About the Job

Portsmouth – Senior Veterinary Surgeon – Emergency & Critical Care (ECC)

Up to £95,000 DOE pro rata plus benefits

£10,000 pro rata completion recognition bonus

Up to £5,000 relocation allowance

9-Month fixed-term contract

Your purpose, our passion

At Vets Now, we believe that when your purpose is to make a difference, you deserve a team that shares your passion.

At our Portsmouth clinic, we are looking for a Head/Lead Veterinary Surgeon, for a 9-month fixed-term contract, with a possible chance of extension to 12-months – TBC.

In this role, you will lead from the front – inspiring clinical excellence and guiding a high-performing and collaborative team that supports pets and people when they need it most.

With this opportunity, if accommodation support is required, this is something we can discuss further. Portsmouth as a location offers a variety of activities, including the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Lead with clinical excellence

As Senior Vet, you’ll lead by example by blending clinical expertise with mentorship and collaboration. You’ll set the tone for quality care, lead in emergency situations, and support the development of your fellow clinicians. You’ll have responsibility for:

  • Driving and upholding clinical standards across the clinic
  • Identifying clinical development opportunities and shaping team progression
  • Championing innovation and service improvement within the clinic

This is more than a job. This is a vital leadership role with real impact where your guidance helps shape the future of ECC, while making a difference to patients, clients, and colleagues every day.

Work-life balance that works for you

This full-time role averages 40 hours per week (average of 3 shifts per week), including:

  • Weekday nights
  • 1:2 weekends (mix of nights and days)
  • Shared bank holidays
  • No more than three consecutive nights
  • Protected time for leadership duties and meetings

We understand that life outside of work matters too. That’s why we offer flexibility and can explore part-time arrangements, depending on clinic requirements, because your balance is our priority.

We look after you so you can look after them

At Vets Now we recognise that our people are what makes us. That’s why we are continuing to invest in first class reward and recognition benefits and initiatives.

  • Membership of employee wellbeing programme
  • 7 weeks pro rata annual leave
  • Your birthday as a paid day off
  • Paid volunteering days
  • RCVS fees, VECCS membership and VDS cover
  • Vets Now For You – reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100’s of retailers
  • UK Standard Pension contributions – 5% Employee/3% Employer
  • Up to 50% discounted staff pet care

Collaborative spirit – support that sets you up for success

You’re never alone at Vets Now: on-shift you’ll work alongside a registered Vet Nurse, an Animal Care Assistant and a Receptionist. You can also contact any of our clinics or referral centers across the UK, if needing to discuss a particular case or share ideas.

You’ll also be supported by our Support Office in Dunfermline, where our teams work behind the scenes to help you thrive. Our Call Handlers and Customer Care Advisors ensure you can focus on what matters most – your patients.

Apply at Vets Now

To be considered for this role, please click apply. To get in touch with Angie in our Talent team to discuss further, please email [email protected] or call 078 150 15538.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we encourage candidates with disabilities and health conditions to apply and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.