Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Ferndown, Dorset, England

Primary Care - Vet Surgeon – Small Animal /

St Marys Veterinary Clinic [1116] /

On-site

apply for this job

Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal
St Marys Veterinary Clinic | Ferndown, Dorset

Salary up to £80,000 DOE, up to £3,000 Welcome Bonus and up to £3,000 Relocation Allowance

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 Marys Vets is an established, single-site practice with a strong local reputation and a great GP first-opinion caseload, and we’re looking for a Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly, supportive team.

The role offers a good balance of consultations and surgery, with the opportunity to work cases up in-house, from routine procedures through to ECC, while having access to referral support when needed.

We’re looking for someone confident in sole charge who enjoys a varied caseload, including cats, dogs, rabbits and the occasional exotic, and who values working in a collaborative and supportive environment.

Practice Highlights

* Established single-site practice with a strong local reputation

* Varied GP first-opinion caseload

* Balanced mix of consultations and surgery

* Opportunity to work up cases in-house from routine procedures to ECC

* Referral support available when needed

* Caseload includes cats, dogs, rabbits and occasional exotics

* Digital and dental X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy and in-house laboratory

* Practice due to undergo a full refurbishment

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

* Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:30pm

* One half day during the week, 9:00am–1:00pm, to be arranged

* 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 or mixed animal practice and advanced surgical and medical capability

* Proven experience in 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. 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.