About the Job
Collaborate, thrive, and save pets’ lives
At Vets Now, we believe that when your purpose is to make a difference, you deserve a team that shares your passion. In our Gateshead clinic, we’re looking for a Head/Lead Veterinary Surgeon to 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.
Gateshead is one of our busiest and most established clinics, operating from a PDSA host practice. The clinic has built a reputation for delivering emergency and critical care to an exceptionally high standard and is recognised internally as a fast paced, rewarding environment for ambitious ECC professionals.
With a high and varied caseload, Gateshead offers outstanding opportunities for clinical development and exposure to a broad range of emergency presentations. The clinic is supported by a dedicated team and regularly attracts locum vets due to the volume and complexity of cases. Recruitment opportunities within the permanent team are highly valued, making this an exciting opportunity for a clinician looking to make a lasting impact in a respected ECC setting.
The clinic also benefits from excellent public transport links, making commuting straightforward from across the North East and surrounding areas. As part of the wider Vets Now network, Gateshead plays a vital role in providing trusted out of hours emergency care to pets across the region.
Lead with Clinical Excellence
As Head/Lead 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
- Supporting the growth, training and wellbeing of your veterinary team
- 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, including:
- Weekday nights and 1:2 weekends (mix of nights and days)
- Night shifts 18:00–09:00, Saturday day 12:00–18:30 and Sunday day 08:30–18:30
- 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.
Rewarding Work, Your Way
We look after you, so you can look after them, by offering a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Salary up to £85,000 DOE
- Seven weeks pro rata annual leave
- £1,875 CPD allowance plus 35 paid CPD hours (pro rata)
- RCVS fees, VECCS membership and VDS cover
- Private medical insurance
- Family-friendly policies – enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Leadership Development Programme
- Access to our AdvantEdge clinical training platform
- Standard pension contributions (5% employee / 3% employer)
- Up to 50% discounted pet care
Support That Sets You Up for Success
You’re never alone at Vets Now. On shift, you’ll work alongside a Registered Veterinary Nurse, Animal Care Assistant and Receptionist, with access to colleagues across our nationwide network of clinics and referral centres whenever you need additional support or a second opinion.
You’ll also be supported by our Support Office in Dunfermline, where our dedicated teams work behind the scenes to help you thrive. Our Call Handlers and Customer Care Advisors ensure you can focus on what matters most delivering exceptional patient care.
Ready to Lead with Purpose?
If you’d like to visit the clinic or chat about the role before applying, contact Jessica in our Talent Team at:
Inclusion and Accessibility
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability or health condition, we’re committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.