Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

This is your chance to join Speyside Veterinary Practice, a friendly, collaborative small animal team nestled in the heart of Northeast Scotland’s stunning Speyside region. You’ll be based primarily at the busy Fochabers clinic, where varied small animal cases keep things interesting—including plenty of in-house orthopaedic surgery. The team has outsourced out-of-hours services, so nights and weekends are genuinely yours to enjoy the skiing, hill walking, mountain biking, and coastal access the area is famous for.

Work-life balance isn’t just corporate speak here. The practice genuinely accommodates flexible rota patterns and working hours, whether you’re looking for full-time, part-time, or something that flexes with your lifestyle. They’re equally open about species preferences, so if you want to dip into the farm or equine work available across the two sites, you can shape that too.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care across a varied small animal caseload at the Fochabers clinic, with particular involvement in orthopaedic procedures
• Work collaboratively with a team of 5 full-time equivalent vets, 5 registered veterinary nurses, 1 student nurse, and 5 support staff
• Take ownership of cases while drawing on the knowledge and support of a knowledgeable, approachable team
• Engage with the broader mixed practice; the team maintains approximately 70% small animal, 15% farm, and 15% equine work, with flexibility to suit your interests
• Contribute to a culture where everyone pitches in—including vets doing their share of tea rounds and general practice life

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Small animal clinical experience (no specific minimum stated; flexibility indicated for various experience levels)
• A collaborative, team-focused approach to practice
• Interest in flexible working arrangements and a supportive practice culture

Benefits

• Salary & Relocation: Up to £70,000 depending on experience, plus relocation allowance up to £8,000
• Leave & Work-Life Balance: 6.8 weeks annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), plus additional leave for your birthday
• Health & Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance, 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay)
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave (pro rata), certificate support, access to IVC Evidensia Academy and Vetlexicon online resource, research funding opportunities
• Care & Giving Back: £1,250 per annum via the Care Fund to spend as you choose
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, RCVS fees covered
• Pension: Company pension scheme with employer contribution
• Sustainability & Perks: Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme (subject to eligibility), voluntary benefits package, discounts with participating retailers, discounted pet treatment at IVC Evidensia practices

About the Practice

Speyside Veterinary Practice is a truly mixed two-site operation serving Northeast Scotland from clinics in Fochabers and Aberlour. The Fochabers site is a busy, well-equipped small animal clinic; the Aberlour clinic has been central to the local farming community for over 35 years and handles farm and equine work. Both are modern, well-resourced facilities with loyal client bases. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, one of the UK’s leading veterinary groups.

Set in an area bordered by the Cairngorm National Park and the Moray Firth coast, Speyside offers outstanding outdoor access, excellent schools in local villages, and easy connectivity to Elgin, Aberdeen, and Inverness. The team prides itself on a genuinely collaborative culture where professional development and colleague wellbeing are priorities, not afterthoughts.