Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Inspiring Vet Care; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks holiday

Private medical insurance

Enhanced family leave and pay

BVA membership, VDS cover & RCVS fees

Cycle to Work

Retail discounts

Reduced-cost veterinary care for your,

Job summary

Dragon Vets in Cheltenham is seeking a Permanent Veterinary Surgeon to join our experienced team at the main hospital. The role involves a mix of hospital-based work two days per week and branch work the other two days, with some sole-charge at branches. Typical pattern is four days a week, averaging 40 hours, and 1:4 Saturday mornings.

No out-of-hours or on-call is required. We offer an supportive, forward-thinking environment with opportunities for professional development, CPD, and a

Qualifications

• A Veterinary degree and registration (or eligibility to register) with the RCVS.
• Experience in clinical practice with growing confidence in routine medical and surgical cases.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues.
• A proactive approach to learning, with openness to feedback and development.
• Professionalism, reliability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• A passion for delivering excellent patient and client care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high standard of patient and client care across a varied caseload.
• Collaborate with the wider clinical team and share knowledge.
• Develop clinical skills and contribute to clinical culture.
• Handle sole charge responsibilities at branches when required.

Skills

RCVS registration

Clinical experience

Communication skills

Proactive learner

Team player

Patient care

Education

Veterinary degree

RCVS registration eligibility

Job description

Permanent Veterinary Surgeon at Dragon Vets, Cheltenham

Up to £70,000 (DOE)

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. As a proud member of inspiring vet care, we’re excited to be welcoming applications for a permanent vet to join our brilliant team at Dragon Vets.

We’re looking for an experienced small animal vet to join their friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking team. For this particular role, you’ll be based at the main hospital in Cheltenham two days per week, with the other two days spent working at the supporting branches. This particular role will involve some elements of sole charge at the branches, so we're looking for someone that'll be capable of handling this.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Veterinary Surgeon, you’ll work collaboratively with the wider practice team to deliver a high standard of patient and client care across a varied and rewarding caseload. You’ll continue to develop your clinical skills and interests while sharing your knowledge and experience with colleagues, contributing positively to the clinical culture of the practice. You’ll be an integral member of the clinical team, delivering excellent care and supporting the ongoing development of those around you.

Rota patterns that work for you

Our people are at the heart of everything that we do, that’s why we know that work-life balance is vital in supporting our people to be their best selves. We’re happy to offer flexibility to both part & full time applications. A typical full-time role would involve working an average of 40 hours per week over 4 days. You’ll be required to work 1:4 Saturday mornings. No out of hours or on call required.

A Bit About Us

Located in the heart of Cheltenham, renowned for horse racing and a thriving bar/restaurant scene, Dragon Vets is an established practice and has invested in specialist equipment including CT, DR, rigid/flexible endoscopy, high-end Doppler ultrasonography and well-equipped operating facilities including laparoscopic kits and TPLO kits, and much more. We have a team of 16 vets, including certificate holders with advanced practitioner status in small animal surgery, cardiology, and medicine, and value evidence-based medicine with regular clinical discussions and readily available colleague support. We function as more than a first-opinion practice, often performing complex surgeries and treating intensive medical cases that may otherwise have been referred. Having been established for decades, we have a huge client base which comes with lots of variety in caseload. We have a dedicated, separate out-of-hours team - Vets Now - based within the same building, enabling 24-hour care. Our nursing team is made up of 17 RVNS and 4 SVNs in various stages of their training.

Here’s what the team have to say

I started at Dragon vets nine years ago working after school as an ACA. After leaving to go to vet school, I was welcomed back into the team as a new graduate vet in 2023. Dragon have given me a supportive and exciting start to my career. We are lucky to have the facilities in house to advance diagnostics and care beyond first opinion. I enjoy working with all the team and am proud to be a part of it. - Sofia, vet.

You might be a great fit if...

You are a confident and motivated veterinary surgeon who enjoys working as part of a team and is committed to delivering high-quality patient and client care. You’ll bring:

• A Veterinary degree and registration (or eligibility to register) with the RCVS
• Experience working in clinical practice with growing confidence in routine medical and surgical cases
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues
• A proactive approach to learning, with openness to feedback and development
• Professionalism, reliability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• A passion for delivering excellent patient and client care

How we’ll support you

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• 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

• 6.6 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

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

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.