Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

Ark House Vets is a characterful single-site practice nestled in the heart of Leighton Buzzard’s town centre, currently undergoing renovation to blend historic charm with modern facilities. You’ll enjoy a predictable working week of four nine-hour days Monday to Friday, plus a 1-in-4 Saturday morning shift (8:30–13:00, sole charge). Crucially, there’s no out-of-hours work, giving you genuine work-life balance and time to enjoy the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside and excellent transport links to London and beyond.

Your caseload will be genuinely varied: cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries, and occasional exotics or wildlife cases from community-minded clients. You’ll strike a great balance between consultations and surgery, with typical procedures including routine spays, castrates, lumpectomies, dentals, and emergency work when required. The practice maintains excellent referral relationships with local colleagues, so you’ll always have support when cases warrant it.

You’ll work alongside a capable, experienced nursing team of seven RVNs and benefit from visiting specialists in cardiology, diagnostics, soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics—ideal if you’re considering certificate study or want to develop new surgical techniques.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver first-opinion small animal veterinary care across consultations and surgical procedures
• Perform routine and intermediate surgeries including spays, castrates, lumpectomies and dental work
• Manage emergency and critical care cases as they arise
• Work sole charge on Saturday mornings, supported by the RVN team
• Collaborate with the two-vet team and seven RVNs to provide integrated patient care
• Utilise in-house diagnostics and specialist relationships to optimise clinical outcomes
• Contribute to the practice’s commitment to veterinary nurse training and professional development

Requirements

• RCVS registration as a Veterinary Surgeon
• Confidence in surgery and ability to work sole charge when needed
• Friendly, professional demeanor that fits a supportive practice culture
• Willingness to engage with a varied small animal caseload

Benefits

• Competitive salary: Up to £65,000 DOE
• Relocation support: Up to £4,000 relocation allowance and up to £3,000 welcome bonus (pro rata)
• Annual leave: 6.6 weeks inclusive of bank holidays, plus additional birthday holiday entitlement
• Professional development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave, certificate support, access to IVC Evidensia Academy and Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia
• Research funding: All vets can apply for research funding
• Care Fund: £1,250 per annum to spend via the practice Care Fund
• Professional memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, RCVS fees all covered
• Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance, 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay)
• Pension: Company pension scheme with IVC Evidensia contribution
• Green commute schemes: Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme (subject to eligibility)
• Colleague perks: Discounts across hundreds of retailers, discounted pet treatment at IVC Evidensia practices, voluntary benefits package
• Quality programmes: Infection Prevention and Control Programme, Quality Improvement Programme

About the Practice

Ark House Vets is an RCVS Practice Standards Scheme-accredited independent practice serving Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding community. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia (Mars Veterinary Health) and welcomes pets of all shapes and sizes. The team comprises two vets, seven RVNs, and a five-person client care team led by a Practice Manager. The practice is also a Veterinary Nurse Training Practice, demonstrating commitment to staff education and professional development.

The single-site facility, located in a converted house at 22 Hockliffe Street in the town centre, includes four consult rooms (including a dedicated RVN room and one with a moveable wall for flexibility), a well-organised dispensary, prep area, theatre, separate cat and dog wards, dedicated dental suite with dental X-ray, X-ray room, and a full IDEXX laboratory suite with new microscope. Practical amenities include on-site parking, quiet office spaces, and a comfortable staff area with kitchen facilities, weekly fruit deliveries and snacks. The practice is currently undergoing renovation to refresh its interiors.