At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic veterinary team while managing a varied caseload and mentoring colleagues.
- Company: Join Kings Veterinary Centre, a modern small animal hospital in Melton Mowbray.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, relocation support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Experience a supportive culture in a vibrant town with great work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in veterinary care while progressing towards a Clinical Director role.
- Qualifications: Must be an experienced Veterinary Surgeon with leadership skills and a postgraduate certificate.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 £ per year.
The salary for this role is up to £75,000 per annum + a wide range of attractive benefits. You must currently have the right to work in the UK. Combine a varied caseload with protected leadership and mentoring time. Lead an experienced clinical team within a modern hospital equipped with CT. Develop towards Clinical Director with structured support and opportunity. Bring your clinical experience and leadership skills to a modern small animal hospital where you can mentor an established team, influence clinical standards and continue developing your own interests. With CT, a varied caseload, protected leadership time and a clear pathway towards Clinical Director, this role offers the resources and support to make a meaningful contribution.
About us: Kings Veterinary Centre is a purpose-built small animal hospital in Melton Mowbray, designed to support advanced clinical care within a collaborative and progressive environment. Our hospital offers modern diagnostic and treatment facilities, including CT, alongside an experienced veterinary team, highly skilled nurses and strong administrative support. Our varied caseload extends from routine consultations and procedures to more complex cases, creating a rewarding environment for clinicians who value both clinical quality and continued development. We already have six certificate holders across the business, including Advanced Practitioners in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. Further qualifications, professional interests and leadership development are actively encouraged and supported. Kings Veterinary Centre is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary care organisation in the world. This provides access to a wide clinical network, specialist knowledge, professional development opportunities and comprehensive wellbeing support, while allowing our hospital to remain focused on its people, patients and local community.
About this role: We are looking for an experienced Lead Veterinary Surgeon to work in partnership with our Clinical Director, support the continued development of our clinical team and help guide the next stage of growth for our recently opened hospital. This is a hands-on clinical leadership position that combines a varied small animal caseload with protected time for mentoring, clinical governance and broader leadership responsibilities. You will oversee the day-to-day clinical caseload, provide guidance to veterinary colleagues and help ensure consistently high standards of patient care, clinical decision-making and client service.
Working closely with the Clinical Director and Practice Manager, you will:
- Provide approachable clinical leadership across the veterinary team
- Mentor and support colleagues, including graduate veterinarians
- Promote strong clinical governance and adherence to practice protocols
- Contribute to rota planning, team wellbeing and operational performance
- Help develop a positive, supportive and accountable team culture
- Support the strategic growth and continued development of the hospital
- Represent our clinical values across the wider Linnaeus network
You will have meaningful input into how the hospital develops, supported by an experienced clinical team and established resources across human resources, finance, health and safety, and practice operations. For someone seeking further leadership progression, the role also offers a clear pathway towards a future Clinical Director position.
About you: You are an experienced small animal Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys combining clinical practice with mentoring, decision-making and team leadership. Previous leadership experience is essential. As part of the requirements for our PSS Hospital status, you must also hold a postgraduate certificate. You will bring:
- Confident clinical judgement and strong diagnostic reasoning
- The ability to provide clear direction and support to colleagues
- A genuine interest in mentoring and developing veterinary professionals
- An understanding of clinical governance and practice protocols
- A calm and considered approach within a busy hospital environment
- Clear, empathetic communication with colleagues and clients
- A collaborative leadership style that strengthens team culture
- A commitment to high standards of patient care and client service
You will be comfortable making informed clinical decisions while remaining approachable, supportive and open to the perspectives of those around you. Melton Mowbray is a characterful Leicestershire market town surrounded by open countryside and well connected to Leicester, Nottingham and the wider East Midlands. The area offers an appealing balance of town and country living, with local markets, independent businesses, schools, walking routes and welcoming communities. It provides space to enjoy life outside work while keeping larger regional centres within easy reach. Relocation support is available for the successful applicant.
