NVS Group
Management - Head of Veterinary Services
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Head of Veterinary Services
Job Overview
This is a great opportunity to work for the UK’s leading veterinary wholesaler.
Our business provides a next day supply and distribution service through our nationwide network of distribution depots, serving an average of 2750 customers every day.
Working for us you'll receive:
- Competitive rates of pay
- 33 days paid holiday (including bank holidays) (Pro rata)
- Staff discounts
- Life assurance benefit
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Free on-site parking and Wi-Fi
- A 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme – offering a range of support services to help you to resolve difficulties in your home-life
- Christmas vouchers
- Eye-sight vouchers
- Company pension scheme
Job Details
40 hours Monday to Friday
Company: NATIONAL VETERINARY SERVICES LIMITED
Job Title: Head of Veterinary Services
Reports to: Labs Director
Position Band: F
Business unit: NWL
Prepared by: DC
Date: August 26
Main Purpose of the Role
The Head of Veterinary Services is responsible for the operational leadership, development and coordination of veterinary services across NVS Group, including Nationwide Laboratories (NWL), NVS Wholesale, VetIT, Own Brands and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) businesses.
The role ensures veterinary expertise supports pathology and laboratory services, product and service development, customer engagement and regulatory compliance. Working closely with Laboratory Operations, Commercial, Category, Product Management and Marketing teams, the postholder provides the veterinary leadership required to support growth, innovation and customer satisfaction whilst maintaining high professional and scientific standards.
As a member of the Operational Leadership Team, the postholder will lead the veterinary and pathology teams, develop service capabilities and ensure veterinary expertise is effectively utilised across the Group.
Key Responsibilities
Veterinary Service Leadership
- Lead and manage the veterinary services function across Laboratories, Wholesale and DTC.
- Translate Group strategy into clear operational priorities for veterinary services.
- Ensure appropriate veterinary resources, succession planning and workforce development.
- Lead, motivate and develop pathologists, veterinary surgeons and veterinary specialists across different locations and remote-working arrangements.
- Establish and monitor veterinary service KPIs, addressing performance shortfalls and driving continuous improvement.
- Promote clinical excellence, customer focus, collaboration and professional accountability.
Pathology & Diagnostic Services
- Lead the Clinical and Anatomic Pathology functions and provide a framework in which the teams can effectively meet client needs.
- Ensure pathology services meet agreed turnaround times, quality standards and customer expectations.
- Work with Laboratory Operations to ensure a seamless flow of samples, data and information from the laboratory through to reporting and the customer.
- Ensure the pathology team is appropriately resourced, trained and supported, with robust succession plans and talent pipelines.
- Identify and evaluate new technologies, including digital pathology and other diagnostic service developments.
- Support quality management, accreditation and continuous improvement activities relevant to laboratory and pathology services.
Veterinary Governance & Compliance
- Act as the senior veterinary adviser for operational and professional matters across the Group.
- Maintain appropriate veterinary governance processes, clinical standards and risk controls.
- Support compliance with RCVS, VMD, UKAS and other relevant professional, quality and regulatory requirements.
- Support audits, inspections, accreditation activities and investigation of clinical complaints or incidents.
- Ensure veterinary colleagues maintain appropriate registration, CPD and professional competence.
- Support the safe and compliant supply of veterinary medicines and associated DTC services where applicable.
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Direct-to-Consumer Veterinary Services
- Provide veterinary oversight and operational support for DTC products and services.
- Ensure customer-facing veterinary information, clinical protocols and support materials are accurate, evidence based and appropriate.
- Support development of consumer healthcare, diagnostic and prescription-related propositions.
- Work with Regulatory, Fulfilment and Customer Care teams to maintain appropriate clinical governance and customer safeguards.
- Support partner onboarding and ongoing compliance for veterinary services delivered through DTC channels.
NVS Wholesale Veterinary Support
- Provide veterinary expertise to support NVS Wholesale & Own Brands, its customers and supplier relationships.
- Support technical product evaluation, supplier engagement and responses to customer enquiries.
