Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

The Vetcare Centres is rebuilding—not because they failed, but because they’re determined to reclaim the standards and systems that slip when practices grow too fast. They’re investing in refurbishment, hiring people who want to build something, and being ruthlessly honest about what needs to change. This is a role for someone energized by that kind of challenge.

You’ll work across two fully equipped sites providing comprehensive small animal care: consultations, routine and intermediate surgery, medical workups, dentistry, and imaging. The only things referred out are advanced diagnostics like CT and MRI—you’ll do the real work in-house. With a 1:4 on-call rota (alternating weekends), Saturday is your main weekend commitment; Sundays are for genuine emergencies only. Guernsey is a small island community where clients have been loyal for decades and know your name.

You’ll have genuine clinical autonomy and a team of experienced colleagues who actually answer their phones when you need a second opinion. This is small animal practice done properly, with work-life balance as a genuine principle, not a buzzword.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver first-opinion small animal consultations and clinical assessments
• Perform routine and intermediate surgical procedures independently
• Manage medical workups, dentistry, and diagnostic imaging in-house
• Contribute to the practice rebuild: implementing improved systems and maintaining the standards that matter
• Participate in a fair 1:4 on-call rota with alternating weekend duties (Saturday primary, Sundays emergency-only)
• Work collaboratively with an experienced team across two sites
• Build relationships with long-standing clients in a tight-knit island community

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience
• Confidence in consultations and competence in routine surgery without direct supervision
• Ability to work up cases, think diagnostically, and know when to ask for a second opinion
• Patience with the pace of rebuilding and willingness to contribute to systems improvement
• Excellent communication skills with clients and colleagues, including managing difficult conversations professionally
• Genuine curiosity—comfortable admitting when you don’t know something and finding the answer
• UK veterinary registration (RCVS)

Benefits

• Salary: £65,000–£85,000 per annum (depending on experience)
• Tax advantage: Guernsey’s flat 20% income tax (no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax) means a £75,000 salary nets roughly £58,000 versus £52,000 from the same salary in the UK
• Relocation package: Full support to move to the island
• Work-life balance: 1:4 shared on-call rota with genuine weekend protection (Sundays emergency-only)
• Lifestyle: Island living with beaches, minimal traffic, safe streets, and a community that knows your name. London is 45 minutes away when needed
• Clinical environment: Fully equipped two-site practice with in-house surgery, imaging, and diagnostics; minimal referrals

About the Practice

The Vetcare Centres is a full-service small animal practice operating across two state-of-the-art sites in Guernsey. The practice is part of the AnimalKind group and serves a loyal island community of 65,000 people, many of whom represent multi-generational clients. The team is committed to providing comprehensive care in-house and maintaining the high standards that build lasting client relationships.

Currently undergoing a deliberate rebuild to strengthen systems and culture, the practice is investing in refurbishment and hiring people who are energized by the challenge of building something meaningful. Leadership is transparent about the work involved and honest about expectations—this is a practice for people who want to do things properly and be part of a close-knit, supportive team.