Veterinary Surgeon – Certificate Holder (Surgery)

About the Role

Forest Vets Harlow is reopening with brand-new facilities, and they’re looking for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon with a Certificate in Surgery to lead their surgical programme. You’ll work as part of a tight-knit 2-3 vet team, generating your own cases with a clear bias towards orthopaedic care. Your weekend on-call commitment is just 1:10, with no out-of-hours overnight shifts required—giving you genuine work-life balance.

The practice sits at the heart of a four-site network where you’ll have immediate access to a broader team of 14 day vets and 3 night vets, including specialists in ophthalmology, dermatology, internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, and small animal surgery. This setup means you’re never isolated; case discussions, referral support, and ongoing learning are built into daily practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to follow up your own surgical cases at the nearby hospital, which offers CT, MRI, and endoscopic facilities for advanced diagnostics and procedures.

The Harlow facility itself is excellently equipped with 5 consultation rooms, a dedicated surgery suite, x-ray, and in-house laboratory. The location is easily accessible from Hertfordshire, Essex, and North London, making commuting straightforward. You’ll work alongside a dynamic and experienced nursing team and have the chance to support newer graduates as they develop their skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform a range of small animal surgical procedures, with particular emphasis on orthopaedic cases (basic fracture repairs, cruciate repair, advanced soft tissue surgery)
• Conduct your own surgical clinics and generate your own caseload
• Contribute to case discussions and clinical decision-making within the four-site network
• Support newer graduates and contribute to the development of the nursing team
• Participate in the 1:10 weekend on-call rota (daytime only)
• Maintain high clinical standards and engage with the practice’s commitment to clinical excellence

Requirements

• RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon
• Certificate in Surgery (or equivalent surgical qualification)
• Demonstrated confidence performing basic fracture repairs, cruciate repairs, and advanced soft tissue surgery
• Interest in covering both surgical and consulting duties
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment

Benefits

• Holiday & Leave: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• Professional Development: RCVS and VDS fees paid; external CPD funded; access to extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programme
• Financial & Pension: Employer contribution pension scheme; life assurance; enhanced sickness pay
• Family & Wellbeing: Enhanced equal family leave; employee assistance programme; wellness programme; free annual flu jab
• Perks & Schemes: Staff discount schemes; e-car salary sacrifice scheme; eyecare voucher scheme; cycle to work scheme
• Career Progression: Clear opportunities for professional development within Linnaeus’s four-site network
• Referral Reward: Recruitment referral reward scheme

About the Practice

Forest Vets Harlow is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Operating across four sites with a combined team of 14 day vets, 3 night vets, and multiple specialists, the practice offers a genuine collaborative environment where clinical excellence and long-term thinking drive decision-making rather than short-term profit focus.

Linnaeus is committed to creating a better world for pets by first creating a better world for its people. The wider network of over 6,000 associates benefits from access to specialists, worldwide development opportunities, and a comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises both physical and mental health. The culture actively encourages authenticity, inclusivity, and diversity, with a shared commitment to clinical excellence and purposeful veterinary care.