Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

You’ll be joining Mintlaw Vets as an experienced small animal vet with confidence in both consulting and surgery. This is a part-time role (25 hours over 3 days) offering genuine flexibility—typically two 8:30am–5pm shifts and one 11am–7:30pm shift, though the practice will adapt around your lifestyle. There’s one dedicated surgery day each week to focus on your craft, with options to take on additional surgical sessions if you’re keen to develop further specialist interests.

The role includes a rotating 1:5 Saturday morning rota (8:30am–1pm) with no out-of-hours overnight commitments, making it genuinely manageable alongside the rest of your life. Based in Aberdeenshire, Mintlaw is a small town with easy access to the coast and just 30 miles from Aberdeen, offering rural charm without isolation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide first-opinion small animal consulting and surgery across a varied caseload
• Lead one dedicated surgical operating day each week, managing general surgery and dentistry cases
• Collaborate with a clinical director experienced in soft tissue surgery and other vets specialising in areas like feline medicine
• Work alongside 6 Registered Veterinary Nurses, student nurses, and VCAs to deliver high-quality patient care
• Contribute to a Fear Free-certified practice maintaining RCVS Accreditation, VetGDP, and ISFM Cat-Friendly Clinic standards
• Participate in the practice’s quality improvement and infection prevention programmes
• Refer orthopaedic cases to AVR and complex medical/ophthalmology cases to specialists as needed

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Surgeon with confidence in both consulting and general surgery
• Keen interest in surgery, particularly dentistry
• Experience managing a varied first-opinion small animal caseload
• Ability to work flexibly within a collaborative team environment

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: 6.8 weeks annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), plus additional holiday for your birthday
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave (pro rata), certificate support, access to the IVC Evidensia Academy, Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia, research funding opportunities, and a £1,250 annual Care Fund allocation
• Wellbeing Support: Private Medical Insurance, 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme helpline, enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay), and dedicated wellbeing initiatives
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees paid
• Pension & Benefits: Company pension scheme with employer contribution, Cycle to Work scheme, Green Cars Scheme (subject to eligibility), voluntary benefits package, access to hundreds of retail discounts and cashback, discounted treatment for your own pets at any IVC Evidensia practice
• Workplace Perks: Custom-built staff dog kennels available if you wish to bring your own dog(s) to work

About the Practice

Mintlaw Vet Surgery is a single-site, small animal-only practice in Aberdeenshire serving the local community. The team values collaboration and continuous improvement, holding RCVS Accreditation, VetGDP, VN Training Practice status, and ISFM Cat-Friendly Clinic Accreditation. They implement Fear Free techniques to enhance patient and client wellbeing.

The purpose-built premises house a light, spacious waiting room, four consulting rooms (including a dedicated nurse consultation room), a surgical operating theatre, and a radiography/dentistry suite. Equipment includes in-house Idexx analysers and microscope, ultrasound, therapeutic laser, endoscopy, and modern dental radiography equipment. The practice comprises 5 vets, 6 RVNs, student nurses, and VCAs, supported by an experienced reception and management team. Notable team members include a Clinical Director confident with most soft tissue surgeries and an HRVN clinical coach. The practice can accommodate occasional exotics cases and refers orthopaedic cases to AVR and more complex medical/ophthalmology cases to specialists.