Lead Veterinary Surgeon
4 days ago
Rickmansworth
Job Title: Lead Veterinary Surgeon Location: Rickmansworth & Chorleywood, Hertfordshire Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) Practice: Chess Veterinary Clinic Salary: £65,000-£75,000 DOE per annum Are you an experienced small animal vet looking for your next step, where you can combine clinical excellence with the opportunity to influence and support a talented team? Chess Veterinary Clinic offers a unique opportunity for a Lead Vet to shape clinical standards, support colleagues, and continue practicing high-quality medicine within a stable, welcoming environment. With loyal clients, experienced nurses, excellent facilities, and a genuine surgical caseload, this is a role where your clinical opinion will be valued, your experience will make a difference, and you will have the autonomy to help drive the continued success of the practice. • Opportunity to influence clinical standards and support the continued development of the practice, • Balanced caseload with approximately 40-50% surgery, allowing you to maintain and develop your clinical skills, • Trusted, experienced team with RVNs who have been with the practice for over a decade, • Loyal, largely insured client base who value high-quality, proactive veterinary care, • Structured and predictable rota: 40 hours/week, 1 in 4 Saturdays (1pm-6pm), • Excellent facilities with opportunities to further develop imaging and advanced clinical skills Chess Veterinary Clinic has been serving the Hertfordshire community for over 75 years, building trusted relationships with generations of clients. You’ll be primarily based at our Rickmansworth site, a charming, characterful practice set within a converted stable, and will spend 1-2 days per week at our Chorleywood branch, which features a large consult room, spacious waiting area, and recently refurbished facilities. Both sites are fully equipped to support high-quality medicine, with an in-house laboratory for thyroid, cPLI, cortisol, routine haematology and biochemistry testing, digital radiography including dental imaging, ultrasound for abdominal and cardiac scans, endoscopy equipment, a dedicated theatre, and a separate area for dentals and ultrasonography. Our experienced team includes a Nursing Manager with 14 years in practice, RVNs with over a decade of experience, a Practice Manager who is also an RVN, and long-standing reception staff. The team is welcoming, collaborative, and supportive, with a strong culture of open case discussion and shared learning. As Lead Vet, you will play an important role within this established team, using your experience to support colleagues, encourage best practice, and help ensure excellent standards of patient and client care continue across both sites. The practice is located in an affluent area with excellent access to London, near the Rickmansworth Aquadrome and Chorleywood Common, offering a mix of village charm, countryside walks, and cafes for a great work-life balance. • 8+ years UK small animal GP experience (minimum 3 years, 10+ years preferred), • Strong clinical confidence across consults and surgical cases, • Passion for working cases up thoroughly and delivering high patient care standards, • Supportive, approachable leader enjoys mentoring and sharing knowledge, • Confident contributing to clinical discussions and shaping best practice, • Excellent communication skills, collaborative teamwork, • Desire to continue developing personally while supporting others, • Interest in developing imaging or endoscopy skills, • Ability to work full-time within a structured rota, • 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave, • RCVS & VDS fees paid, • CPD allowance and 4 days each year to attend events plus Linnaeus CPD Programme (including certificate holder level CPD), • Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program, • Career progression opportunities, • Staff discount schemes, • Life Assurance, • Enhanced sickness pay, • Enhanced equal family leave, • E-car salary sacrifice scheme, • Recruitment referral reward scheme, • Wellness program including:, • Employee assistance program, • Eyecare voucher scheme, • Free annual Flu jab, • Cycle to work scheme #J-18808-Ljbffr