Hospital Lead (Veterinary Services)

Contract:  Permanent, full time

Salary:  £55,420 - £63,762 per annum depending on your skills, experience and professional qualifications relevant to the role. Candidates applying with Veterinary Surgeon qualifications and registration may be eligible for a higher salary, reflecting the additional professional responsibilities associated with the role.

Location:  Grimsby animal hospital

Closing date:  Sunday 13 September 2026

Blue Cross is seeking an experienced and inspiring leader to oversee the operational performance, service delivery and future development of our Grimsby Animal Hospital. This is a unique opportunity to lead a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering outstanding care and support for pets and the people who love them.

We are looking for an experienced leader who can inspire teams, drive continuous improvement and ensure the hospital operates effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

This opportunity may suit:

• Experienced Veterinary Practice Managers
• Senior/head Veterinary Nurse Managers with significant leadership experience
• Senior/head Veterinary Surgeons with significant leadership experience
• Senior leaders from comparable clinical, healthcare or service delivery environments

Regardless of professional background, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, performance and development of the hospital, ensuring high standards of patient care, service delivery, team engagement and operational excellence.

More about the role

As Hospital Lead, you will provide strategic, operational and people leadership for one of our hospitals, ensuring safe, effective and sustainable delivery of services for pets and the people who care for them. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service performance, oversee financial and operational management, and create a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive. The role also plays an important part in delivering our Veterinary Strategy and supporting wider organisational priorities.

Additional professional responsibilities

The core leadership responsibilities of this role remain the same regardless of professional background.

Additional responsibilities will apply depending on the successful candidate's qualifications and registration status.

• Veterinary Surgeons will fulfil the statutory and professional responsibilities associated with their registration and act as the accountable veterinary surgeon on site.  Veterinary Surgeons will participate on the clinical rota one day per week.
• Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) will bring their clinical knowledge and experience to support the effective operation of the hospital and work in partnership with nursing leadership colleagues. RVNs will participate in rota activity for approximately 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required.
• Practice Managers and other non-clinical operational leaders will focus on the operational, financial, and people leadership of the hospital, working in partnership with clinical leaders. These roles will participate in operational rota or duty management activities for approximately 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required.

This is a varied role that combines strategic leadership with day-to-day operational oversight. Participation in rota activity will be 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required, and will depend on your professional background.

About you:

You will be an experienced leader with a track record of managing people, services and operational performance within a veterinary, healthcare or comparable service delivery environment. You will be confident balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands, leading change and developing high-performing teams.

Whether your background is in practice management, veterinary nursing leadership, veterinary medicine or another relevant service environment, you will be a collaborative leader who can build strong relationships, develop others and deliver excellent outcomes through effective operational management.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about creating an environment where colleagues can thrive and where pets and their owners receive the highest standards of care and service.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Proven experience of leading teams within a veterinary, healthcare or service delivery environment at a senior operational level
• Experience of leading services or sites through continuous improvement, change management and cultural development
• Proven track record of delivering operational and strategic objectives within a complex service delivery environment
• Significant experience of people leadership, including recruitment, performance management, coaching and development of managers and teams
• Strong experience of budget management, including financial planning, forecasting, monitoring and reporting
• Experience of working in a fast-paced operational environment, balancing competing priorities and making effective decisions under pressure
• Experience of developing strong internal and external stakeholder relationships to support service delivery and organisational impact
• Ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience working in a not for profit, charity or social enterprise environment
• Experience of multisite, regional or networked service delivery models
• Experience of service redesign, transformation or implementation of new operating models
• Experience of working within a regulated clinical environment
• Experience of contributing to external engagement, partnerships or reputation building activity

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the role, including the additional responsibilities and requirements that apply to Veterinary Surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses.