Clinical Lead Veterinary Surgeon
Birmingham | Charity & Shelter Medicine | 4-Day Week
What if your next Clinical Lead role gave you the chance to build something, rather than simply inherit it?
We are pleased to be working with an established small animal veterinary practice, set up in 2021 to provide dedicated clinical care for dogs within a long-standing animal welfare charity.
The practice currently provides veterinary services across two rehoming centres, with the clinical team managing everything from routine preventative care and medical work-ups through to surgery, dentistry, emergency treatment and more complex welfare cases.
They also see private clients from the local community, with the caseload sitting at roughly 60% shelter work and 40% private practice, including dogs, cats and small furries.
This is a genuinely different environment to traditional first-opinion practice. The focus is very much on welfare, practical decision-making and providing the best possible care for animals within the charity, while continuing to develop the clinical service and the team around it.
They are now looking for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon to step into a Clinical Lead position and play a key role in shaping what that service looks like going forward.
A chance to actually have your say
The permanent veterinary team is being rebuilt, with the aim of establishing a four-vet team alongside 7 RVNs.
For the person coming in as Clinical Lead, that creates a rare opportunity.
You won't simply be stepping into someone else's way of doing things.
You'll have the chance to:
Help shape the clinical service
Influence protocols and standards
Develop the vets around you
Support day-to-day clinical decision-making
Contribute to future improvements
Help build the permanent team you'll eventually be leading
You'll also represent the clinical team in wider organisational discussions, giving you a genuine voice in how the veterinary service develops.
Importantly, this isn't intended to become a heavily administrative role.
They want a Clinical Lead who still loves being a vet.
The management side can be shaped around the right person, allowing you to stay heavily involved with surgery, consultations and case management while still having the influence that comes with leading the team.
Shelter medicine is at the heart of this role
One day could be predominantly shelter consultations and medical cases.
Another could be a full operating day.
Another might combine shelter surgery with private first-opinion consultations.
The caseload is broad and includes:
Routine and more involved neutering
Dentistry
Cherry eye procedures
Ear and eye cases
General soft tissue surgery
Medical investigations and work-ups
Emergency treatment
Preventative care
A wide range of shelter-related cases
There is plenty of surgery and plenty of opportunity to use your clinical judgement.
But shelter medicine can also mean making difficult decisions.
Some animals will have unknown histories, complex welfare needs and limited options. The person who thrives here will understand that good veterinary care isn't always about doing everything clinically possible. It's about making the right decision for the individual animal and its welfare.
You don't necessarily need previous shelter experience.
You do need to believe in the purpose behind it.
The team
There is already an established nursing team of 7 RVNs, working across a mixture of full-time, part-time and varied shift patterns.
Locum vets are currently supporting the veterinary service while the permanent team is rebuilt, meaning they can comfortably consider candidates with a three-month notice period.
The longer-term goal is a settled four-vet permanent team, with the Clinical Lead having genuine input into how that team develops.
The rota
The typical full-time working pattern is:
4-day week
4 x 10-hour shifts
Saturday work is shared with TOIL provided, and the longer-term aim is to establish a 1:4 rota as the permanent team grows.
There is also flexibility to discuss working arrangements for the right person.
Who would suit this?
I'd particularly like to speak with an experienced Veterinary Surgeon who:
Genuinely cares about animal welfare
Enjoys surgery and wants to remain clinically hands-on
Is confident making clinical decisions
Can approach difficult cases pragmatically and compassionately
Enjoys supporting and developing other vets
Wants genuine influence over how a veterinary service develops
Likes the idea of helping build their own team
Is collaborative when it comes to protocols and clinical standards
Wants leadership without completely stepping away from clinical work
Perhaps you've spent years in private practice and you're ready for your work to have a different purpose.
Or perhaps you already have charity, shelter or welfare experience and want the opportunity to take the next step into leadership.
Either way, this is an opportunity to put your own stamp on a veterinary service at a point where your input can genuinely make a difference.
The interview process will also give you the opportunity to spend time within the shelter, meet the team and properly understand the environment before either side makes a final decision.
If you wish to apply send a CV through the link with a mention of when you will be available for a registration call.
For a confidential discussion about our opportunities call Sophie on 07519119233 or email a CV to sophie@lloydandcowan.comIf this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us on 02887658068.If you know someone else who may be interested, why not pass this advert on to them.
If we successfully place someone, you've referred to us; we'll give you £200 in high street vouchers as a way of saying thank you.
All applications will be treated in the STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.