Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

You’ll join an established, longstanding small animal practice with three branches across the South Downs, where the workload is shared fairly to give you full clinical exposure and a genuinely varied day. This is a permanent, full-time position—but with a difference: there’s no out-of-hours on-call rota, and following any weekend consult shifts, you’ll work a 3.5-day week to protect your recovery time. It’s the kind of practice that genuinely believes in work-life balance.

You’ll be based in Lewes, a vibrant historic market town with excellent transport links—just 10 miles from Brighton, an hour to London by train, and 30 minutes to Gatwick. The practice is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities (TTA, TPLO, ASIF, laparoscopy, digital radiography, dental X-ray, endoscopy, ultrasound/Doppler), an in-house laboratory technician, and an RCVS-accredited, progressive approach to patient care.

This role involves mentoring newer graduates as an important part of the position—you’ll need at least four years’ experience and a genuine enthusiasm for both consulting and surgery. A driving licence is essential to travel between the three local practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality small animal consultations and surgical procedures across three branch locations
• Share clinical workload equally with the 10-vet team, ensuring balanced case exposure
• Mentor and support newly qualified graduates as part of your role
• Perform weekend inpatient care and consultations on a shared rota basis (no night shifts)
• Contribute to a supportive, collaborative clinical environment
• Work alongside 11 registered nurses and 14 support staff dedicated to exceptional patient care

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Minimum 4 years’ post-qualification experience
• Strong desire to both consult and operate
• Valid UK driving licence (essential for travel between practices)
• Commitment to mentoring newer graduates
• Ability to work collaboratively within a close-knit team

Benefits

• Salary & Bonuses: Up to £55,000 DOE, plus up to £5,000 welcome bonus and up to £5,000 relocation allowance
• Time Off: 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, plus your birthday off
• Professional Development: £1,250 annual CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD time, certificate and advanced learning support, access to Vetlexicon online resources, and world-leading IVC Evidensia Training Centres
• Financial Support: £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance, enhanced family-friendly leave and pay, 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Colleague Perks: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes, retail discounts and cashback offers, reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

About the Practice

Cliffe Veterinary Group is a large, progressive mixed practice with dedicated small animal, farm, and equine departments based in Lewes, East Sussex. The small animal team comprises 10 vets, 11 nurses, and 14 support staff—a friendly, diverse, and close-knit group where many team members have remained for several years. The practice is RCVS accredited and well-equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities, plus an in-house laboratory technician who runs an extensive range of diagnostics to provide exceptional patient care.

Part of IVC Evidensia—a global network of over 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 20 countries with around 41,000 employees—Cliffe Vets benefits from world-class training, professional support, and resources whilst maintaining its identity as a well-established local practice committed to continuous professional development and a genuine team culture.