Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal
New Street Vets | Honiton, Devon
Salary
Up to £75,000 DOE
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.
Looking to step into a leadership role while staying firmly involved in clinical practice? This is an exciting opportunity to join New Street Vets as a Lead Veterinary Surgeon, combining hands‑on veterinary work with the chance to mentor, support and help shape a highly experienced and collaborative team.
As a busy first‑opinion small animal practice, we see a varied and rewarding caseload, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries, the occasional chicken and local wildlife. The role offers an excellent mix of consultations and surgery, with the flexibility to tailor your time towards surgery if that’s where your passion lies.
Practice Highlights
* Busy first‑opinion small animal practice
* Varied caseload including cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries, chickens and local wildlife
* Excellent balance of consultations and surgery
* Opportunity to focus more heavily on surgery if desired
* Exposure to emergency and critical care cases
* Dedicated consulting rooms
* Dental radiography suite
* Recently installed ultrasound machine
* Comprehensive in‑house laboratory
* Experienced team of Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs and Practice Manager
* Certificate study actively encouraged and supported
* Practice undergoing an exciting refurbishment
* Community‑focused practice in a converted house close to the high street
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 hours of 40 per week across four or five days
* 1 in 4 Saturday mornings from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
* No out‑of‑hours commitment
* No on‑call responsibilities
* Part‑time applications welcomed from 30+ hours per week
You Might Be a Great Fit If...
* 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
* 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 - £75,000 a year
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analysing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgement. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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