- Provide veterinary input into Own Brand, supplier product and service ranges.
- Work with Commercial and Category teams to strengthen the veterinary value proposition of NVS Wholesale.
- Support customer meetings, product launches, training and key account opportunities where veterinary input adds value.
Product Research & Innovation
- Working closely with the Category Team, help identify potential new product development through unmet clinical needs, emerging trends or incremental improvement of existing products across companion animal, equine and farm animal markets.
- Help evaluate new product concepts for Own Brand development by providing a veterinary perspective and supporting customer sampling and research into product briefs and specifications.
- Provide scientific and clinical input into product claims, performance requirements, trials and evaluation activities.
- Monitor veterinary, diagnostic and market developments to identify relevant innovation opportunities.
- Support introduction of new diagnostic, pharmaceutical, healthcare and digital products and services.
Veterinary Marketing, Education & Professional Engagement
- Act as the clinical expert supporting marketing and promotion of the Own Brand portfolio and NVS Group veterinary services.
- Work closely with Product Management, Marketing and Commercial teams to develop compelling, evidence-based campaigns and product positioning.
- Support campaigns through CPD, Q&As, FAQs, webinars, product training and technical support where applicable.
- Review and approve product claims and technical promotional content to ensure scientific accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- Represent the business at relevant conferences, exhibitions and professional meetings.
- Support relationships with veterinary practices, customers, universities, professional bodies and key opinion leaders.
- Raise the Group profile through educational activities, presentations, publications and professional engagement.
Cross-Functional Working
- Work collaboratively with Laboratory Operations, Commercial, Category, Product Management, Marketing, Regulatory, Quality and Customer Care teams.
- Provide veterinary insight to operational decisions, strategic projects and new business initiatives.
- Act as a clear and accessible point of contact for veterinary matters across the Group.
- Contribute to relevant budgets, resource plans and operational performance reviews.
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Key Performance Indicators
- Pathology turnaround times, quality and service performance.
- Customer satisfaction and clinical complaint outcomes.
- Veterinary governance, compliance, audit and accreditation outcomes.
- Delivery of agreed product, service and innovation projects.
- Veterinary team engagement, capability, succession and retention.
- Contribution to Wholesale, Own Brands, DTC and laboratory growth priorities.
- Delivery against agreed operational plans and budgets.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Competencies Required to Fulfill the Role
Essential
- Veterinary degree and current MRCVS registration.
- Significant post-qualification experience within veterinary diagnostics, pathology, industry or clinical practice.
- Proven experience of leading or managing veterinary professionals or specialist teams.
- Strong understanding of veterinary clinical governance, professional standards and regulatory requirements.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance clinical, customer and operational priorities.
- Excellent communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- European or American Board certification, RCVS Specialist status, Certificate, Diploma or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
- Experience in clinical pathology, anatomic pathology or veterinary laboratory services.
- Experience of veterinary medicines, product development or Own Brand portfolios.
- Experience developing professional education, CPD or technical marketing content.
- Knowledge of ISO quality systems and laboratory accreditation standards.
- Experience working within a commercial veterinary organisation.
Personal Attributes
- Credible and approachable veterinary leader.
- Operationally focused, organised and accountable for delivery.
- Commercially aware, innovative and customer focused.
- Collaborative and able to influence across functions without relying on formal authority.
- Comfortable managing scientific, professional, operational and commercial priorities.
- Committed to high standards, continuous improvement and better animal health outcomes.
Application Notice
Applicants should be aware that in line with our Drugs and Alcohol policy we reserve the right to conduct random drug and alcohol tests.
NVS Group is committed to equality of opportunity and this underpins our employment and recruitment procedures. We use objective, job-related criteria when making appointment decisions and our selection criteria is based on skills, experience, qualifications, and an ability to do the job.
Due to the large number of applications, we receive, we regret that we will not contact candidates that have not been selected for interview. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks, you should assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
By continuing with your application for employment you are confirming you agree with our Privacy Notice which can be found at https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/
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