Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

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

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

6.6 weeks holiday incl bank holidays

Relocation allowance

Welcome bonus up to £5,000

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care is seeking a Veterinary Surgeon for Small Animal at Heathside Vets in Southampton. This full‑time role offers a balanced mix of consultations and surgery with a broad caseload including orthopaedics and cardiology.

We support development, including certificates, with a stable team and a friendly culture. Live by the coast, enjoy a 42‑hour week over four or five days, with a 1:5 weekend rota and optional temporary accommodation.

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Heathside Vets - Southampton

Salary up to £70,000 DOE, up to £5,000 welcome bonus 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.

Heathside Vets, part of ivc, is looking for an enthusiastic Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly, progressive and supportive team. With a long-established client base and a stable team who know and trust each other, this is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a practice where you can build lasting relationships with both clients and colleagues.

More Than First Opinion

You’ll enjoy a great balance of consultations and surgery, with plenty of opportunity to work cases up thoroughly and develop your clinical interests. Alongside routine first-opinion work, our caseload includes orthopaedics, laparoscopy, BOAS surgery, cardiology and a wide range of medical investigations.

We’re particularly keen to hear from Vets with an interest in ophthalmology, although this isn’t essential. If you’re considering a certificate, we’ll also support you in developing your skills and progressing your career.

The Tools to Do Great

Our converted-house practice, with several extensions, is well equipped with ultrasound, cardiac ultrasound, digital and dental X-ray, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy and surgical laser, alongside orthopaedic equipment including MMP and SOP kits. We’re proud to offer many procedures in-house that would traditionally require referral.

A Team That Has Your Back

You’ll work alongside four other Veterinary Surgeons, eight Veterinary Nurses and a dedicated support team. Our team includes a Cardiology and Medicine certificate holder and Vets experienced in laparoscopic surgery. Our nurses are hugely experienced too, having trained student nurses for more than 26 years. We’re also proud to be a Silver ISFM practice.

A Working Pattern That Gives You Balance

This is a full-time position working 42 hours across four or five days. You’ll join a 1:5 weekend rota, covering sole-charge Saturday 8:30am-4pm and Sunday 9:30am-1pm, followed by a four-day break after each worked weekend. Temporary accommodation is also available if required.

A Great Place to Live and Work

Located on the beautiful Hampshire coastline, Heathside offers the best of both worlds, charming small-town living with easy access to Southampton and Portsmouth. It’s a fantastic area for those looking for a great quality of life outside work, with the coast and countryside right on your doorstep.

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