Veterinary Surgeon – Certificate Holder (Surgery)

About the Role

You’ll be joining Forest Vets Harlow as it opens its brand-new state-of-the-art facility, part of the four-site Linnaeus network spanning Essex, Hertfordshire and North London. This full-time role offers a blend of surgical leadership and consulting duties—you’ll generate your own cases, run your own clinics with a focus on orthopaedic work, and work alongside a supportive 2-3 vet team. Weekend on-call is manageable at 1 in 10, with no overnight OOH shifts required. You can choose between 4 or 5-day working weeks to suit your lifestyle.

At Harlow you will work as part of a 2-3 Vet team, with access to excellent facilities including 5 consult rooms, surgery, x-ray, and an in-house lab. For advanced diagnostics and procedures, our nearby hospital offers CT, MRI, and scopes, and you’re welcome to follow up your cases there if desired.

You’ll work with an experienced nursing team, mentor new graduates, and have access to a network of specialists across the group (including certificate holders in ophthalmology, dermatology, internal medicine, cardiology, diagnostic imaging and small animal surgery) for case discussion, referral support and collaborative learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform a range of surgical procedures including basic fracture repairs, cruciate ligament repairs and advanced soft tissue surgery
• Run your own surgical clinics and generate your own caseload
• Balance surgical duties with consulting responsibilities across the Harlow site
• Contribute to the mentorship and development of new graduate veterinarians
• Engage in case discussions and collaborate with the broader Linnaeus specialist network
• Maintain high standards of clinical care and patient safety across the practice
• Participate in the 1:10 weekend on-call rota

Requirements

• RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon
• Certificate in Surgery (or equivalent qualification in small animal surgical practice)
• Confidence performing basic fracture repairs, cruciate repairs and advanced soft tissue surgery
• Interest in combining surgical and consulting duties
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to support the wider team

Benefits

• Competitive salary negotiable based on experience
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees fully paid
• External CPD funding available
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programme
• Career progression opportunities within a growing group
• Staff discount schemes
• Life assurance and enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Comprehensive wellness programme including employee assistance programme, eyecare vouchers, annual flu jab, and cycle-to-work scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme

About the Practice

Forest Vets Harlow is part of Linnaeus, a forward-thinking partnership of primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, owned by Mars Veterinary Health. With over 6,000 associates across the group, Linnaeus is committed to its purpose: ‘A Better World for Pets’—achieved by fostering a better world for its people. The group carefully selects partner practices to ensure the highest levels of patient care and works across all fields of veterinary medicine including small animal, farm and equine.

Being privately owned allows Linnaeus to prioritise long-term excellence and purpose-driven decision-making over short-term profits. The Harlow site benefits from this philosophy: a newly-built practice with modern facilities, access to a network of specialists across four sites, and a culture that values collaboration, professional development and work-life balance.