Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Job Title: Lead Veterinary Surgeon – Fixed-Term Contract

Salary: Up to £65,000 (D.O.E)
Location: City Vets, Heavitree, Exeter 
Job Type: Maternity cover - Fixed Term Contract

While our wonderful Heavitree and Whipton Lead Vet is on her maternity leave, there is an opportunity for an experienced vet to join our friendly, highly skilled veterinary team as Lead Vet on a 12 month fixed-term contract.

You’ll be working in a welcoming, progressive environment with outstanding facilities, including a CT scanner, at our RCVS-accredited hospital in Exeter. 

About the Role  

As an experienced veterinary surgeon and leader, you will be responsible for the management and delivery of the clinical activities and financial performance within your business in conjunction with your Clinical Director. You will have a passion for delivering the best possible service, support and outcomes for patients, clients and colleagues, and the wider Linnaeus group.  You will help shape your practice team, leading by example via excellent communication skills, ensuring smooth working relationships between your teams. You will ensure that excellent quality improvement and education, as well as Associate fulfilment, are an integral part of your business outputs, alongside a culture of being committed to excellence in all that is done.

Why we’re proud of City Vets

• A collaborative and forward-thinking practice, RCVS-accredited first-opinion hospital and referral practice in Exeter, supported by three branch practices in Alphington, St Thomas and Whipton. 
• Supportive senior leadership team with shared values 
• State-of-the-art facilities – Including CT, digital radiography, endoscopy, dental imaging, and separate wards for dogs, cats and exotics. 
• We work closely with local referral hospitals and benefit from regular CPD events and dedicated input from Cave Veterinary Specialists.  
• Investment in your professional development and leadership growth.  We actively support certificate study both financially and clinically.  

The Team 

• At City Vets, we are passionate about delivering outstanding patient and client care while ensuring our team feels supported, valued and able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. 
• Our progressive nursing team plays a key role within the practice, leading on imaging, lump removals and stage 1 dental procedures. We are proud to have multiple nursing certificate holders in exotics, anaesthesia, imaging and dentistry. Out-of-hours services are outsourced to protect work-life balance, while inpatient care remains in-house. Weekend duties are shared fairly across the veterinary team. 
• Our practices are accredited Cat Friendly Clinics by the ISFM, ranging from Bronze at Whipton to Gold at Heavitree. In addition, St Thomas holds Silver Rabbit Friendly accreditation from the RWAF, and Heavitree is a Gold Standard RWAF practice. 

What We Are Looking For 

• An experienced small animal Veterinary Surgeon with strong clinical skills and previous leadership or mentoring experience in first opinion practice. 
• A confident clinician who is comfortable managing routine surgical and medical cases and supporting colleagues with case discussions when required. 
• Someone who enjoys mentoring colleagues, contributing to clinical discussions, and helping to develop a positive team culture. 
• A proactive individual who is keen to contribute to clinical standards, team development, and the continued success of the practice. 

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​  What we offer 

• 5-weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave 

• Relocation support 

• RCVS and VDS fees paid 

• Employer contribution pension scheme 

• Generous staff discount scheme 

• Life assurance 

• E-car salary sacrifice scheme 

• Enhanced equal family leave 

• Extensive internal and funded external CPD 

About us 

City Vets is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.  

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.  

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose. 

If you would like to apply for the role or for an informal chat to discuss it further, please get in touch with Lissa in the recruitment team lissa.semerdak@linnaeusgroup.co.uk or call 07523268918