Veterinary surgeon
3 hours ago
Oxted
Experienced Veterinary Surgeon – Independent Exotic & Small Companion Animal Practice Location: Kent / Surrey / Sussex Borders Position: Full-Time or Part-Time (1–2 FTE available) Salary: Starting from £40,000 per annum (pro rata for part-time), negotiable depending on experience Start Date: Q1 2027 Working Pattern: No OOH; 1 in 3 Saturday mornings on rota About Us We are a truly independent, growing first-opinion clinic built on honesty, integrity, and genuine compassion. We reject high-pressure, transactional veterinary care in favour of whole-patient medicine. Every appointment includes a full physical check, with the patient receiving conventional care alongside alternative therapies, nutraceuticals, acupuncture, and physiotherapy to achieve the best quality of life for our patients. Our clinic is designed around fear-free principles, featuring dedicated, separate wards for dogs, cats, reptiles, and other exotic species to minimise stress for everyone involved. We maintain a non-hierarchical, family culture where all team members are highly valued, regardless of role. Clear, open communication is the backbone of our work—both within the team and when building lasting partnerships with our clients. The Role We are looking for an experienced, proactive Veterinary Surgeon who wants genuine clinical freedom and a varied caseload. Alongside traditional companion animals (dogs and cats), we treat a significant caseload of avian, reptile, small mammal, and unusual exotic species (no farm or equine). You will handle diverse medical and surgical presentations, and you should be comfortable with sole charge. This role also includes working on our bespoke mobile clinic ambulance, delivering high-standard veterinary care directly to clients' homes. Our Facilities (Static Clinic & Mobile Ambulance): • Full in-house digital X-ray and ultrasound imaging, • Dedicated surgical theatres and modern anaesthetic monitoring, • Small exotic animal dental and surgical equipment, • Separate dental suite, • Species-specific recovery wards What We Are Looking For • Qualifications: Registered with the RCVS (MRCVS) with full right to work in the UK., • Clinical Experience: Confident in first-opinion soft tissue surgery, general medicine, and sole-charge consulting., • Exotics Interest: Established competence or a keen, active drive to manage first-opinion avian, reptile, and small mammal cases., • Companion animal interest: Established competence in first-opinion small animal medicine, surgery and dentistry., • Communication: Native-level fluency in English, with an open, empathetic approach to client communication., • Culture Fit: A collaborative team player who thrives in a mutual-respect environment where hierarchy takes a back seat to patient welfare., • Licence: Full UK driving licence not required for the role, although helpful (required for operating the mobile clinic). Package & Benefits • Competitive salary starting from £40,000 (FTE), scaled up for advanced clinical or exotic experience, • Truly independent practice with complete clinical autonomy within the practice policies and ethos: no corporate formulary restrictions or targets, • Balanced working hours with no out-of-hours (OOH) commitments, • 1 in 3 Saturday mornings on a fair rota basis, • Generous CPD allowance, actively supported and encouraged, • RCVS and VDS fees paid, • Staff pet discount scheme (<3 pets), • Auto-enrolment into company pension scheme How to Apply To apply, please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your clinical interests and approach to patient care. E-mail address to be supplied on request. Please note that we are recruiting for up to 2 FTE vets, so applications will be considered both from those with exotics experience and from those without. Please note: As part of our commitment to building a harmonious, long-term team, shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a brief personality profile questionnaire prior to the second-stage interview.
Skylark Vets EmailActive 4 hours ago