Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Inspiring Vet Care; Castlewellan; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

7 weeks’ holiday

Private medical insurance

Enhanced family leave and pay

BVA membership, VDS and RCVS fees

Cycle to Work

Retail discounts

Reduced-cost veterinary care for your

Job summary

Castle Veterinary Group in Castlewellan is seeking an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join our growing team. The role offers clinical autonomy, opportunity to shape future services, and a supportive environment with excellent facilities.

We welcome vets with interests in surgery, dentistry, orthopaedics, diagnostics, or ophthalmology and encourage development of these areas. Flexible PT/FT options and no out-of-hours work.

Qualifications

• RCVS registered veterinary surgeon with small animal experience.
• Ability to manage a busy first-opinion caseload independently.
• Strong client communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Provide small animal veterinary care with clinical autonomy.
• Develop and expand clinical interests within the practice.
• Collaborate with nurses and staff to deliver high-quality care.
• Contribute to the growth and development of Castle Veterinary Group.

Skills

RCVS Registered Veterinary Surgeon

Small animal practice experience

Clinical autonomy

Client communication

Tools

Ultrasound

Digital radiography

In-house laboratory

Job description

Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Castle Veterinary Group | Castlewellan, County Down

Salary £50,000 - £63,000 DOE (FTE)

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.

Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Castle Veterinary Group | Castlewellan, County Down

Full-Time or Part-Time | Permanent

Salary £50,000 - £63,000 DOE (FTE)

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.

A Role Where You Can Make Your Mark

Castle Veterinary Group is seeking an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join our growing team in Castlewellan.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident and capable vet who is looking for more than just a routine clinical role. We're searching for someone who enjoys clinical autonomy, takes ownership of cases and wants to help shape the future of veterinary services within a thriving and progressive practice.

With a loyal client base, excellent facilities and a supportive team around you, this role offers the perfect environment to develop your career while making a genuine impact. Whether you're looking for a long-term home or a role that offers greater flexibility and professional fulfilment, we'd love to hear from you.

Build a Role Around Your Interests

At Castle Veterinary Group, we recognise that the best practices are built around the strengths and interests of the people within them. That's why we're particularly interested in speaking with vets who have areas of clinical interest they would like to further develop.

Whether your passion lies in surgery, dentistry, orthopaedics, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology or another specialist area, you'll be encouraged and supported to expand your expertise. We see this role as an opportunity not only to strengthen our existing services but also to develop new clinical offerings for the local community.

For vets who have additional qualifications or certificates, there is genuine scope to utilise and further develop those skills within the practice. Additional qualifications are highly desirable, and we welcome candidates who are keen to bring new ideas and services to the team.

A Progressive Practice with Excellent Facilities

You’ll be primarily based at our Castlewellan practice, with occasional support provided to our nearby Downpatrick site, giving you the benefits of being part of a wider clinical team while maintaining a strong base location.

Our practice is well equipped to support high-quality first-opinion medicine and surgery. Facilities include digital radiography, ultrasound, in-house laboratory and diagnostic equipment, alongside excellent orthopaedic facilities that allow us to manage a broad range of cases to a high standard.

We are committed to investing in both our facilities and our people, ensuring our team has access to the equipment, resources and support needed to provide outstanding patient care.

Join a Supportive and Ambitious Team

Castle Veterinary Group has built a strong reputation within the local community for delivering compassionate care and excellent clinical outcomes. As we continue to grow, we're looking for veterinary surgeons who want to be part of that journey.

You’ll join a collaborative team that values clinical excellence, teamwork and mutual support. Our nurses, receptionists and vets work closely together, creating a positive environment where everyone contributes to delivering an exceptional experience for clients and patients alike.

While this role offers a high degree of clinical freedom, you’ll have the reassurance of experienced colleagues and actively involved Clinical Directors who provide regular guidance, mentorship and support.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an RCVS Registered Veterinary Surgeon with previous small animal practice experience who is comfortable managing a varied caseload and making clinical decisions independently.

This role is best suited to a vet who enjoys a busy first-opinion environment, values continuity of care and takes pride in building strong relationships with clients. You’ll be proactive, personable and motivated to contribute to both the clinical and commercial success of the practice.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who wants to play an active role in the continued development of the clinic and help us shape the next stage of its growth.

Flexibility That Works for You

We understand that every vet’s ideal working pattern is different and are therefore happy to consider both full-time and part-time applications.

Part-time hours can be accommodated from approximately 20 hours per week, while full-time positions are based on up to 40 hours per week. The role includes participation in a fair shared 1 in 3 Saturday rota.

Importantly, there are no out-of-hours or on-call responsibilities, allowing you to enjoy a healthy work‑life balance while still benefiting from the variety and satisfaction of a busy clinical caseload.

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 & 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

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

A Career Where You Can Make a Difference

This is more than just another veterinary role. It’s an opportunity to join a practice with ambition, influence the future direction of the clinic, develop your own areas of interest and become part of a genuinely supportive team.

If you’re an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon looking for clinical freedom, career progression, excellent facilities and a team that values your expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Castle Veterinary Group and help shape the future of veterinary care in Castlewellan.

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.

Up to £63,000 DOE (FTE)