Exotic Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

You’ll be joining an RCVS-accredited tier 3 hospital that’s growing its exotics and zoo medicine service. Your week will blend first opinion exotic pet consultations with referral cases, medical and surgical work-ups, scheduled zoo visits, and emergencies—no overnight on-call work required. The patient roster is wonderfully diverse: small exotics, zoo collections ranging from safari parks to smaller facilities and colleges. Some small animal (dog and cat) work may be needed occasionally but will be minimal.

This is a full-time role working 40 hours across four days (08:30–19:00), plus a 1:5 Saturday rota (08:30–14:00). However, the practice genuinely values work-life balance and can flex rotas to suit your needs—whether that’s school pick-ups, reduced hours during holidays, or a different pattern entirely.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver first opinion and referral exotic pet consultations
• Conduct medical and surgical work-ups for exotic patients
• Provide booked routine visits and emergency cover for multiple zoological collections
• Collaborate with an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
• Contribute to zoo rota coverage (no overnight on-call required)
• Perform occasional small animal (dog/cat) clinical work as required

Requirements

• RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon
• Significant experience with exotic pets and/or zoological collections
• Post-graduate qualification in Zoological Medicine (desirable but not essential)
• Enthusiasm for exotic and zoo veterinary medicine

Benefits

• Salary & Bonuses: Up to £68,000 (depending on experience); relocation allowance up to £5,000; welcome bonus up to £5,000 (pro rata)
• Leave: 6.6 weeks annual leave plus additional holiday for your birthday
• CPD & Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave (pro rata); certificate support; access to IVC Evidensia Academy and Vetlexicon; research funding opportunities; £1,250 annual Care Fund per vet
• Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance; 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme; enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, surrogacy pay); colleague wellbeing initiatives
• Professional Support: BVA membership; VDS cover; RCVS fees covered
• Pension: Company scheme with employer contribution
• Perks: Cycle to Work scheme; Green Cars Scheme; discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers; discounted pet treatment at IVC Evidensia practices; voluntary benefits package
• Visa Sponsorship: Available where applicable

About the Practice

Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital is a purpose-built, excellently equipped tier 3 facility on the edge of a historic Cotswold market town. The team comprises 15 veterinary surgeons (including a Specialist in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine and Advanced Practitioners in Small Animal Medicine and Emergency & Critical Care), 14 Registered Veterinary Nurses, 5 Student Registered Nurses, and 5 Animal Nursing Assistants. The hospital features full laboratory facilities, a DR x-ray system, dental x-ray, 64-slice CT scanner, flexible and rigid endoscopes, ultrasound with colour Doppler, full orthopaedic equipment, slit lamp, tonometer, and more. The practice receives referrals nationally for exotic pets and radioiodine therapy; locally for CT scanning and internal medicine/orthopaedic cases. Regular visits from a referral dermatologist complement the team’s expertise.

Chipping Norton itself is a beautiful historic market town with boutique shops, traditional pubs, and breathtaking Cotswold countryside moments away, while maintaining good transport links to Banbury, Oxford, and beyond.