Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a full-time permanent position with The Vale Veterinary Group, an established independent practice spanning three locations across Devon (Tiverton, Cullompton, and Honiton). You’ll be joining a genuinely collaborative team with a reputation for discussing cases, pooling ideas, and creating an environment where growth and better outcomes are the norm.

The role offers flexibility around your interests: the practice has a surgical bias and welcomes varied caseload management, but they’re equally keen to hear about your special interests and will support you to develop them. You’ll work a 4-day week (typically 8:30am–6:30pm) with multiple short consulting blocks built in for admin, investigative work, and—importantly—proper lunch breaks. With a carefully designed 1:12 OOH rota, you’ll work part of a weekend only 3 weekends in 12, never doing more than one duty shift in a row, with time off following shifts and an extra day off on Mondays after Sunday duties.

You’ll be based in beautiful South West Devon, perfectly positioned as a gateway to coastal paths, moors, and countryside while remaining accessible to airports and the rest of the country.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-standard small animal veterinary care across the three practice locations
• Manage a varied caseload with cases worked up and managed to a high level in-house, supported by excellent equipment (digital and dental radiography, advanced ultrasound with cardiac probes, scope and processor for endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, and cystoscopy)
• Participate in inpatient, operating, and consulting shifts providing diagnostic and surgical work
• Contribute to the practice’s own out-of-hours service, maintaining continuity of care and emergency skills
• Engage in the collaborative team culture: discuss cases, share ideas, and contribute to case management decisions
• Present at fortnightly ‘Ten-minute Takeovers’ during vet meetings, sharing CPD learning or special interest topics (lunch provided)
• Build relationships with clients and their pets, treating every animal as you would your own

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (MRCVS) with small animal experience
• Experience preferred, but the practice is open to hearing about your background and interests
• Commitment to high standards of care and team-based working
• Willingness to engage in professional development and share knowledge with colleagues
• Values alignment with the practice’s commitment to excellence, care, compassion, integrity, and teamwork

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £40,000–£65,000 depending on experience
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, with increases based on length of service
• Bupa Private Healthcare
• Company Pension
• Enhanced Maternity Pay
• Generous staff discount
• CPD fully supported, with certificate courses funded
• Employee Assistance Programme
• RCVS membership and BVA subscription covered
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Visa Sponsorship considered

About the Practice

The Vale Veterinary Group is an independent, vet-owned and managed practice deeply rooted in the Devon community. The practice comprises three locations (Tiverton, Cullompton, and Honiton) and is led by partners Kate, Eva, and Fran—all vets who live and work in the area. The team includes certificate holders in small animal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, and diagnostic imaging, with vets currently undertaking cardiology certificates.

The practice is built on a family feel and collaborative culture. They listen to their team, value everyone’s opinions, and are committed to creating an environment where people enjoy working. The practice has invested in excellent equipment and has designed rotas that genuinely prioritise work-life balance while maintaining their own out-of-hours service to ensure continuity of care. Their core values—Care & Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, and Teamwork—run through everything they do.