Overview
Head of Area - South East of England
We are seeking a dynamic and driven leader for this pivotal, hands-on role. As a key force behind improving pet care and enhancing the client & Associate experience across your region’s business units, you will be instrumental in driving service excellence and operational efficiency.
In this senior role, you’ll inspire and elevate the practice leadership, honing their strategic thinking, people management, and commercial acumen. You’ll foster collaboration across your sites and the broader group. Your guidance will ensure consistent operational excellence and help deliver the region’s annual business plan. You will have full accountability for the P&L and key performance metrics for your group of practices, working closely with the Primary Care Regional Veterinary & Nursing Leads to align and achieve shared goals. You will drive the region to deliver our overarching purpose of making A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
Key Responsibilities
* Support the Area Operations Director to deliver the annual business plan, providing insight, KPI oversight and analysis to inform business reviews and priority actions.
* Own alignment and delivery of annual business planning across all business units, ensuring clarity, consistency and regular review.
* Partner with local leadership teams to deliver operational excellence through coaching, role modelling and continuous improvement, maximising productivity, capacity and capability.
* Ensure working practices, rotas and resource models meet patient needs, client demand and Associate wellbeing.
* Champion the One Linnaeus culture by embedding best practice, quality-first ways of working, effective communication and knowledge sharing across the region.
* Provide visible, hands-on leadership by spending at least 80% of time on site, working closely with Regional Veterinary and Nursing Leads to deliver shared objectives and support new initiatives.
* Ensure the client service proposition is delivered in line with Linnaeus brand values, supporting pilots, regional projects and feedback-led improvement.
* Work with P&O Business Partners and practice leaders to deliver robust people plans, covering engagement, retention, wellbeing, talent development and succession planning.
* Maintain strong governance through health & safety, property and maintenance compliance, while promoting cost-conscious decision making.
* Build strong partnerships with referral practices, lead integration of new Primary Care businesses, and support wider regional sustainability goals.
Experience
Essential experience/attributes:
* A strong track record of leading and developing teams, driving engagement, wellbeing and high performance in service-led environments.
* Strong commercial knowledge (clinical or non-clinical) with experience delivering operational excellence, KPIs and sustainable growth within complex organisations.
* Confident influencer, able to build trusted relationships, lead through change, coach senior leaders and think broadly to deliver impact beyond individual sites.
* A positive, solutions-focused mindset and the credibility to operate at senior level.
* Clear, engaging communicator, comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across multiple stakeholders.
* Degree-qualified or equivalent professional experience (5+ years), with a full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel.
Desirable experience/attributes:
* Experience within a Veterinary or Healthcare setting, preferably leading a multisite business.
* Clinical governance and quality improvement including auditing, practice standards and other accreditation bodies.
* Knowledge of RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, disciplinary processes, and processes for complaint handling.
About Us
Linnaeus is part of 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.
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.
All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered. If you need any support in completing your application or simply want to find out more about Linnaeus or the role please contact our Talent Acquisition team at careers@linnaeusgroup.co.uk
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