Area Director – Southeast (Essex & Suffolk)
Home-based role with extensive regional travel
Full-time | Monday–Friday (up to 40 hours per week)
Competitive salary
Closing date: 27th April (subject to change)
IVC Evidensia is the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group, made up of over 900 practices and referral hospitals, united by a shared purpose of happier animals, happier owners.
At IVC Evidensia, we believe careers should be built without limits. Our people are supported to make more clinical impact, access more career opportunities, and play an active role in their local and professional communities. Through investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, we create environments where our teams can grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment - at every stage of their career.
As part of this continued growth, we’re looking for an exceptional Area Director to join our Southeast leadership team, with a specific focus on Essex.
This is a home-based leadership role requiring extensive travel across the region, working closely with practices to inspire, support and lead high-performing teams.
How You’ll Make a Difference
As Area Director, you’ll work closely with the Regional Director and Area Support Manager, you’ll provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across your area. Your focus will be on delivering exceptional clinical quality and client care, while developing sustainable, high-performing teams.
You’ll collaborate with Central Support functions to embed our values - We Care, We Dare, We Share - and play a key role in recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding veterinary talent.
This is a leadership role for someone who enjoys variety, influence and impact, and who thrives on building strong relationships across multiple sites.
Key Responsibilities
Act as an ambassador for IVC Evidensia values, embedding culture across your area
Mobilise UK strategy locally by enabling best-practice sharing and strong communication between practices
Oversee operational and commercial performance across the area
Drive attraction, engagement and retention of clinical and non-clinical talent
Line manage Directors, supporting their development and success
Work in close partnership with the Area Support Manager, ensuring aligned priorities and delivery
Support future network planning and growth through insight, analysis and strategic input
You Might Be a Great Fit If...
You’ll be a confident, emotionally intelligent leader with a passion for people and performance. You’ll bring:
At least 5 years’ leadership experience, with proven coaching and mentoring capability
A strong track record of maximising clinical and financial performance
Deep understanding of clinical and financial KPIs, with the ability to identify and drive improvement
Excellent people skills — able to engage, motivate, inspire and unite diverse teams
A collaborative leadership style, comfortable operating with high challenge and high support
Well-developed emotional intelligence, adapting your approach to what people need, when they need it
Vision, resilience and agility to lead through change and deliver results
The confidence to influence, challenge constructively and champion continuous improvement
Outstanding communication skills, able to clearly articulate strategy with a strong emphasis on the “why” as well as the “what”
Additional Requirements
Full and valid UK driving licence
Willingness to travel extensively across Essex, Suffolk and the wider Southeast
Ability to work up to 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
How We’ll Support You
At IVC Evidensia, we’re committed to supporting you in a senior executive leadership role. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:
Overall leadership of a practice or hospital with the autonomy to shape strategy, culture, and performance
Senior-level influence across operations, client experience, and business outcomes
Opportunities to lead large-scale change and drive long-term organisational impact
Ongoing learning and development to support executive and leadership growth
A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement
What We Offer
Work-life balance
6.8 weeks annual leave including BH
Private medical insurance
Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy
Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
Retail discounts and cashback offers
Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets
Car allowance of £475 per month or a company car
If you’re an inspiring leader who’s passionate about people, performance and purpose, we’d love to hear from you.
IVC Evidensia UK
IVC Evidensia, The Chocolate Factory, Keynsham, BS31 2AU, United Kingdom
At IVC Evidensia we are a committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.
Any questions before applying?
Speak to Megan Dawson from our recruitment team who would be happy to help you with any questions you have before applying for this role.