Vine Tree Vets - Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Lead Veterinary Surgeon

Salary: £75,000 DOE

Welcome Bonus: up to £8,000

Relocation Allowance: up to £5,000

Vine Tree Vets is looking for a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly, supportive team in the stunning Wye Valley. You’ll lead clinical operations, mentor vets and nurses, and have the freedom to shape a diverse and rewarding caseload.

This role suits an experienced Senior Vet ready to step up or a Clinical Director seeking a fresh challenge with a stronger clinical focus. You’ll be responsible for clinical governance, quality improvement, audits, and ensuring all care meets RCVS and IVC Evidensia standards.

We offer flexible working hours, full or part-time (30–40 hours per week), over 4 or 5 days, with no out-of-hours or on-call duties. Saturday morning rota participation is expected.

If you’re passionate about clinical leadership and delivering outstanding patient care in a beautiful setting, we’d love to hear from you!

Our established practice

Vine Tree Vets is located in the beautiful Wye Valley, within easy reach of the Forest of Dean, Bath, Gloucester, Bristol and the Cotswolds. Vine Tree has an extensive small animal case load, giving you exposure to a diverse caseload.

We are a purpose built, modern practice that was converted from a pub in 2015. We have two consulting rooms, one operating theatre, an imaging room (including digital x ray, dental x ray, bronchoscope, endoscope and ultrasound), a main prep room, a cat only prep room leading to cattery and a separate dog ward.

Lead our long-standing team

The team at Vine Tree is made up of 4 vets, 5 nurses, 2 receptionists and 1 practice director; with the longest team member being with us for over 25 years.

Our Vine Tree team is at the heart of everything we do; our priority is to create a wonderful team atmosphere where everyone looks after each other, regardless of their role, and is something we pride ourselves on. We understand the significance of supporting mental health within the veterinary profession and this is of particular importance to us. The team regularly get together to explore the outdoors, for dogs walks or just around the beautiful area.

What You’ll Do:

• Deliver outstanding clinical care across species
• Mentor and support vets, nurses, and support staff
• Champion clinical governance and continuous improvement
• Lead audits, ensure compliance, and support CPD
• Work closely with the Director of Practice on strategy and service development
• Build strong client relationships and manage complex cases

What We’re Looking For:

• MRCVS-qualified with strong clinical experience
• Proven leadership and mentoring skills
• Deep understanding of clinical governance and RCVS standards
• Passion for developing teams and delivering patient-first care
• A collaborative, solution-focused approach

Bonus Points:

• Postgraduate clinical or leadership qualifications
• Experience as a Vet GDP advisor

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from -

Work-life balance

• 7.6 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

Wellbeing

• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Initiatives focused on colleague wellbeing

Development

• £1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave pro rata
• Certificate support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider
• All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
• All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
• Infection Prevention and Control Programme
• *Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

• BVA membership
• VDS cover
• RCVS fees

Colleague Benefits

• Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well
• Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria
• Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you
• Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
• Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice