Head Veterinary Surgeon

Head Veterinary Surgeon, Ashfield Vets, Annfield Plain, County Durham.

Ashfield Vets are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Head Veterinary Surgeon to join our wonderful team. This pivotal leadership role is responsible for delivering exceptional, patient centred care while driving clinical excellence, supporting operational efficiency, and leading continuous service improvement.

Rota: Full time 40 hours a week. If you are seeking a part time hours, please contact us to discuss options.

At CVS, we put our colleagues first, giving you the support you need to provide the best possible care. From clinical to non-clinical challenges, you'll always have the resources and teams alongside you. We'll be your biggest supporter it's in our nature.

With market leading learning, on the job training, and collaboration with skilled colleagues, you'll have the tools to grow whether you're building confidence early in your career or looking to deepen your expertise. From advancing in your current role to exploring new leadership or specialist pathways, we provide the support and opportunities to help you achieve your goals

Life at Ashfield

Become a part of our journey at our recently relocated site, ideally located with easy access to both historic Durham City and the vibrant city of Newcastle.

Our practice is purpose built for high quality care, featuring three consultation rooms plus a dedicated nurse/cat consultation room, separate cat and dog waiting areas, an in-house pharmacy, and a state-of-the-art prep room and theatre. We also offer onsite parking with an electric car charging point.

You'll be supported by an experienced team of two vets, four RVNs plus a PCA, SVN, reception team, and a Practice Manager who all contribute to smooth day to day running. Our experienced RVN team are proactive with Schedule 3 and enthusiastic about running clinics, alongside nurse consults, they deliver geriatric and weight clinics. Teamwork is central to how we work. We discuss cases frequently to achieve the best outcomes, and we maintain a friendly, caring, well-organised environment.

About you

You'll be passionate about coaching, empowering your team, and consistently driving high standards of patient and client care. Your leadership will be key to our continued development as a centre of excellence.

You will be an experienced veterinary surgeon with strong clinical capability and a natural mentor who enjoys developing and supporting colleagues. Proactive and solutions‑focused, you will bring resilience and a positive outlook while collaborating effectively as a team player who adds professionalism and energy. As a forward‑thinking leader, you will be eager to help shape the future of the practice.

The benefits

At CVS, we know that care for our patients starts with dedicated people like you. That's why we invest in your growth and your future. When you join our team, you'll receive (pro-rated for Part-time or fixed term):

• RCVS & VDS fees paid in full
• Generous CPD allowance, BSAVA library access, 450+ courses, and fully funded postgraduate qualifications (CertAVP, PgCert) with tuition, exams, and study leave covered
• Up to 33 days holiday (with option to buy/sell)
• CVS Pension Scheme
• 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 – 50% off services, MiPet food and medications

Interested?

Please click apply now! For further details or an informal chat, please contact Jim in the recruitment team at jim.mcdowell-massar@cvsvets.com. To submit an online application, click Apply Now, upload your CV and we'll be in touch.

Join us at CVS

We're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We foster an inclusive and equitable workplace, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up.

Wellbeing support is always available, from monthly line-manager check-ins to our network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets and personal mentors. We offer leading benefits and policies, such as our Health Shield which provides support for physical and mental health.

Our aim is to free up clinical colleagues to do what they do best, so we offer practices a wide range of operational support. Central expert HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance, procurement teams are on hand to support with all aspects relating to the smooth running of each practice.

We prioritise investment in our facilities, delivering significant enhancements across numerous practices through a dedicated multi-million-pound improvement fund.

We are based in Annfield Plain, Durham which is commutable from Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Stanley, Consett, Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Seaham, Gateshead, Washington, Birtley, Blaydon, Ryton, Jarrow, Hebburn, South Shields, North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Houghton-le-Spring, Prudhoe, Ponteland, Cramlington, Morpeth, Hexham, Blyth, Ashington, Catchgate, Harelaw (Hare Law), Greencroft, Oxhill, New Kyo, East Kyo, West Kyo, Craghead, The Middles, South Moor, Quaking Houses, Shield Row, Kip Hill, Tanfield, Tanfield Lea, Tantobie, Lanchester, Dipton, Burnhope, Harperley, Maiden Law, Iveston and other locations in the County Durham, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland area.