Head Veterinary Surgeon

Head Veterinary Surgeon, Goudhurst Veterinary Surgery, Goudhurst, Kent

Goudhurst vets is a small animal and equine practice located in the picturesque village of Goudhurst. Our veterinary team comprises dedicated and experienced veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and friendly and welcoming receptionists. We are proud to deliver gold standard and personalised care to our clients and their pets. Because we love animals and strive to provide excellent continuity of care, we are open six days a week and have access to 24-hour emergency care.

As a practice we are extremely proud to have achieved the Outstanding Client Service award by the RCVS. We are a friendly team with loyal clients in a beautiful location. We have ultrasonography, radiography and in house blood machines, as well as a surgical suite, complemented by separate dog and cat wards helping us achieve our Silver Cat Friendly accreditation.

As a leader, we want you to bring energy and enthusiasm along with confidence and professionalism and be able to share this with the team and clients. You should have a genuine desire to support and promote development in your fellow vets. We are looking for someone who prides themselves on providing great leadership and coaching to their own teams coupled with a consistently high level of service to their clients.

The role of the Head Vet includes:

• Support Practice Director by leading and driving clinical standards in the practice, ensuring high standards of patient care
• Line‑managing the veterinary team, performing check‑ins, helping with competency and salary review, and writing the vets\’ rota with the Practice Manager to ensure needs and demands of clients are met
• Collaborating with the Practice Director to optimise client service and business growth, budgeting and finances.
• Ensuring all care aligns with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and delivers appropriate medical and surgical care, attending scheduled clinical meetings.
• Experienced in undertaking emergency procedures such as exploratory laparotomies, pleural effusion drainage and bladder unblocking for male cats.
• Driving forward the practice in forward‑thinking medical and clinical techniques.
• Build client and patient relationships through gold‑standard level of care, communication and service.

Rota:

30-40 hours a week. Full-time or Part-time considered.

Our standard benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (or equivalent) with our Buy/Sell holiday scheme – allowing you to purchase an additional two weeks of annual leave
• RCVS, VDS and subscription fees paid
• Generously encouraged and fully funded CPD – abundant opportunities within the business aided by internal and external development courses and programmes
• Receive an extra days leave each year in your first 5 years at CVS
• Cycle to work scheme and subsidised gym membership
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension scheme – automatic enrolment and completely hassle free
• Access to First Aid for Mental Health and Wellbeing Champions across CVS and 300 trained CVS colleagues in this role
• Colleague discount on pet products and treatments including free consults, cost price drugs and a discount to our online pharmacy, Animed
• Access to the company share‑save scheme

Interested? Please click apply now! For further details or an informal chat, please contact Jim in the recruitment team at jim.mcdowell-massar@cvsvets.com

CVS is committed to being a fully inclusive place to work where all our colleagues are encouraged and supported to be themselves, where difference is celebrated and where everyone feels able to deliver their best. We are also determined to build a workforce that is more representative of our diverse communities and the people we provide our services to.