Head of Veterinary Surgery
USPCA Animal Hospital, Newry
About the USPCA
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) is Northern Ireland's leading animal welfare charity. For over 180 years, we have worked to protect animals, prevent cruelty, relieve suffering, and promote kindness across our communities. We deliver vital services from rescuing and rehabilitating animals to tackling wildlife crime and educating the public. By joining our team, you will help ensure the delivery of high-quality veterinary care and support the organisation's mission to improve animal welfare across Northern Ireland.
Role Purpose
The Head of Veterinary Surgery is a senior leadership role responsible for the effective clinical, operational and strategic direction and financial management of the USPCA Animal Hospital in Newry. This role ensures the highest standards of animal care, leads a multidisciplinary clinical team, and supports the organisation's mission to prevent cruelty, promote welfare, and provide accessible veterinary services to the community. They will ensure excellent clinical standards of animal care, outstanding client experience, efficient and sustainable service delivery, and a productive, engaged team environment.
The postholder is expected to medically and surgically assess and treat small companion animals and injured wildlife at the USPCA Animal Hospital, delivering an efficient, professional and caring service in accordance with USPCA policies. The role combines strong surgical expertise with compassionate leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to animal welfare advocacy.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Surgical Excellence
- Lead all veterinary services within the USPCA, ensuring best-practice standards across routine, complex, and emergency procedures
- Oversee clinical protocols, surgical safety, patient care pathways, and welfare-first decision-making
- Provide consultation, diagnosis and medical treatment of companion animals, rescued strays, and wildlife within the USPCA animal shelter
- Undertake surgeries including neutering and emergency interventions
- Carry out diagnostic tests including X-rays and ultrasound, and provide pre- and post-operative care for hospital in-patients
- Plan and collaborate with veterinary staff to deliver a 6-day veterinary service rota
- Carry out private health checks, vaccinations, and provide owner advice on care and diet
- Treat injured wildlife and stray animals in line with USPCA policy
- Make clinical decisions in the best interests of the animal, including euthanasia where suffering cannot be alleviated through treatment or rehabilitation
- Deliver charitable, private and preventive clinical work within USPCA policy and the RCVS Code of Conduct
- Promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership through client education and preventive medicine
- Maintain high standards of clinical governance, including infection prevention and control
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor and support veterinary surgeons, nurses and clinical support staff
- Work with the Senior Management Team to plan a veterinary workforce that meets the needs of the charity and veterinary social enterprise
- Undertake team and personal annual appraisals, ensuring CPD is achieved
- Foster a positive, collaborative, welfare-focused clinic culture
Operational Management
- Manage day-to-day operations of the veterinary surgery, ensuring efficient workflow and resource allocation
- Oversee maintenance and development of clinical facilities, equipment and medical supplies
- Ensure compliance with RCVS standards, health and safety requirements, and controlled drugs legislation
- Develop and monitor budgets, cost controls and service performance KPIs
Strategic Development
- Work with senior leadership to shape and deliver the long-term vision for USPCA's clinical services
- Identify opportunities for service expansion, community impact and operational innovation
- Support fundraising, public engagement and external partnerships relating to veterinary welfare and clinic operations
Animal Welfare & Advocacy
- Promote USPCA's mission through high-quality veterinary care, ethical decision-making and compassionate service delivery
- Contribute expert insights to welfare campaigns, education programmes and public communications
- Support cruelty investigations and animal rescue operations with clinical expertise where required
Governance & General Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with veterinary regulations, health and safety, and data protection legislation
- Maintain accurate records and ensure audit readiness
- Uphold USPCA policies, procedures and values, and represent the organisation positively at all times
- Take reasonable care for the health and safety of self, colleagues, clients, volunteers and the public
- Handle confidential and sensitive information professionally
- Undertake additional duties, travel and attendance at events or meetings, including outside normal hours, as reasonably required
Person Specification
Essential
- MRCVS registered and eligible to practise in the UK
- 2 years' post-graduate experience in small animal practice, including complex procedures
- Proven leadership, interpersonal and team management experience in a veterinary or clinical setting
- Financial awareness and experience of budget monitoring or reporting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple priorities
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with senior colleagues and wider teams
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to veterinary practice and leadership
- Professional, credible and values-led approach
- Full UK driving licence with access to transport and willingness to travel
- Flexibility to work varied hours, including occasional evenings/weekends
Desirable
- Additional surgical qualifications (e.g. Cert AVP, PGCert, or equivalent)
- Experience in the charity or animal welfare sector
- Experience of shelter medicine
- Experience of supporting service improvement or organisational change
- Experience of clinical governance, quality improvement and operational management
- Public engagement or media experience
Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
