Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Catley Cross Veterinary Clinic; Braintree; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary clinic in Halstead seeks a Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join a supportive team. The role includes a competitive salary up to £70,000 DOE, flexible working hours, and professional development options in a welcoming environment. Enjoy the charm of the English countryside, excellent community spirit, and work-life balance while making a meaningful impact.

Benefits

Relocation allowance

Welcome bonus

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CPD allowance and leave

Company pension scheme

Discounted treatment for pets

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic veterinary surgeon with excellent communication skills.
• Experience in handling surgical and medical cases.
• A supportive and collaborative approach to teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Manage diverse caseload including surgical and medical first opinion cases.
• Develop clinical interests and work with local charities.
• Participate in a flexible rota with no out-of-hours responsibilities.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Job description

Salary up to £70,000 DOE plus a relocation allowance up to £5,000 and a welcome bonus up to £5,000

Flexible Hours | Supportive Team | No OOH | RCVS Accredited Practice

Are you an enthusiastic veterinary surgeon looking to join a genuinely friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard, your wellbeing matters, and your professional development is encouraged?

We are delighted to offer a rare opportunity for a Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join our welcoming and collaborative team at Catley Cross Veterinary Clinic in the charming market town of Halstead, Essex.

The Role: Variety, Flexibility & Work-Life Balance

This is a permanent position and can be tailored to suit your lifestyle and career aspirations. Whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time hours, we are open to discussing what works best for you.

*30-40 hours per week, over a 3- or 4-day week

*A fair and sustainable rota, with our earliest start at 8:00am and latest finish at 6:30pm

*1 in 4 Saturday mornings (8:30am-2:00pm) with time back in lieu

*No out-of-hours or bank holiday work - giving you the time to truly enjoy life outside of work

Your working week will include a diverse and interesting caseload, covering both surgical and medical first opinion cases. You will have the opportunity to work up your own cases and develop areas of clinical interest - we’re proud to support CPD and professional growth at all stages of your career.

Our Team: Supportive, Skilled & Collaborative

At Catley Cross, you'll be joining a passionate, down-to-earth team who genuinely enjoy working together. We’re a long-standing, tight-knit practice with a strong sense of community and pride in the care we provide.

*3 experienced vets with a range of clinical interests

*7 qualified Registered Veterinary Nurses who provide outstanding patient care and support

*A dedicated front-of-house team of receptionists and kennel assistants

*A supportive management structure, including our Practice Director, Head Nurse, and Deputy Head Nurse

*We are proud of our knowledge-sharing culture, where case discussions are encouraged and everyone is valued. Whether you're newly qualified or have years of experience, you'll be welcomed and supported from day one.

*We also work with local animal charities such as the RSPCA, and contribute to our community wherever possible.

Location: Halstead - A Hidden Gem in Essex

Halstead is a traditional English market town, full of charm and character. The River Colne runs through the town, offering beautiful riverside walks, and you’ll find a host of independent boutique shops, cafés, family-run butchers and bakers, and historic architecture.

Whether you're relocating or already based nearby, Halstead offers the perfect blend of countryside charm and excellent connections:

*Close to Braintree, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, and Cambridge

*Easy access to London via nearby train links and major road networks

*Affordable housing, great local schools, and a strong community spirit

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

*6.6 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays

*Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

Wellbeing

*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

Development

*£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 membership

*VDS cover

*RCVS fees

Colleague Benefits

*Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well

*Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria

*Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you

*Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

*Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice

Up to £65,000 DOE