Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

Coastal Vets is recruiting an experienced Veterinary Surgeon to join their friendly, independent team at Coastal Vets. Recently named Practice of the Year at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2025, our team was recognised for the care, compassion and dedication we show to both pets and their owners every day.

This is a full-time role offering a rare benefit in veterinary practice: a genuine 4-day week with set days off, 3 in 14 Saturday mornings only (9 am–12 pm), and absolutely no out-of-hours or on-call duties—OOH is outsourced. Your shifts rotate between operating, consult-only, and mixed sessions, giving you plenty of variety while staying manageable.

One unique aspect of the role is involvement with Hunstanton Sealife Centre and Norfolk’s Seal Rescue, where the practice rehabilitates common and grey seals. This brings fascinating cases ranging from radiography of penguins to surgery on catfish, rays, and even sharks—a dynamic that sets this practice apart.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct routine consultations with confidence and competence
• Perform surgical procedures; the caseload supports a surgical bias, so whether you hold a surgical certificate or aspire to one, there’s scope to develop
• Work collaboratively with the practice’s 9 RVNs, 1 VCA in nurse training, and 5 experienced receptionists
• Participate in occasional house visits for long-standing clients (scheduled three afternoons per week, voluntary)
• Engage with wildlife and seal rescue work as part of the practice’s broader remit

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with experience in routine consultations and surgery
• Confidence in small animal practice
• Willingness to develop surgical skills or work toward a surgical certificate (support provided)
• Open to learning from a team with varied interests and expertise

Benefits

• Salary: £45,000–£60,000 depending on experience
• Welcome bonus: £2,000 (in addition to first month’s salary) to help with relocation
• Accommodation: Available during relocation period
• Time off: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays
• Professional development: Generous CPD budget with certificates supported and funded
• Professional fees: RCVS, VDS, and BVA fees paid by the practice
• Health & wellbeing: Private health insurance and Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension: Included
• Perks: Employee discount scheme and visa sponsorship available

About the Practice

Coastal Vets is an independent, family-oriented practice established in Snettisham, West Norfolk, with a branch surgery in Burnham Market. Originally an ambulatory service, the practice evolved to open a permanent base and underwent a full rebuild of its main premises in 2017. Today it operates as a progressive, seven-and-a-half-vet practice with a team spanning recent graduates to clinicians with nearly two decades of experience.

The practice is well-equipped with purpose-built facilities including DR digital and dental x-ray, ultrasound with colour flow Doppler, Tono-Pen, full Idexx in-house lab equipment, and urinalysis capability. The lead vet, Chris, is committed to investing in new equipment and is exploring the addition of a cytology machine. The team includes vets with specialist interests: Miriam holds an imaging certificate, and Teresa is undertaking a cardiology certificate. The practice actively supports professional development and has a track record of helping vets pursue certificates in areas of interest.