Head Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity for a Head Veterinary Surgeon to join the Argyll practice in Barnstaple, North Devon. The role is 40 hours per week, usually worked across four days, with a 1:6 Saturday rota and TOIL provided. Flexible and part-time options are available, so there is scope to discuss what would suit you.

Set in beautiful North Devon, the practice is based in an area of outstanding natural beauty with a stunning coastline and plenty of leisure activities nearby. It is a step-up role for a confident, experienced vet who wants to lead, mentor and help shape a friendly, close-knit four-vet team, ideally with a surgical bias.

You will keep building your clinical skills while also developing leadership and business management experience, with full support and training available. The practice is looking for someone who can fit well with the team, earn trust and bring energy, professionalism and a genuine interest in improving day-to-day practice life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support a friendly, close-knit four-vet first opinion team.
• Mentor fellow vets and help promote their development.
• Contribute to ongoing improvement across the practice.
• Maintain clinical work while developing people leadership and business management skills.
• Work a 40-hour week, usually over four days, with a 1:6 Saturday rota and TOIL.

Requirements

• Confident, experienced veterinary surgeon.
• Strong interest in mentoring and leadership.
• Drive to support ongoing improvement.
• Ideally a surgical bias.
• Ability to work well with the team and clients.
• Experience is not critical, as full support and training are available.

Benefits

• Salary up to £72,000 DOE.
• RCVS and VDS fees paid in full.
• Generous CPD allowance.
• BSAVA library access.
• Access to 450+ courses.
• Fully funded postgraduate qualifications, including CertAVP and PgCert, with tuition, exams and study leave covered.
• Up to 33 days holiday, with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Relocation package and visa fees covered where applicable.
• Access to Vet Oracle telemedicine specialists, Advanced Clinical Services Network and Regional Clinical Leads for case support and mentoring.
• Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and enhanced family leave policies.
• Staff pet care discounts, including 50% off services, MiPet food and medications.

About the Practice

Argyll is the Barnstaple practice within CVS. The advert describes it as a first opinion site and notes that the practice is supported by CVS’s wider network, including central HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance and procurement teams.

CVS also says it invests in facilities through a multi-million-pound improvement fund, alongside wellbeing support and inclusive workplace policies across the group.