Vets for Pets
Head Veterinary Surgeon - Leadership Role in a Supportive, Modern Practice
Requirements
The position requires an experienced and confident veterinary surgeon with leadership skills. The candidate should be able to mentor colleagues and shape clinical standards.
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and confident Head Veterinary Surgeon to take clinical leadership of a well-established, standalone small animal practice. This is a key senior role for a vet who wants to shape clinical standards, mentor colleagues, and influence the future direction of a thriving practice while remaining hands-on clinically.
Your Role as Head Veterinary Surgeon:
You will lead the clinical direction of the practice, working closely with the practice owner. You’ll be responsible for guiding, supporting, and developing a team of 3 Vets, helping to ensure consistently high clinical standards and a collaborative, progressive culture.
This is a genuine leadership position with autonomy over clinical decision-making and case management, while remaining embedded in a supportive, owner-led structure. You’ll play a central role in shaping the continued growth and reputation of the Rayleigh practice.
The Team Around You:
You’ll join a strong, established team including:
- 3 Vets (whom you will lead and mentor)
- 4 RVNs
- 1 Student Nurse
- 4 VCAs
- Dedicated Client Care Team
- Full-time position with flexible working patterns
- No on-call, no bank holidays, and no out-of-hours requirements
- Weekend rota: 1:4 (Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm), shared fairly across the team
- Salary up to £80,000 Dependant on Experience
- £5,000 welcome / relocation bonus
- Pension and paid professional memberships
- Visa sponsorship available (A+ rated sponsor)
- Relocation support (UK and international)
- Extensive career progression opportunities
- Exclusive lifestyle and retail discounts (including up to 30% off Pets at Home)
This is a modern, purpose-built practice with advanced equipment and a broad, varied caseload. Clinical freedom is actively encouraged, supported by regular clinical meetings, in-house CPD, and collaboration with a visiting orthopaedic certificate holder.
The culture is genuinely team-focused, with strong communication systems including weekly updates and regular clinical discussions to maintain high standards of care.
Location – Rayleigh:
Rayleigh is a well-connected Essex market town, offering excellent transport links:
- 40 minutes to London Liverpool Street by train
- Short walk to Rayleigh station and high street
- Easy access to Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea, and major airports
- Close to the Essex coastline and open countryside
- Near major retail destinations including Bluewater and Lakeside
Location: SS6 7JN
We take our inspiration from pets in embracing people from all walks of life, and we value, respect and celebrate difference. We encourage our people to be their best selves so that we can create a better world for Pets, our Planet, and People. Our ambition is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and we are intentional in addressing and removing barriers to create opportunities for the exceptional talent and potential in our communities. Even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!
Skills
About Vets for Pets
Vets for Pets and Companion Care are our brands within The Pets at Home Vet Group. We are part of the Pets at Home Group plc, which also includes Pets at Home retail stores and Pets Grooming salons. Together, we are the UK’s leading pet care business, providing pet owners with everything they need to be able to look after their pets. We are proud to be one of the largest veterinary groups in the UK with a national network of practices of all shapes and sizes run by our Joint Venture Partners (JVPs). The Pets at Home Vet Group operates 440+ small animal veterinary practices across the UK, including standalone and in-store practices. We believe in giving Veterinary Surgeons, Nurses and Practice Managers the opportunity and freedom to take control of their own career and future by owning and running their own practice. We are the home of joint venture partnership for ambitious veterinary surgeons in the UK veterinary market, we are committed to delivering first class service and high standards of care. Our practices are supported by dedicated business professionals based in our Support Office in Handforth who have the expertise to help them thrive. We were extremely proud to be announced the winners of the 2020 Institute of Student Employers Award’s Best Graduate Onboarding and Induction Activities Programme category, in recognition of our two-year Graduate Development Programme. Designed by vets with extensive practice and industry experience, we help develop medical, surgical and professional skills. If our unique veterinary business interests you, you can find out more on our dedicated careers site: https://www.vets4petscareers.com/