Veterinary Practitioner - Small Animal

IVC Evidensia; Waterford; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Birthday leave

Maternity and paternity leave

CPD funding

Wellbeing initiatives

Discounted veterinary fees

Job summary

The Pet Hospital Waterford is seeking an experienced veterinary surgeon to join our friendly small animal team. You’ll have autonomy in first-opinion case management, strong client relationships and a collaborative environment that supports your clinical judgement.

We aim for 3–4 days per week but are open to full-time or flexible arrangements for the right candidate. This role offers a rewarding practice with clinical freedom and a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experienced vet in first-opinion small animal practice.
• Confident in case management and client communication.
• Ability to work independently with appropriate collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload including consultations and routine surgery.
• Deliver high-quality first-opinion care with strong client relationships.
• Collaborate with colleagues while exercising clinical judgement.

Skills

Small animal practice

Client communication

Autonomous practice

VCI registration

Education

VCI-registered veterinary surgeon

Job description

Veterinary Practitioner (Small Animal)

The Pet Hospital, Waterford

Full-Time & Flexible Part-Time Arrangements Considered

Salary Commensurate with Experience

A Role for an Experienced Vet Who Values Clinical Freedom

As an experienced veterinary surgeon, you'll know the importance of finding a role where you're trusted to do what you do best.

At The Pet Hospital, we're looking for a confident and capable small animal vet to join our friendly team in Waterford. This position would be particularly well suited to an experienced general practitioner who enjoys managing their own cases, building strong client relationships and delivering high-quality first-opinion care within a supportive and collaborative environment.

We're ideally seeking someone who would like to work 3-4 days per week, however we're genuinely open-minded and happy to discuss full-time hours or alternative flexible arrangements for the right person.

This is not a leadership role with management responsibilities. Instead, it's an opportunity to become a valued member of a close-knit team where your experience is respected, your clinical judgement is trusted, and you have the autonomy to practise medicine in a way that works for you and your patients.

A Practice Where Relationships Matter

The Pet Hospital is a well-established practice with a loyal client base and a welcoming, community-focused feel. Our clients value continuity of care and genuinely appreciate the relationships they build with our veterinary team.

This creates an enjoyable working environment for experienced clinicians who take pride in delivering excellent patient care and seeing cases through from start to finish. You'll have the freedom to work up cases appropriately, make informed clinical decisions and provide personalised recommendations, all while being supported by experienced colleagues who are always happy to collaborate when needed.

The caseload is varied and rewarding, offering a good mix of consultations, medical cases and routine surgery, making it an ideal role for a vet who enjoys being a true all-round general practitioner.

Clinical Freedom, Support When You Need It

We're looking for someone who is comfortable working independently and enjoys taking ownership of their caseload. You'll have the opportunity to manage cases with a good degree of autonomy, while still benefiting from the support and expertise of a professional and approachable team.

Whether you're consulting, performing routine surgery or working through more challenging medical cases, you'll be trusted to make clinical decisions and manage your day effectively without unnecessary oversight or micromanagement.

At the same time, you'll never be left on your own. Our team culture is built around collaboration, open communication and supporting one another whenever needed.

Flexible Working That Genuinely Fits Around Life

We appreciate that flexibility means different things to different people.

While our preference is for a vet who can work approximately three days per week, we are happy to consider full-time applications or alternative part-time arrangements. Whether you're looking to balance family commitments, pursue other professional interests or simply achieve a better work-life balance, we're keen to find a working pattern that suits both you and the practice.

This is a role designed to be sustainable, enjoyable and adaptable around the right candidate.

Join a Small, Friendly And Experienced Team

One of the biggest attractions of this role is the people you'll work alongside.

We're proud of the welcoming and supportive culture we've built in Waterford. Our team is experienced, down-to-earth and passionate about delivering excellent care without unnecessary hierarchy or office politics.

This is the kind of environment where colleagues genuinely enjoy working together, where ideas are shared openly, and where experienced vets are respected for the knowledge and expertise they bring to the team.

If you're looking for a practice where you'll be known, valued and supported rather than simply being another name on the rota, you'll feel right at home here.

Who We're Looking For

This opportunity is best suited to an experienced VCI-registered veterinary surgeon who is confident in first-opinion small animal practice and enjoys the variety that general practice offers.

You should be comfortable with routine consultations and surgery, capable of managing cases independently, and motivated by providing high standards of patient and client care. Strong communication skills, sound clinical judgement and a collaborative approach are all important attributes for success in this role.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who enjoys being part of a team, values professional relationships and wants to work in an environment where experience is trusted and appreciated.

Why Waterford?

Waterford offers an exceptional quality of life, combining all the benefits of city amenities with easy access to beaches, coastal walks and the beautiful South East countryside.

With a vibrant food scene, welcoming community and a more relaxed pace of life than many larger cities, it's an excellent place to build both a career and a lifestyle.

Rewarding You Properly

In addition to a salary commensurate with experience, you'll benefit from a comprehensive package designed to support your wellbeing, professional development and long-term career.

Our benefits include generous annual leave, birthday leave, paid maternity and paternity leave, company sick pay, pension contributions, professional membership fees paid, CPD funding and paid CPD leave. We actively support further qualifications, including Certificates, Diplomas and higher-level study for those who wish to pursue them.

• generous annual leave
• birthday leave
• paid maternity and paternity leave
• company sick pay
• pension contributions
• professional membership fees paid
• CPD funding
• paid CPD leave
• We actively support further qualifications, including Certificates, Diplomas and higher-level study for those who wish to pursue them.

You’ll also have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, wellbeing initiatives, discounted veterinary fees, annual pay reviews and a range of retail discounts through our employee benefits platform.

• our Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• wellbeing initiatives
• discounted veterinary fees
• annual pay reviews
• a range of retail discounts through our employee benefits platform

Let's Talk

If you’re an experienced vet looking for a role that offers autonomy, flexibility and the support of a friendly and experienced team, we’d love to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to enjoy the best parts of general practice, build lasting client relationships and work alongside colleagues who value professionalism, collaboration and high-quality patient care.

Tell us what an ideal role looks like for you, and let’s see if we can make it happen.

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.