Veterinary Surgeon - Basildon

Supreme Search Specialists; Basildon; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

CPD funding

Visa sponsorship

Cycle to work

Pension scheme

Career development

Job summary

Supreme Search Specialists seeks an experienced Veterinary Surgeon for a 24-hour RCVS-accredited small animal hospital in Essex. The role offers a 4-day working week, a 40-hour rota, and a 1 in 4 weekend pattern with no routine out-of-hours duties and minimal on-call (3–4 times per year).

Part-time applications are welcome, with an opportunity for clinicians with exotic bias to join a busy, collaborative team focused on clinical excellence and professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience in UK veterinary practice
• Strong all-round small animal clinical skill set
• Interest or experience in exotic pets encouraged

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality first opinion small animal veterinary care.
• Work confidently across a varied medical and surgical caseload.
• Diagnose, investigate and manage complex clinical cases.
• Collaborate with experienced Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Provide excellent client communication and patient care.
• Contribute to emergency and critical care services where required.
• Work alongside specialist-led services including imaging, rehabilitation and orthopaedics.
• Maintain high standards of clinical governance and professional practice.
• Support a culture of learning, teamwork and continuous clinical improvement.

Skills

UK regulations knowledge

Small animal clinical skills

Exotics interest

Tools

CT imaging

MRI imaging

Hydrotherapy

Physiotherapy

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal / Exotic Bias

Location: Essex
Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum, dependent on experience / full-time equivalent
Hours: 40-hour rota, 4-day week
Weekends: 1 in 4 weekends
OOH: No out-of-hours duties; minimal on-call, approximately 3–4 times per year
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time or Part-Time

About the Role

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon in Essex to join a progressive, RCVS-accredited small animal hospital with an outstanding clinical offering and a strong focus on professional development.

The role offers an excellent work-life balance, with a 4-day working week, 1 in 4 weekends, no routine out-of-hours duties and only a minimal on-call commitment of approximately 3–4 times per year.

The practice is happy to consider part-time Veterinary Surgeons, provided applicants can commit to working 1 in 4 weekends.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced all-round small animal clinician who enjoys working in a busy, collaborative environment and is committed to clinical excellence. Veterinary Surgeons with an exotic bias are also encouraged to apply.

About the Practice

This is a 24-hour RCVS-accredited small animal hospital in Essex, conveniently located around 30 minutes by train from London, with excellent transport connections to Southend and Stansted airports. The seaside is also approximately 25 minutes away by car.

The hospital has a large and highly skilled clinical team, including 14 Veterinary Surgeons with expertise across surgery, exotics and medicine. Several team members hold or are working towards postgraduate certificates in areas including surgery, orthopaedics, cardiology and medicine.

The nursing team includes multiple Schedule 3 and imaging-trained professionals, alongside several colleagues with postgraduate certificates. The wider multidisciplinary team also includes 3 Hydrotherapists, 2 Physiotherapists and 10 Client Care Advisers.

The purpose-built facilities include CT imaging, with recently expanded services covering MRI, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

The hospital provides first opinion small animal care alongside advanced outpatient and referral-style services, including emergency and critical care, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, advanced CT/MRI imaging, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and laser therapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality first opinion small animal veterinary care.
• Work confidently across a varied medical and surgical caseload.
• Diagnose, investigate and manage complex clinical cases.
• Collaborate with experienced Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Provide excellent client communication and patient care.
• Contribute to emergency and critical care services where required.
• Work alongside specialist-led services including imaging, rehabilitation and orthopaedics.
• Maintain high standards of clinical governance and professional practice.
• Support a culture of learning, teamwork and continuous clinical improvement.

Candidate Profile

The ideal Veterinary Surgeon will have:

• Previous experience working within a UK veterinary practice.
• A strong all-round small animal clinical skill set.
• A good understanding of UK veterinary regulations and client care expectations.
• Confidence managing a varied medical and surgical caseload.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive approach to clinical development.
• A genuine commitment to patient welfare and clinical excellence.
• The ability to thrive within a busy, forward-thinking team.

Veterinary Surgeons with an interest or experience in exotics are particularly encouraged to make contact.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary up to £60,000 per annum, dependent on experience / FTE
• 4-day working week
• 40-hour rota
• 1 in 4 weekends
• No routine out-of-hours duties
• Minimal on-call commitment – approximately 3–4 times per year
• Part-time applications considered
• 5.6 weeks' annual leave, rising to 6.6 weeks after 2 years' service
• Generous CPD allowance
• Funding towards certificates
• Supportive management structure
• Private health insurance
• Contributory pension scheme
• In-house career development opportunities
• Paid RCVS, BVA and VDS memberships
• Visa sponsorship available for suitable applicants
• Reward hub with wellbeing and pastoral support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Colleague Assistance Programmes
• Access to a comprehensive range of clinical services and advanced diagnostic equipment

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Veterinary Surgeon in Essex seeking a progressive clinical environment without sacrificing work-life balance.

The practice offers access to CT and MRI imaging, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and advanced clinical services, while working alongside a large and highly experienced multidisciplinary team.

With certificate funding, generous CPD, career development opportunities and a supportive management structure, there is significant scope to develop clinical interests and progress professionally.

The location also offers excellent accessibility to London while remaining close to the Essex coast, making this an attractive opportunity for Veterinary Surgeons seeking both career development and lifestyle benefits.