Head Vet - Clinical Services (2381)

Do you want to help create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe animal welfare is everyone's welfare. Join us in creating a better world for every animal. We can do it if we work together, everyone for every animal.

Choose a career with us and make a difference.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the RSPCA's Veterinary Department.  - we are looking for a new team member as Head Vet - Clinical Services

You'll play a key role in providing expert advice, guidance and oversight to teams caring for animals rescued from situations of cruelty and neglect.  

This role offers:

• • A permanent position 
  • Working hours are 35 hours / Mon - Friday. 
  • Home-based: You will be based at home but frequent travel to our Animal Centres, Hospitals and Hubs will be required. 
  • Excellent benefits package

In particular we are seeking candidates who have charity experience with the ability to support colleagues in developing a pragmatic shelter medicine approach.

Are you ready to join our movement?

 Closing date is for interest is Monday 18th August 2025

As the Head Vet (Clinical Services) you will work very closely with the RSPCA's Animal Services function ensuring that animals in the care of the RSPCA are receiving the appropriate, welfare-focused care and veterinary treatment.

You will:

• Provide clinical support and professional oversight to RSPCA vets working in our centres and hospitals and will also liaise with private vets providing services to National RSPCA sites. 
• Work closely with colleagues within the veterinary department, including the Head of Clinical Behaviour, to ensure there is a consistent approach to the care of RSPCA animals that is consistent and maximises overall animal welfare. 
• Work with senior vets from different RSPCA functions (e.g. branches, Inspectorate, prosecutions) and species groups (equine, wildlife/exotics) within the Veterinary Department and will line manage the Head of Veterinary Nursing. You will support the Head of Veterinary Nursing to develop a strategy for veterinary nursing. 

Working with this team you will play a key role in developing welfare training across the Society, through the “Animal Journey” transformation and the roll out of the RSPCA's innovative “Animal Voice” welfare assessment tools.

In addition you will be responsible for the production of appropriate guidance and advice for RSPCA sites, for compliance with RCVS and VMD standards and for further developing and overseeing a process of clinical audit and continuous improvement in clinical  matters.

Do you see your expertise reflected in this opportunity? Are you ready to make a real impact? If so, we'd love to connect with you

• MRCVS with extensive post qualification experience, including time in the rescue/ charity sector
• Experiencing of managing teams of vets, other professionals and non-vet teams
• Experience of clinical audit and continuous improvement
• Experience of managing strategic change and introducing new compliance frameworks
• A strong willingness to collaborate across functions, an ability to influence and build relationships

The recruitment process will consist of the following stages:

• Application Submission

• Competency-Based Interview – to be held in our London Hub at Blackfriars. This will include one question provided in advance to allow for preparation and thoughtful reflection.

• Potential final stage ( we will do our best to avoid this if possible). 

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our mission.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk / 0300 123 0685.

Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect