Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

About the Role

You'll enjoy genuine variety in first-opinion practice at St Mary's Vets, managing cases from initial consultation through diagnosis and treatment. With an excellent balance of consultations and surgery, you'll see everything from routine procedures to emergency cases, always with referral support and experienced colleagues nearby. This is a daytime role with 1:3 Saturday mornings only (8:30am to 12:30pm) and no out-of-hours or on-call commitments, allowing you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Working across both St Mary's and Aniwell Vets, you'll benefit from a larger clinical team and broader caseload. Your colleagues genuinely enjoy working together, and you'll find plenty of support for discussing challenging cases, developing clinical interests, or seeking a second opinion.

Ferndown is an exceptional place to build your career and lifestyle. The New Forest, Bournemouth's beaches, and the Jurassic Coast are all within easy reach, alongside excellent local amenities and welcoming community.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver first-opinion small animal care across consultations and surgical procedures
• Manage cases from initial presentation through to diagnosis and treatment planning
• Provide emergency and critical care support within the practice
• Collaborate with the multi-practice team on complex or interesting cases
• Work across both St Mary's and Aniwell Vets sites to support the broader clinical team
• Maintain high standards of client relationships and clinical care

Requirements

• Qualified Veterinary Surgeon with RCVS registration
• Experienced in first-opinion small animal practice (this role is not suitable for new graduates)
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain excellent client relationships

Benefits

• Salary up to £70,000 pa depending on experience
• Welcome bonus up to £5,000
• Relocation allowance up to £5,000
• 6.6 weeks' holiday including bank holidays
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for professional development
• BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay covering maternity, paternity, adoption, and surrogacy
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets
• Access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities across primary care, referral, leadership, and specialist roles
• Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches, and peer networks

About the Practice

St Mary's Veterinary Clinic, part of IVC Evidensia, has been serving Ferndown and its surrounding community for many years. The practice has built a loyal client base and an excellent reputation. As part of an exciting new chapter alongside sister practice Aniwell Vets, St Mary's is investing significantly in its facilities and team. The practice offers digital and dental radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, and a fully equipped in-house laboratory, with a full refurbishment planned.

IVC Evidensia is the UK's number one vet care provider, trusted with the care of over 2 million animals. The group is committed to supporting people development, wellbeing, and a values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement. The practice is Disability Confident and welcomes applications from all diverse backgrounds.