (8:30am-12:30pm)

* No out-of-hours or on-call commitment

* Part-time applications welcomed

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are a highly experienced Veterinary Surgeon with strong clinical expertise and a passion for leadership and clinical excellence. You’ll bring:

* A Veterinary degree and registration with the RCVS, with significant experience in small animal practice and advanced medical and surgical capability

* Proven experience mentoring, coaching and supporting veterinary colleagues

* Strong leadership, communication and decision-making skills

* Experience contributing to or leading clinical governance, audits and quality improvement initiatives

* The ability to manage clinical complaints and provide professional guidance in complex situations

* Professionalism, integrity and a commitment to the highest standards of patient and client care

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

* Clear career pathways with progression opportunities across primary care, referral, leadership and specialist roles

* Funded learning and development including CPD allowance and access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses

* £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet

* Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches and peer networks

* Support to develop clinical interests and expand your capabilities

* A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

* 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays

* Private medical insurance

* Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy

* BVA membership, VDS cover and RCVS fees

* Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)

* Retail discounts and cashback offers

* Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

£0 - £80,000 a year

Salary up to £80,000 DOE

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.