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- Tasks: Lead the Veterinary Department, ensuring high-quality care for donkeys and equines.
- Company: The Donkey Sanctuary, a global leader in animal welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, life assurance, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of donkeys while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in veterinary services, budget management, and team leadership required.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to animal welfare and enjoy excellent career growth.
The predicted salary is between 44046 - 61665 £ per year.
The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.
We have an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated, flexible and professional individual with outstanding leadership, organisational and relationship-building skills to join our dedicated Veterinary Team. As Practice Manager, you will be responsible for the effective day-to-day management of the Veterinary Department, ensuring that people, processes, and resources work seamlessly to support the delivery of high-quality clinical services to donkeys, mules and horses within our care.
About you:
- Demonstrable working knowledge of veterinary clinical service provision.
- Experience of using legislation, governance and professional standards relevant to the provision of veterinary services to equines in the UK.
- Demonstrable experience of effective budget management (including preparing, monitoring and reporting) and ability to work within financial constraints.
- Demonstrable experience of effectively leading a team.
- Able to work calmly under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Excellent communication, report writing and interpersonal skills.
- Proven computer literacy including database utilisation, email, PowerPoint and Excel.
About the role:
- Acting as the point of contact with regards to staff, estates and facilities, fleet, security and budgetary matters and working collaboratively across the veterinary department to ensure the delivery of cost effective and high-quality veterinary services.
- Triaging veterinary service calls and laboratory results to ensure urgent cases are addressed promptly while maintaining the flow of routine procedures.
- Managing the duty and out of hours rota to ensure fair and consistent 24/7 cover for veterinary services.
- Coordinating mandatory Veterinary Medicines Directorate/RCVS veterinary medicines inspections and voluntary RCVS Tier 2 Practice Standards to ensure procedures, documentation and protocols are in place.
- Supporting audits and governance reviews as required.
- Directing and managing the veterinary administration team to uphold excellence in veterinary service provision, ensuring informed advice and consistent communication with external stakeholders, veterinary professionals, and paraprofessionals.
- Effectively managing the department budget alongside Head of Clinical Services (Clinical Director) and the financial business partner to ensure appropriate use of charitable spends, reporting and investigating any variances.
- Handling and approving purchase orders (including capital and overseas payments), processing invoices through procurement/EBIS, and managing stock levels and ordering for farriery supplies.
- Acting as the main point of contact for professional and security contractors including carrying out regular audits of care and standards and reporting concerns to Head of Clinical Services (Clinical Director).
What we offer in return:
Based at our fully equipped veterinary hospital at Brookfield Farm, near Honiton – this is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Benefits:
- Competitive pension.
- Life assurance.
- 31 days holiday.
Practice Manager employer: The Donkey Sanctuary
Contact Detail:
The Donkey Sanctuary Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field and let them know you're on the hunt for a Practice Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching common questions for management roles in veterinary services. Practise your answers, focusing on your leadership and budget management experience. We want you to shine when it’s your turn to impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your achievements in managing veterinary services, including any successful projects or initiatives you've led. This will give potential employers a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Practice Manager position!
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Practice Manager role. Highlight your experience in veterinary clinical services, budget management, and team leadership. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about animal welfare and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our Veterinary Team. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, make sure your application reflects that. Use clear language, check for typos, and structure your documents well. We love a well-organised application!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our mission there.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Donkey Sanctuary
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of veterinary clinical services, especially as they relate to equines in the UK. Familiarise yourself with relevant legislation and professional standards, as this will show that you're serious about the role and understand the responsibilities that come with it.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Practice Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed a team or project, highlighting your organisational skills and how you handle pressure. This will help the interviewers see you in action.
✨Budget Management is Key
Since budget management is a crucial part of the role, be ready to discuss your experience with financial oversight. Bring specific examples of how you've prepared, monitored, and reported on budgets in previous positions. This will show that you can handle the financial constraints of the job.
✨Communication is Everything
Excellent communication skills are essential for this position. Think about times when you've had to communicate complex information clearly, whether in writing or verbally. Be prepared to discuss how you maintain relationships with stakeholders and ensure consistent communication within your team.
