Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Job Title: Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Salary: Up to £65,000 (D.O.E) plus Welcome bonus of up to £3,000 (direct applicants only)

Location: Shires Vets, Eccleshall, Staffordshire

Job Type: Permanent. Full-time

Hours: 40 hours over 4 days, 1:6 Saturdays with time off in lieu, no OOH

Step into leadership — with the support you need to succeed

Are you ready to take the next step in your veterinary career? Perhaps you’re interested in leadership but don’t yet have experience as a Lead Vet? At Shires Vets, we’re offering a fantastic opportunity designed to help you grow into a leadership role, fully supported by an experienced and welcoming team.

This position has become available as our current Lead Vet is relocating to be closer to family, offering you the chance to join a well-established and supportive practice.

Why Join Us?

• Support & Work-Life Balance: We understand the importance of protected time and strong support, we have dedicated monthly leadership meetings and allocate time for non-clinical responsibilities with ongoing support from our experienced Clinical Director, Practice Director, Practice Manager and two other Lead Vets within the practice.
• Our amazing, experienced and friendly nursing & PCA team are always on hand to support plus an established admin and client care support team.
• Facilities: Well-equipped with full medical and surgical facilities, diagnostic imaging facilities (digital x-ray & ultrasound), separate dog & cat waiting areas and kennels/cattery and just 10 minutes away from our larger Stone Practice
• Shires Vets has been established for over 70 years, with practices across Stone, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Eccleshall and Gnosall. We are a collaborative, friendly, progressive and long-standing team with multiple certificate holders across medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and feline medicine
• Vibrant Staffordshire market town offering a fantastic rural quality of life, with great restaurants, pubs, outdoor spaces and even a Cat Café! And all within easy reach of larger cities (under an hour to Manchester, Birmingham or East Midlands Airport)

The Role

This is a Lead Veterinary Surgeon position based primarily at our busy, purpose-built Eccleshall practice, you’ll be working in a small but very busy 2-vet site, offering a varied small animal caseload, including the occasional small holder’s chickens!

You will:

• Provide clinical leadership and support to the veterinary team
• Work closely with the Clinical Director and Practice Director
• Review KPIs and figures, implement changes to ensure clinical and financial success within branch and across our practice, team wellbeing and line management of our Eccleshall vet team and day-to-day operations.
• Deliver high standards of patient and client care

Importantly, you’ll be supported every step of the way — this is an ideal opportunity for someone stepping into leadership for the first time.

What We’re Looking For

• RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon
• Solid first opinion experience
• A confident clinician ready to step into leadership
• A team player with a passion for high-quality care

Apply today to join a practice where your development is truly supported.

What we offer

• 5-weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Certifications encouraged and funding available
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private health insurance
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Extensive internal and funded external CPD

About us

Shires 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.

To apply, please complete the quick application form below. Alternatively, for more information please contact Lissa at Lissa.Semerdak@linnaeusgroup.co.uk  or call 07523268918.

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Salary Value: £65,000 per annum;

Salary Description:£3,000 welcome bonus, up to and depending on experience;