OOH Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a fixed-term contract opportunity covering parental leave until October 2026, offering full-time employment with a structured 7 on, 14 off rota (7.45pm–8.15am shifts). You’ll join the dedicated emergency and critical care team at Calder Veterinary’s Dewsbury hospital—a purpose-built Tier 3 facility offering 24/7 on-site emergency care.

You’ll be working with a tight-knit, experienced team committed to clinical excellence and patient care. This is fast-paced emergency medicine with real variety: stabilising critically ill animals, performing emergency surgery, managing complex cases, and supporting distressed owners through challenging situations. The hospital is fully equipped with theatres, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, and dental facilities on site, so you’ll have the tools to deliver high-quality care.

Key Responsibilities

• Stabilise critically ill or injured animals and adjust treatment medications or support care as required
• Perform emergency surgeries with confidence, managing complex surgical cases independently
• Interpret diagnostics and make strong clinical decisions in fast-moving situations
• Explain diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options to worried pet owners during emergencies
• Design and review treatment protocols to improve patient outcomes and efficiency
• Adapt treatment plans to individual cases and problem-solve under pressure
• Collaborate with the ECC night team to deliver seamless emergency care

Requirements

• Confident working sole charge with the ability to make independent clinical decisions
• Strong emergency and critical care experience (or proven ability to work at this level)
• Competence in emergency surgery and stabilisation of critically ill patients
• Excellent diagnostic interpretation and clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to communicate clearly with anxious clients in high-stress situations
• Team player who thrives in fast-paced environments and remains calm under pressure
• Current RCVS registration and professional memberships

Benefits

• Salary: £65,000 per annum (pro-rata, dependent on experience)
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• CPD allowance with 4 days per year to attend events, plus access to the Linnaeus CPD Programme (including certificate-holder level training)
• Extensive free online CPD resources
• Career progression opportunities within Linnaeus group
• Life assurance and enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Staff discount schemes and e-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellness programme including employee assistance, eyecare vouchers, free annual flu jab, and cycle-to-work scheme
• Recruitment referral rewards
• Mental health support with trained advisors available on site

About the Practice

Calder Veterinary operates eight clinics across South and West Yorkshire, anchored by the purpose-built 24/7 RCVS-accredited Tier 3 Hospital in Dewsbury. The practice combines high-quality primary care with mid-tier referral services, offering everything from routine consultations and preventative care to advanced procedures including laparoscopy, endoscopy, soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery, echocardiography, and in-house CT. The practice also runs its own rehabilitation service with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and laser therapy.

Calder is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health—the world’s largest family-owned veterinary company. The culture emphasises clinical excellence, client and patient care (the practice is Cat-Friendly certified and runs 15-minute minimum consults), and genuine staff wellbeing. The team is large, supportive, and collaborative, with vets pursuing qualifications in surgery, imaging, dermatology, cardiology, and medicine. The Dewsbury hospital is purpose-built with separate cat and dog waiting areas, air-conditioned consulting rooms, fully equipped theatres, on-site imaging, and a comfortable staff rest area. The practice was recently awarded the Investors in the Environment Bronze Award and prioritises sustainability.

The Team

You’ll be joining a dedicated ECC night team within a supportive, collaborative practice culture. The wider group includes over 6,000 associates across the UK and Ireland, with access to specialist networks, development opportunities, and comprehensive wellbeing support.