Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Inspiring Vet Care; Ferndown; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Private medical insurance

Enhanced family leave

Professional fees covered (BVA/VDS/RCV

Cycle to Work

Retail discounts

Pet care discounts

Job summary

St Mary’s Veterinary Clinic in Ferndown seeks a Lead Veterinary Surgeon for a varied, autonomous clinical role across small animals. You’ll manage cases from presentation to diagnosis and treatment, with support from a skilled team and established referral pathways.

The position offers a broad caseload including cats, dogs, rabbits and occasional exotics, with opportunities to contribute to practice development across two sites as the group expands.

Responsibilities

• Lead Veterinary Surgeon overseeing small animal caseload across medicine and surgery.
• Autonomous case management with support from experienced team and referral pathways.

Job description

Lead Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal
St Mary's Veterinary Clinic - Ferndown, Dorset

Salary up to £80,000 DOE, Welcome Bonus up to £5,000 and Relocation Allowance up to £5,000

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

St Mary’s Vets, part of ivc, have been caring for pets and supporting the local community for many years, building a loyal client base and an excellent reputation along the way.

We’re now looking for a Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly and supportive team at an exciting time for the practice. With a new chapter beginning alongside our sister practice, Aniwell Vets, this is a fantastic opportunity to play an important part in shaping the future of both practices.

A Clinical Role With Variety & Autonomy

If you enjoy the variety of first-opinion practice, you’ll feel right at home here. You’ll see a diverse caseload across medicine and surgery, managing cases from initial presentation through to diagnosis and treatment and enjoying the continuity of care that comes with getting to know your patients and clients.

From routine procedures through to emergency and critical care, there’s plenty to keep you interested. You’ll have the clinical freedom to make decisions and manage your own cases, with an experienced team around you and excellent referral pathways whenever additional support is needed.

Two Practices, One Great Team

As St Mary’s and Aniwell come together, you’ll have the opportunity to work across two well-established practices and become part of a wider clinical team.

The caseload includes cats, dogs, rabbits and the occasional exotic, giving you plenty of variety while also creating opportunities to share knowledge, learn from colleagues and broaden your experience.

As Lead Vet, you’ll also have the chance to contribute your ideas and help shape how the practices develop as they move into this exciting next chapter.

Investing in Our People & Facilities

You’ll have access to digital and dental radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy and a fully equipped in-house laboratory, giving you the tools to provide excellent patient care.

There’s also a full refurbishment planned for St Mary’s, making this a particularly exciting time to join as we continue to invest in our facilities, our people and the future of the practice.

A Supportive Environment to Thrive

We want our vets to enjoy their work and feel supported to develop. Whether you have a particular clinical interest you’d like to pursue or simply want to continue building your experience, you’ll have the support and encouragement to do so.

As Lead Veterinary Surgeon, you’ll be able to combine your clinical work with the opportunity to help shape the practice, while working alongside a team that genuinely values collaboration and shared ideas.

A Work-Life Balance That Works

We know flexibility matters, so full-time hours can be worked across four or five days, with part-time applications also welcomed.

The rota includes just 1:3 Saturday mornings (8:30am-12:30pm), with no out-of-hours or on-call commitments, giving you plenty of time to enjoy life outside the practice.

Enjoy Life in Ferndown

Nestled on the edge of the beautiful Dorset countryside, Ferndown offers a fantastic balance of relaxed living and excellent connectivity. You'll be just a short drive from the award-winning beaches of Bournemouth, the stunning New Forest National Park and the Jurassic Coast, making it an ideal location for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. With a variety of cafés, shops, highly regarded schools and easy access to Southampton and Poole, Ferndown offers an exceptional lifestyle.

How We’ll Support You

• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities across primary care, referral, leadership and specialist roles
• Funded learning and development including CPD allowance and access to IVC Academy training centres and role-relevant courses
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet
• Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches and peer networks
• Support to develop clinical interests and expand your capabilities
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family leave and pay across maternity, paternity, adoption and surrogacy
• BVA membership, VDS cover and RCVS fees
• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Salary up to £80,000 DOE