Head of Veterinary Services

Key Purpose

To lead and develop veterinary services across the zoo, ensuring the highest standards of animal health, welfare, and preventative medicine. The role plays a key leadership position within the wider animal and conservation teams, contributing to strategic planning, cross-departmental collaboration, and the delivery of Twycross Zoo’s conservation and animal welfare objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Provide clear leadership, direction, and motivation to the veterinary team, ensuring delivery against role requirements

• Contribute to Charity’s strategy as part of the wider leadership team

• Promote a positive team culture and organisational success through effective communication, feedback, solution focus, and open leadership

• Ensure effective workforce planning, performance management, and succession development

• Hold accountability for the veterinary department budget

• Oversee the effective operation of veterinary facilities, equipment, and resources

• Support emergency planning and act as a member of the emergency response team for animal incidents, including firearms team participation where appropriate

People, Culture and Development

• Foster and champion a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture aligned with the Charity’s values

• Support learning and professional development within the veterinary team

• Work closely with animal, conservation, education, and operational teams to deliver organisational goals

• Build strong internal relationships to ensure veterinary input is embedded in decision-making

• Work closely with the Chief Conservation Officer and Conservation leadership to track and deliver progress against the Zoo’s Conservation Strategy

• Prepare and present reports to the Conservation and Ethics Committees and actively contribute to ethical review processes (internal and external)

• Act as a key point of contact for external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, Nottingham University, and wider professional networks

• Contribute to activities that enhance the reputation of TZ and its key partners, including Nottingham University

• Communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, adapting style as appropriate

• Contribute to organisational initiatives relating to wellbeing, EDI, and engagement

Animal Health, Welfare and Clinical Practice

• As TZ’s lead veterinary surgeon, manage clinical cases and emergencies, ensuring effective communication with the CCO, Curator, animal teams, and external practitioners

• Oversee and deliver high standards of preventative and reactive veterinary care

• Maintain a Programme of Preventative and Curative Veterinary Care, Pathology and Nutrition in line with the SSSZMP (2025)

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, licensing requirements, and professional standards

• Supervise pre-export and import health screening for all animal movements

• Take responsibility for clinical oversight of animal moves, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

• Advise on major disease risks and outbreaks (e.g. Avian Influenza), including preventative planning and response

• Keep up to date with developments in veterinary and animal health legislation and advise on compliance measures

• Lead on clinical governance, protocols, and continuous improvement

• Support evidence-based decision-making to optimise animal welfare

• Ensure all zoo procedures and protocols are consistently followed

Teaching and Research

• Lead the Veterinary Surgeon in teaching of the final year student rotations for the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at TZ and participate in the assessment of students where necessary.

• Provide guidance and support for undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary research projects

• Initiate and contribute to case studies, research papers, and short communications

• Support the development of CPD and short course provision through the Global Conservation Centre

• Contribute to the KPIs of the Conservation Strategy through advancement of veterinary teaching and research

• Actively support the work and ambitions of the Global Conservation Centre

• Ensure appropriate material transfer, governance, and compliance for biological samples and post-mortem materials, including carcass disposition

Why Join Us?

• Work at a leading conservation charity with a growing national impact.

• Lead transformative, large-scale biodiversity projects across a dynamic zoo estate.

• Be part of a passionate, supportive team making a real difference for UK wildlife.