Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

Woodland Veterinary Centre is seeking a Veterinary Surgeon to join their small animal team on a fixed-term contract covering maternity leave. Based in the picturesque South Downs—just a stone’s throw from the coast and London—this role offers an excellent balance of clinical variety and work-life stability. You’ll work daytime hours only (8am–7pm shifts, no out-of-hours) with Saturday mornings on a relaxed 1:5 rota, giving you genuine weekends back.

The position is flexible between full-time and part-time, with the opportunity to split your time between the main Midhurst site and three smaller branch practices within a 9-mile radius. You’ll gain exposure to a mix of consulting and surgery, including some sole charge work, supported by a well-established team that genuinely invests in colleague development.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver small animal consultations and surgical procedures across the main practice and branch locations
• Provide clinical care with access to 15-minute slots for routine cases and 30-minute appointments for complex diagnostics
• Contribute to solo charge shifts when appropriate, backed by senior colleagues
• Work collaboratively with a team of 7 vets, 7 RVNs, 3 SVNs, and 2 VCAs
• Engage in the practice’s community focus, including support for a local Cats Protection Adoption Centre
• Pursue professional interests—the practice actively supports vets developing certificates in surgery and dentistry

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Surgeon with current RCVS registration
• Small animal clinical experience (level not specified but welcomed at all stages)
• Willingness to work across multiple sites and embrace flexibility in scheduling
• Professional approach to patient care and team collaboration

Benefits

• Leave & Wellbeing: 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, plus your birthday off
• Professional Development: £1,250 annual CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD; £1,250 annual Care Fund; access to Vetlexicon online resources and IVC Evidensia Training Centres
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Health & Family Support: Private medical insurance; enhanced family-friendly leave and pay; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Additional Perks: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes; retail discounts and cashback offers; reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

About the Practice

Woodland Veterinary Centre is an established small animal practice based in Midhurst, serving the South Downs community with three additional branch sites nearby. The main practice has recently undergone kennels refurbishment, featuring separate dog and cat wards to enhance patient welfare. The team comprises 7 veterinary surgeons, 7 registered veterinary nurses, 3 student nurses, and 2 veterinary care assistants—a collective that prides itself on being nurturing, collaborative, and development-focused.

The practice is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities including digital and dental radiography, ultrasound with cardiac and abdominal probes, in-house biochemistry and haematology analysers, multiparameter anaesthetic monitoring, dental equipment, laser therapy, ECG, endoscopy, and tonometry. As part of IVC Evidensia, the practice benefits from the group’s international resources and training infrastructure while maintaining its distinct community identity.