Full time | Shoreditch | Clapham | Twickenham | Temple Fortune | Posted October 08, 2026
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Job Description:
About Veteris
Veteris is an independent, emergency-only veterinary group providing 24/7 care across London.
Our service combines four emergency hospitals, a mobile emergency team and an RVN-led remote triage centre. We are continuing to grow and are now recruiting a Head Veterinary Surgeon for each of our London hospitals.
This is an opportunity for an experienced veterinary surgeon to remain clinically involved while taking genuine ownership of the development, support and day-to-day leadership of a hospital team.
The Role
As Head Vet, you will be the local veterinary lead for your hospital.
You will work closely with the Directors, Clinical Directors, Head Nurse, Operations and HR teams to support your colleagues, maintain high clinical and operational standards, and help your hospital continue to develop.
This is not a full clinical rota with management responsibilities added on top.
The role has been designed to provide a meaningful balance between hands-on emergency work and protected leadership time. Across the rota cycle, the position will be approximately 50% clinical and 50% leadership, management and hospital development.
Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing day-to-day leadership and support to the veterinary team
- Holding regular one-to-ones and supporting probation, performance, wellbeing and professional development
- Participating in the recruitment, onboarding and retention of veterinary surgeons
- Contributing to nursing recruitment and hospital workforce planning alongside the Head Nurse and Operations team
- Helping to plan veterinary rotas and ensuring appropriate clinical coverage
- Identifying training and mentoring needs within the team
- Supporting the implementation of Veteris clinical standards, protocols and ways of working
- Following up on local clinical and operational improvements
- Participating in veterinary, nursing and whole-hospital team meetings
- Maintaining clear communication between the hospital team and the wider Veteris leadership structure
- Supporting effective patient flow and the hospital’s ability to respond to periods of high emergency activity
- Providing first-line leadership support during allocated on-call periods, with senior Clinical Director escalation available
The Head Vet will work in partnership with the Head Nurse. The Head Nurse will retain responsibility for nursing line management, while both roles will work closely together on hospital standards, recruitment, training and team development
Clinical Commitment
We want our Head Vets to remain visible, clinically credible members of their teams.
The anticipated clinical commitment is an average of approximately two clinical shifts per non-on-call week, with a minimum of 18 planned clinical shifts over a 12-week rota cycle (18 shifts in 84 days minimum).
Clinical work may include:
- Emergency peak shifts
- Day-shift cover
- Working alongside less experienced colleagues
- Clinical mentoring and practical training
- Additional support during periods of increased hospital activity
Additional clinical work may be available for candidates who would like to work beyond their core commitment.
Leadership and management time will be planned and protected within the rota.
This time will be used for:
- One-to-ones and team follow-up
- Recruitment and interviews
- Training and mentoring
- Meetings
- Probation and performance management
- Hospital projects and service improvements
- Review of local standards, processes and team needs
You will not be expected to complete these responsibilities in your personal time or between emergency consultations.
Leadership and administrative time will normally be hospital-based, allowing the Head Vet to remain present and accessible to their team.
On-Call Responsibilities
The role includes participation in an approximately one-in-four leadership on-call rota across the Veteris hospital network.
During an on-call week, the Head Vet would not normally be scheduled for routine clinical shifts. The week would instead combine protected management responsibilities with availability to support the hospitals and attend in person when required.
A Clinical Director will remain available for senior clinical, organisational or executive escalation.
The detailed on-call arrangements, geographical expectations and escalation process will be discussed clearly during the recruitment process.
Desired Skills:
About You
You will be an experienced veterinary surgeon with strong small-animal clinical judgement and knowledge of emergency medicine, emergency medicine and a genuine interest in developing people.
Previous formal leadership experience would be beneficial, but we are also interested in experienced senior clinicians who are ready to take their first significant step into management.
You should be:
- Confident managing emergency and critical-care presentations
- Calm and effective when making decisions under pressure
- Interested in mentoring, training and supporting colleagues
- Comfortable giving clear, constructive feedback
- Organised and able to manage competing priorities
- Willing to take ownership of problems and follow them through
- Able to manage sensitive team matters professionally
- Committed to high standards of patient care and client communication
- Comfortable working collaboratively with veterinary, nursing, operational and HR colleagues
- Willing to contribute to weekend and peak-period clinical coverage
- Able to travel between Veteris hospitals when required during on-call periods
A postgraduate certificate or additional ECC qualification would be welcomed but is not essential.
What We Offer
- A senior leadership position within an independent and growing veterinary group
- Genuine protected management and administrative time
- A defined clinical commitment rather than a full clinical rota plus management
- The opportunity to shape the culture and development of your own hospital
- Support from experienced Clinical Directors, Head Nurses, Operations and HR
- Varied emergency and critical-care caseload
- Modern 24/7 hospital facilities
- CPD allowance and support for continued professional development
- VDS cover
- Support with RCVS fees
- Staff benefits for your own pets
- Health Insurance
- Opportunities for future progression as Veteris continues to grow
Locations
We are recruiting Head Vets for:
- Shoreditch
- Clapham
Applicants may express an interest in one or more hospitals.
Application Process
Please submit:
- Your CV
- A short covering statement explaining your interest in the role
- Your preferred hospital or hospitals
The initial stage will be an informal conversation about the role, your experience and what you are looking for from your next position and a hospital visit.
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