At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a multi-site veterinary operation with a focus on clinical excellence and commercial performance.
- Company: Cromwell Vets, part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, a leading veterinary group.
- Benefits: 5 weeks holiday, career progression, wellness programs, and competitive salary.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to excellence and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a genuine impact in a supportive, collaborative environment while shaping strategic decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site leadership within veterinary or healthcare settings is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Are you an inspiring operational leader ready to make an impact on a thriving, progressive veterinary group? Cromwell Vets are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Practice Director to lead and develop a multi‐site veterinary operation. This is a senior operational leadership role, suited to dynamic people and business leaders who thrive in complex healthcare environments and can balance clinical excellence with commercial performance.
Cromwell Vets is a thriving hospital-led group with five branch practices across Cambridgeshire. What sets this group apart is not just its scale, but the clinical density and expertise within it, where associates work alongside each other to elevate case standards in a genuinely collaborative environment.
The ideal candidate may come from a veterinary, healthcare, or multi‐site operational background, and will bring strong people leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to deliver sustainable growth through engaged teams and high standards of care.
Key Responsibilities- Provide strong, visible leadership across multiple veterinary practices, fostering a high‐performance, values‐driven culture
- Drive commercial performance, including P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and delivery of financial targets
- Work in close partnership with Clinical Directors / Lead Vets, ensuring clinical excellence and operational efficiency are aligned
- Lead, develop, and retain senior site leaders, building robust succession plans
- Translate central strategy into clear, actionable plans at practice level
- Ensure compliance with clinical governance, regulatory, and operational standards
- Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement, growth, and innovation across the group
- A proven operator with multi‐site leadership experience (essential)
- Background in veterinary practice, healthcare, or a related regulated service environment
- Commercially minded, confident managing complex P&L structures
- Strong people leader with experience managing senior clinicians and operational leaders
- Comfortable working in a matrix organisation, balancing local autonomy with central expectations
- Resilient, pragmatic, and outcomes‐focused, with a collaborative leadership style
- Desirable (but not essential): Qualified Veterinary Surgeon with leadership experience; Previous experience within corporate veterinary or healthcare groups; Change management or transformation experience
- 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and Birthday Leave
- Career progression opportunities
- Staff discount schemes
- Life Assurance
- Enhanced sickness pay
- Enhanced equal family leave
- E-car salary sacrifice scheme
- Employer contribution pension scheme
- Wellness program including: Employee assistance program, Eyecare voucher scheme, Free annual Flu jab, Cycle to work scheme, Recruitment referral reward scheme
- Opportunity to make a genuine impact across a diverse multi‐site operation
- Autonomy to lead, shape, and influence strategic and operational decisions
- Supportive central infrastructure with strong clinical and operational governance
- Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package
Cromwell Vets are part of Linnaeus and 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 – care for pets.
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.
If you are interested in this opportunity, apply now or contact the team on Careers@Linnaeusgroup.co.uk for more information.
We are proud to be Linnaeus, part of Mars. Linnaeus is a forward-thinking group of highly respected primary care and specialist referral practices in the UK and Ireland. Being family owned and part of Mars Veterinary Health, the largest veterinary company in the world, allows us to focus on advancing the veterinary profession to provide industry-leading pet care and unique career opportunities for our people.
Why Linnaeus?
- We pride ourselves in offering high-quality excellence of service and clinical care for our clients and their pets
- We lead on sustainability and collectively drive positive change for people, pets and the planet
- We prioritise your mental health and wellbeing – valuing equity, diversity and inclusion
- We support your personal and professional development with best-in-class career frameworks and training programmes. We will empower and support you to grow your career from day one.
- We team up within our Mars family in partnership for a stronger future.
Linnaeus is an equal-opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We treat each other fairly and equitably and we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse for all our Associates.
Practice Director employer: VCA Inc.
Cromwell Vets, part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, offers an exceptional work environment for a Practice Director, combining a commitment to clinical excellence with a supportive and collaborative culture. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, extensive career progression opportunities, and a comprehensive wellness programme, all while being part of a family-owned group that prioritises long-term impact over short-term profits. With a focus on inclusivity and personal development, Cromwell Vets empowers its associates to thrive in their roles and make a meaningful difference in veterinary care across Cambridgeshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field and let them know you're on the lookout for a Practice Director role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Cromwell Vets and understand their values and operations. Be ready to discuss how your leadership style aligns with their culture and how you can drive commercial performance while ensuring clinical excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When you get the chance to chat with the Talent Acquisition team, highlight your past successes in multi-site leadership and how you've driven growth and innovation in previous roles. Numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Cromwell Vets and making a real impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in multi-site leadership and operational excellence. We want to see how your background aligns with our values and the specific requirements of the Practice Director role.
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, give us a glimpse of your leadership style. Share examples of how you've fostered high-performance cultures and engaged teams in previous roles. We love to see candidates who can inspire and motivate others!
Highlight Financial Acumen:Since this role involves P&L ownership and financial targets, be sure to include any relevant experience you have with budgeting, forecasting, and driving commercial performance. We’re looking for someone who can balance clinical excellence with strong financial management.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Cromwell Vets!
How to prepare for a job interview at VCA Inc.
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Practice Director, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on P&L statements, budgeting, and forecasting. Be ready to discuss how you've driven commercial performance in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong people leadership skills. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, developed senior leaders, and fostered a high-performance culture. Highlight your collaborative approach and how it has benefited your past teams.
✨Align with Clinical Excellence
Cromwell Vets values clinical excellence alongside operational efficiency. Familiarise yourself with their practices and be prepared to discuss how you can ensure alignment between clinical and operational goals in your leadership.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The ideal candidate should identify opportunities for growth and innovation. Think of specific instances where you've implemented changes that improved operations or patient care, and be ready to share these during the interview.
