Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

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

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

6.6 weeks' holiday

Cycle to Work

Green Car schemes

Retail discounts and cashback offers

Reduced-cost veterinary care for your

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care, through St Mary's Veterinary Clinic in Ferndown, Dorset, seeks an experienced Veterinary Surgeon for a busy first-opinion practice. You will manage a varied caseload of cats and dogs with clinical freedom across consultations and surgery.

This role offers full-time hours, potential for development of clinical interests, strong team support, and a friendly community in Dorset. Attractive relocation and joining incentives are available.

Qualifications

• Experienced Veterinary Surgeon; not suitable for new graduates.
• Full-time role with 4 or 5 days per week; 1:3 Saturday mornings; no OOH.

Responsibilities

• Handle a varied caseload of cats and dogs with clinical freedom.
• Deliver consultations and soft tissue surgery as part of a balanced schedule.
• Collaborate with a wider team across St Mary's and Aniwell.
• Pursue CPD and develop clinical interests.

Skills

First-opinion practice

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

St Mary's Veterinary Clinic - Ferndown, Dorset

Salary up to £70,000 DOE, Welcome Bonus up to £5,000 and Relocation Allowance up to £5,000

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.

St Mary's, part of ivc, are an established first-opinion practice in Ferndown with a loyal client base and a great reputation. As we start an exciting new chapter alongside our sister practice, Aniwell Vets, we're growing our team and investing in our people, facilities and future.

First-Opinion Medicine & Surgery, Your Way

At St Mary's, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the variety that makes first-opinion practice so rewarding.

You'll see a varied caseload of predominantly cats and dogs, with a good balance of consultations and surgery. From routine preventative care and everyday medical cases through to soft tissue surgery, dentistry and more complex presentations, you'll have the clinical freedom to manage your cases from start to finish.

We're keen to support your individual interests too. Whether you're passionate about consulting, surgery, dentistry, imaging or something completely different, we'll help you develop the areas of veterinary medicine you enjoy most.

A Team That Has Your Back

Working across St Mary's and Aniwell gives you access to a wider clinical team, creating even more opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge and bounce ideas around.

You'll have experienced colleagues and strong referral pathways around you whenever you need another opinion, while still enjoying the personal feel and client relationships that make first-opinion practice so rewarding.

Great Facilities, With More to Come

You'll have access to digital and dental radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy and a fully equipped in-house laboratory, with a full refurbishment of St Mary's also planned.

You'll also have support for CPD, further training and developing clinical interests or working towards a certificate.

A Rota That Works Around Life

Full-time hours can be worked across four or five days, with part-time applications welcomed. You'll work just 1:3 Saturday mornings (8:30am-12:30pm), with no OOH or on-call commitments.

This role is suited to an experienced Veterinary Surgeon and isn't suitable for new graduates.

Life in Dorset

Ferndown gives you the best of both worlds, with Bournemouth's beaches, the New Forest and the Jurassic Coast all within easy reach. Whether you love coastal walks, countryside adventures or simply having a great quality of life outside work, Dorset has plenty to offer.

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.

Up to £70,000 pa DOE