Veterinary Surgeon – Progression Towards Senior Role
Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
£55,000–£75,000 per year
Average 34 hours per week across four days
8 (Eight) working weeks’ annual leave, including bank holidays
Only one Saturday morning in six
No out-of-hours work, late nights or bank holidays
Are you an experienced Veterinary Surgeon who feels ready for the next stage of your career?
Sore Paws Veterinary Clinic is looking for a confident small-animal vet to join our expanding team at our purpose-built Newton Aycliffe practice.
This position would particularly suit someone with approximately four to eight years’ experience who is ready to develop towards becoming a Senior Veterinary Surgeon.
Leadership experience would be helpful, but it isn’t essential. What matters most to us is your attitude, work ethic and willingness to become part of the team. We’ll support you with the clinical and leadership development needed to take that next step.
WHY NEWTON AYCLIFFE?
County Durham offers a standard of living that can be difficult to achieve elsewhere in the UK. Home ownership remains comparatively accessible, while Newcastle, Durham, the Northumberland countryside and the North East coast are all within easy reach.
Whether you want city life, countryside, coastline or somewhere affordable to put down roots, this part of the country offers a little bit of everything.
THE PRACTICE
Our Newton Aycliffe branch is a brand-new, purpose-built clinic accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme at General Practice level.
We are also a VetGDP-approved workplace and veterinary nurse training practice.
Our facilities include:
- Five consultation rooms
- Two operating theatres
- Separate cat and dog wards
- A dedicated euthanasia and bereavement room
- A comprehensive in-house IDEXX laboratory
- An extensive range of modern diagnostic and surgical equipment
We support the professional development of everyone who works with us, including funded CPD, certificates and leadership training where appropriate.
For someone looking to put down roots, longer-term progression and succession within the practice may also be possible.
THE TEAM
We won’t pretend we’re an entirely ordinary veterinary practice. We’re a little weird, proudly so, and we take the work – but not ourselves – seriously.
We believe in coming to work, doing the job exceptionally well and then going home with enough time and energy to enjoy a life outside it.
Our five-vet Aycliffe team ranges from recent graduate to Surgery Certificate holder, with additional clinical support available from our sister practice. We also have a close working relationship with a nearby referral hospital.
Clinical collaboration is built into the way we work through:
- Weekly vet meetings
- A dedicated veterinary Slack channel for advice and rapid case discussion
- A monthly Microsoft Teams journal club
- A practice-wide commitment to evidence-based veterinary medicine
Our journal club has become the beating heart of our approach to EBVM and is enjoyed by clinical and non-clinical team members alike.
THE ROLE
You’ll see a genuinely varied caseload, ranging from clients working with limited budgets to those choosing comprehensive, gold-standard care.
The role includes:
- Predominantly companion-animal work, with occasional exotics if that interests you
- 15-minute consultations
- An average 34-hour, four-day working week
- Approximately one day in four spent locally “on the road” with our Homecare Vet and Nurse team
- No late nights
- No out-of-hours work
- No bank holidays
- Only one Saturday morning in six – a 2.5-hour, consultation-only shift
ABOUT YOU
We’re looking for someone who:
- Is confident in general small-animal practice
- Enjoys working as part of a close and supportive team
- Is ready to take greater ownership and responsibility
- Has a strong work ethic and a practical, positive attitude
- Wants to continue developing clinically and professionally
- Takes excellent patient care seriously without taking themselves too seriously
Previous leadership experience is welcome but not essential. Leadership training will be supported, provided and encouraged.
An impressive vocabulary may also work in your favour.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
- £55,000–£75,000, depending on experience, capability and additional qualifications
- Average 34-hour, four-day working week
- 8 (Yes, EIGHT!) working weeks’ annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
- Additional annual leave based on continuous service
- Veterinary treatment, products and services for your own pets at cost price
- RCVS and VDS fees paid
- Company pension
- Approved CPD funded by the practice
- Certificate and leadership development supported
- Your birthday off when it falls on a scheduled working day
- Access to a leading independent Employee Assistance Programme
- Bright Exchange employee perks and discounts
- Cycle to Work scheme
- UK visa sponsorship may be available for the right candidate
- Genuine opportunity for progression towards a senior role
INTERESTED?
Apply through Indeed or email Sarah at [email protected] for an informal and confidential conversation.
We’d love to hear from you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £55,000.00-£75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