Our offer: The salary for this role is up to £75,000 per annum, depending on experience, with a welcome bonus of up to £5,000 available to direct applicants. The position is based around a four-day working week, with shifts of either 8am to 6pm or 8.30am to 6.30pm. Protected leadership and administration time is built into your schedule, giving you dedicated space to manage responsibilities away from the clinical caseload. There is no on-call commitment. Weekend and bank holiday daytime duties are shared equally across the team on a 1:5 rota. We understand that important commitments outside work matter, and our diary is planned wherever possible to accommodate family events, personal responsibilities and unexpected situations.
In addition, you will receive:
- Five weeks’ annual leave
- Bank holidays and birthday leave
- Relocation support
- RCVS and VDS fees paid
- Employer contribution pension scheme
- Generous staff discount scheme
- Life assurance
- Electric car salary sacrifice scheme
- Enhanced equal family leave
- Extensive internal CPD
- Funded external CPD
- Support for further qualifications
- Leadership development opportunities
- A clear pathway towards Clinical Director
Lead Veterinary Surgeon employer: Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre
Kings Veterinary Centre in Melton Mowbray is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where clinical excellence and team development are at the forefront. With a commitment to employee growth, this role provides protected time for mentoring and leadership responsibilities, ensuring that you can advance your career towards becoming a Clinical Director while working in a state-of-the-art facility. Join a supportive team that values innovation and professional development in a vibrant community.
Contact Details:
Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Veterinary Surgeon
✨Get Involved in Local Health Initiatives
Dive into local health initiatives or volunteer at community health events. This not only boosts your practical experience but also gets you noticed among professionals in human medicine who may have leads on full-time positions like Lead Veterinary Surgeon at Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre.
✨Connect with Professionals via Medical Associations
Join professional associations related to human medicine, such as the Royal College of Physicians. Attend their conferences and networking events to meet potential employers in a relaxed setting. Who knows, you might just bump into someone from Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise Online
Build a personal website or a professional blog where you can share your insights on human medicine topics. This portfolio can catch the eye of recruiters looking for dedicated individuals for full-time roles like Lead Veterinary Surgeon.
✨Leverage University Career Services
If you’re still in or recently graduated from university, don’t hesitate to use your career services. They often have exclusive listings and contacts in the human medicine field that can help you land a full-time gig at places like Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Veterinary Surgeon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for the Lead Veterinary Surgeon at Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre, focus on highlighting your clinical experience and any specific training you've undergone. Include any relevant placements or internships you’ve completed, as well as any certifications that bolster your qualifications in human medicine.
Highlight Your Soft Skills:In the field of human medicine, soft skills are just as crucial as technical knowledge. Mention your communication skills, empathy, and teamwork experiences in your CV and cover letter. This shows that you can work well in a clinical setting and with patients, which is super important in this industry!
Tailor Your Cover Letter Thoughtfully:Be sure to personalise your cover letter for the Lead Veterinary Surgeon at Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre. Mention why you’re passionate about human medicine and how you align with the company’s mission. This is your chance to convey your enthusiasm and make a case for why you'll be a valuable addition to the team!
Include Continuing Education:Make sure to mention any ongoing education or courses you’re taking to keep your skills sharp. In human medicine, staying updated with the latest practices is key. It shows you’re dedicated to your field, which employers like Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre will definitely appreciate!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rutland & Kings Veterinary Centre
✨Brush Up on Clinical Knowledge
Since you're aiming for a role in human medicine, make sure you’re sharp on the latest clinical guidelines and practices relevant to the position. Be prepared to discuss case studies or scenarios you might encounter in the role. This will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also ready to apply that knowledge in real-life situations.
✨Demonstrate Soft Skills
In human medicine, technical skills are crucial, but don’t forget to showcase your soft skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork. In your answers, share specific examples of how you've worked effectively with patients or colleagues in the past, as these traits are highly valued in clinical settings.
✨Know Your CV Backwards
As you’re applying for a full-time position, your CV should tell a story. Be ready to discuss every part of it, especially your clinical experiences, the impact you had, and what you learned. Employers want to see how your journey has prepared you for this role, so think of it like you're taking them through your professional narrative.
✨Prepare for Ethical Scenarios
Ethics are a big deal in human medicine, so expect questions that assess your decision-making in tricky situations. Think about how you'd handle ethical dilemmas or patient confidentiality concerns. Prepare a few examples that illustrate your thought process and how you prioritise patient welfare in your decision-making.
