Lead Veterinary Surgeon Chorley, Lancashire

An exciting opportunity for an ambitious and motivated Lead Veterinary Surgeon to take the reins at a successful first-opinion practice with a highly loyal client base. This role offers genuine autonomy, clinical variety and the chance to shape and grow services within a well-established community practice.

Key Highlights

• Salary £60,000 – £80,000 per year, DOE.

• Permanent, full-time Lead Veterinary Surgeon position.

• Opportunity to develop services aligned to your clinical interests.

• Supportive and highly experienced nursing and veterinary team.

• Strong scope for leadership, mentoring and practice development.

Key Details

• Role: Lead Veterinary Surgeon.

• Contract: Permanent.

• Location: Chorley, Lancashire.

• Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week.

• Salary: £60,000 – £80,000 per year, DOE.

• Weekend rota: 1 in 3 Saturdays.

The Practice

This is a thriving first-opinion practice with an extremely loyal and engaged client base. You'll be joining a supportive and experienced team, including a nursing team with over 40 years' combined experience and an established senior vet offering additional complementary services.

There is a growing caseload in dermatology and ophthalmology, making this an excellent opportunity for a vet who holds, or is working towards, a certificate in either discipline to build and lead a service around their interests.

Facilities & Equipment

• Dental x-ray.

• In-house laboratory.

• Tonopen.

• Access to laparoscopic equipment via a nearby practice.

The Role

• Lead the day-to-day clinical standards and direction of the practice.

• Take sole charge responsibility two days per week.

• Deliver high-quality medical and surgical care.

• Build strong, long-term client relationships.

• Mentor, support and inspire the veterinary and nursing team.

• Contribute to service development and clinical growth areas.

• Work collaboratively with regional colleagues and support teams.

About You

• Qualified MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon.

• Confident in first-opinion small animal practice.

• Comfortable working sole charge when required.

• Strong communicator with a client-focused approach.

• Passionate about leadership, development and clinical excellence.

• Certificate holder or working towards dermatology or ophthalmology desirable but not essential.

Salary & Benefits

• £60,000 – £80,000 per year, DOE.

• Private Medical Insurance and Health Cash Plan from day one.

• 24/7 counselling and wellbeing support.

• Life assurance (3 × salary).

• 5 weeks' annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising with service.

• Additional paid "Day for You”.

• £1,500 CPD allowance plus 3 paid CPD days.

• Access to internal CPD and clinical communities.

• Funded certificate support and career pathways.

• Lead Vet contribution scheme.

• Paid RCVS, VDS and BVA fees.

• Relocation support and visa sponsorship available.

• Sabbatical options based on length of service.

• Cycle to Work scheme.

• Season ticket loans.

• Staff discounts on products and services.

If you'd like to discuss this Lead Veterinary Surgeon opportunity in Chorley, Lancashire, or would like further details in confidence, please get in touch to arrange an informal conversation.

Must Haves

• RCVS Registered (or soon to be)
• Possess the right to work in the United Kingdom
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

What Happens Next?

CLICK APPLY NOW or if you have any questions before applying, or if this role isn't quite right for you, feel free to contact the Vet Seekers team to chat through your veterinary career aspirations in confidence.

Quote job reference: 26-00330

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