Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Rathgael Veterinary Clinic; Bangor; On-site; GBP 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary practice in Bangor is seeking a dedicated Veterinary Surgeon to join their team. The role offers a salary of up to £63,000 depending on experience and includes benefits like relocation allowance, flexible work patterns, and extensive professional development opportunities. You will work in a caring environment with a supportive team, focusing primarily on small animals, and enjoy a great work-life balance with no on-call responsibilities.

Benefits

7 weeks annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

CPD allowance

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted pet treatment

Qualifications

• Strong skills in veterinary medicine and surgery are essential.
• Excellent communication skills for client and team interactions are required.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform consultations and surgeries focusing on continuity of care.
• Build lasting relationships with clients and their pets.
• Support and mentor junior veterinary staff.

Skills

Veterinary Medicine

Surgery

Client communication

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Job description

Overview

Salary up to £63,000 DOE, Relocation Allowance up to £5,000 and Welcome Bonus up to £5,000.

At Rathgael Garden Lodge Vets, collaboration, care, and community are at the heart of everything we do. We’re excited to welcome a dedicated and enthusiastic Veterinary Surgeon to our team. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your career in a supportive, progressive practice that spans our well-established small animal clinics in Bangor, Holywood, and Stormont.

Where Every Day Makes a Difference

Our work is rewarding and varied, with a caseload that mainly involves cats and dogs but also the occasional rabbit, small furry, or even injured wildlife brought in by the local community. No two days are the same, and while the role will be based primarily at our Bangor branch, you’ll also have the chance to support our other sites, keeping your work interesting and connected across the team.

Modern Facilities with a Personal Touch

Our Bangor clinic is designed to make life easier for both patients and staff. We have a spacious reception with separate waiting areas for cats and dogs, two consult rooms, a dedicated theatre, prep area, diagnostic suite with X-ray, endoscope, and ultrasound, as well as a separate dental suite with dental X-ray. Behind the scenes, you’ll find a comfortable staff break room complete with tea, coffee, fruit, and plenty of biscuits to keep you going.

A Role with Variety and Continuity

Consultations here focus on continuity of care, allowing you to build lasting relationships with our loyal clients and their pets. You’ll also enjoy a healthy share of surgery time, from routine spays and lump removals to abdominal surgeries and a wide range of dental procedures. While we manage most cases in-house, we have excellent referral links for when extra support is needed. Our dedicated nursing team plays a vital role, running their own consults, wellness checks, post-op discharges, and assisting across surgery and admin.

A Team That Truly Supports You

You’ll be joining a close-knit group of six vets, six RVNs, and 12 support staff including receptionists, ACAs, administrators, and our practice manager. Among our vets are certificate holders in General Practice, Small Animal Surgery, and Orthopaedics, and we’re proud of our commitment to mentorship and professional growth. As an accredited training practice, we also support the next generation of RVNs and take pride in developing our people.

Flexibility That Works for You

We understand the importance of balance, which is why we offer flexible working patterns that can be tailored to your lifestyle. Whether you’re managing family commitments, or simply aiming for a better work-life balance, we’ll help find a rota that works for you. Our full-time role is 40 hours per week over five days, with just 1 in 4 Saturday mornings (9-12) and no out-of-hours or on-call.

Life in Beautiful Bangor

Bangor, set on the stunning shores of Belfast Lough, offers the perfect blend of seaside charm and modern convenience. With its picturesque marina, award-winning parks, lively town centre, there’s plenty to enjoy. From coastal walks and water sports to music venues, cafés, and restaurants, Bangor has something for everyone. Excellent transport links mean Belfast is just a 30-minute drive or train ride away, giving you the best of both coastal living and city life.

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from:

• Work-life balance
• 7 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
• £1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave pro rata
• Certificate support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Access to Vetlexicon - our online encyclopaedia provider
• All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
• All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
• Infection Prevention and Control Programme
• Quality Improvement Programme
• Professional Memberships (BVA, VDS cover, RCVS fees, ASVPNI)
• Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme
• Voluntary benefits and access to discounts/cashback with retailers
• Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice
• Salary up to £63,000 DOE