Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

This is a 10-month fixed-term position working 28 hours per week, typically across Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with shifts between 8:30am and 8pm. You’ll enjoy a manageable 1:4 Saturday morning rota (9am–1pm), giving you structure and predictability in your schedule.

You’ll encounter a broad and engaging mix of small animal cases—dogs, cats, rabbits, small furries, exotics, and the occasional chicken. Your days will span consultations, surgery, dentistry, ultrasound and radiography, with the added interest of supporting the practice’s consult-only branch. Some sole-charge responsibility is built into the role, making it ideal if you relish clinical autonomy and independent decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care across a varied small animal caseload including exotics and exotic species
• Conduct consultations, surgical procedures, dental work, ultrasound imaging and radiography
• Support the practice’s consult-only branch location
• Take on some sole-charge shifts, managing cases independently with confidence
• Work collaboratively within a 11-vet team spread across two sites
• Contribute to ongoing professional development and support junior team members where appropriate

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon registered with the RCVS
• Confident in small animal general practice
• Comfortable with a mix of routine and complex cases
• Ability to work independently when required
• Collaborative approach to team-based practice

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £62,850 DOE (pro rata for this 28-hour role) with welcome bonus of up to £2,000
• Holiday & Wellbeing: 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, plus your birthday off; private medical insurance; enhanced family-friendly leave and pay; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance plus 40 paid CPD hours; access to Vetlexicon online resources; support for certificate and advanced learning; £1,250 annual Care Fund; world-leading IVC Evidensia Training Centres
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Colleague Benefits: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes; retail discounts and cashback offers; reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

About the Practice

Park Veterinary Centre has proudly served the Hertfordshire community for over 100 years. An RCVS GP Training Practice and nurse training practice, the team is deeply committed to exceptional clinical standards and actively developing talent. You’ll be joining 11 vets across two locations, supported by a strong group of RVNs, SVNs and an experienced client care team. Several vets hold certificates in medicine, imaging and surgery, with others pursuing further qualifications—exotics is a particular growth area of clinical interest.

The practice is exceptionally well-equipped: four consult rooms (including a dedicated nurse consult room), full in-house laboratory, two theatres with shared prep area, dedicated X-ray suite with dental radiography, separate cat and dog wards with isolation, digital and dental X-ray, ultrasound, laparoscopic and endoscopic equipment. There’s a comfortable staff area with refreshments available throughout the day, creating a genuinely supportive working environment.