Veterinary Surgeon (Maternity Cover)

SCOTTISH SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days annual leave

Wellbeing days

Birthday day off

Life assurance 4x salary

Enhanced family leave

Company pension

RCVS & VDS fees paid

CPD allowance

Medicash + EAP

Retail and gym discounts

Meaningful work for animals

Job summary

The Scottish SPCA invites applications for a Veterinary Surgeon to join the Glasgow and Lanarkshire team for a 12-month maternity cover. The role offers a sustainable Monday–Friday pattern with a 7.5-hour day, no evenings, weekends or on-call commitments, and a competitive salary up to £53,000 per annum depending on experience.

Join a welfare-led charity with a broad caseload across dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and small mammals, where clinical decisions focus on animal welfare and recovery.

Qualifications

• Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is essential.
• At least 1 year of companion animal practice experience.
• Experience in routine medicine, surgery and diagnostics across multiple species.
• Able to exercise sound clinical judgement in a busy clinic.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality veterinary care to animals in our care.
• Assess cases on admission and develop treatment plans to support recovery.
• Run outpatient services for fostered and rehomed animals across multiple species.
• Collaborate with nursing, behaviour and animal care teams.

Skills

Companion animal practice

Clinical decision-making

Driving licence

Team collaboration

Education

RCVS membership

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon — Glasgow & Lanarkshire (Cardonald)

37.5 hours per week - up to £53,000 per annum depending on experience - 12-month fixed term (maternity cover) - Monday–Friday

Veterinary medicine with welfare at its heart

The Scottish SPCA has been protecting animals and preventing cruelty since 1839. As Scotland's animal welfare charity, we care for the animals that have suffered most - those rescued from neglect, cruelty and abandonment by our Inspectorate. Working in our veterinary team means working at the point where that rescue becomes recovery.

We're looking for a Veterinary Surgeon to join our Glasgow and Lanarkshire team for a 12-month period covering maternity leave. It's a role with a genuine sense of purpose, a broad and interesting caseload, and a working pattern designed to be sustainable.

What makes this role different

A truly welfare-led environment. Your clinical decisions are guided by what's right for the animal. You'll work hand in hand with our Inspectorate - the officers who rescue animals from the worst situations in Scotland - providing the veterinary care and expertise that gives those animals a second chance. Few veterinary roles offer that kind of direct connection to frontline animal protection.

A varied, rewarding caseload.No two days are the same. You'll assess animals on admission, develop pragmatic treatment plans that support recovery and timely rehoming, and provide outpatient care for fostered and recently adopted animals across a wide range of species - dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and small mammals.

A sustainable working pattern.Our clinics operate Monday to Friday and close at 5.30pm, with no evening, weekend, out-of-hours or on-call commitment. You'll work a 7.5-hour day with dedicated breaks. We believe good veterinary care depends on a team that isn't running on empty, and we've built the role accordingly.

What you'll do

Working alongside the Lead Veterinary Surgeon, you'll deliver a high-quality, pragmatic clinical service to animals in our care. You'll assess cases on admission, build treatment plans that protect welfare and minimise time in care, and run outpatient services for our fostered and rehomed animals. You'll exercise the clinical judgement and autonomy of an experienced vet, supported by clear clinical frameworks and a collaborative team spanning nursing, behaviour and animal care.

What we offer

• A sustainable Monday-to-Friday working pattern, with no evening, weekend or on-call working
• 31 days annual leave rising to 38 with length of service
• 2 dedicated Wellbeing days a year
• A day off for your birthday
• Life assurance 4x basic salary
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Company pension contribution
• RCVS and VDS Fees paid
• Dedicated CPD Allowance
• Medicash benefit including employee assistance programme services.
• Retail and gym membership discounts
• The opportunity to do meaningful work for an organisation that exists solely for animals

What we're looking for

• Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• At least one year of companion animal practice experience
• Experience in routine medicine, surgery and diagnostics across a range of species
• Confidence working and exercising sound clinical judgement in a busy clinic
• A genuine commitment to animal welfare and to our charitable purpose
• A full driving licence

This role is subject to a PVG check through Disclosure Scotland. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and may close earlier than advertised, so early application is recommended.

The Scottish SPCA is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our mission. Scottish Charity No. SC006467.