Veterinary Surgeon - New Practice

Veterinary Surgeon – Brand-New Practice in Clacton-on-Sea

Up to £70,000 DOE | Welcome Bonus | Full-Time | No OOH

Are you an experienced Veterinary Surgeon looking for an exciting new challenge? Would you like the chance to help shape the future of a brand-new, purpose-built practice from the ground up? If so, we’d love to welcome you to join us at Clacton-on-Sea Vets for Pets.

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated and motivated Veterinary Surgeon to become an integral part of our growing team. This is a full-time role (around 40 hours per week) with Saturdays on a fair 1 in 3 rota. Importantly, there are no out-of-hours requirements, giving you a genuine work-life balance by the seaside.

About Us

Our brand-new practice opened in March 2025 inside one of our modern stores and has been designed with both clinical excellence and colleague wellbeing in mind. You’ll be working in a light, spacious and air-conditioned environment with access to state-of-the-art equipment, including digital x-ray, ultrasound, a full in-house laboratory, dentistry facilities and more.

We are already seeing an exciting mix of cases from routine consultations through to more advanced procedures. Our team has recently expanded our surgical capabilities, successfully performing complex fracture repairs and BOAS surgeries, with ambitions to grow our referral-level offering further. You’ll be supported by a passionate and friendly team who are committed to delivering exceptional standards of pet care.

Why Clacton-on-Sea?

If you’ve ever dreamed of combining your veterinary career with a seaside lifestyle, this could be the perfect opportunity. Clacton-on-Sea is a charming coastal town in Essex, famous for its sandy beaches, bustling pier, and relaxed seaside vibe. There’s plenty to enjoy in your downtime, from coastal walks and family-friendly attractions to the annual airshow, one of the largest in the UK.

Commuting is simple too — with excellent road links via the A133, A120, and M25, as well as easy access to London, Chelmsford, Colchester and beyond.

About You

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Veterinary Surgeon who is ready to make their mark in a new practice. Ideally, you will:

• Be RCVS-registered with experience in small animal practice
• Be confident with routine procedures, both surgical and medical
• Bring excellent communication skills with clients and colleagues alike
• Enjoy working as part of a team while being comfortable with sole charge when required
• Have (or be keen to develop) a specific area of interest — we’re happy to support certificates and further study

What We Offer

We believe in looking after our colleagues just as well as we do our patients. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive salary of up to £70,000 (dependent on experience)
• Welcome bonus of up to £2,000
• Generous CPD allowance with support for certificate study
• 5.6 weeks’ annual leave (increasing with service)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Paid memberships (RCVS, BVA, VDS)
• Career development opportunities within a supportive network
• Access to colleague wellbeing programmes and pastoral care
• Cycle to work scheme
• 20% discount at Vets for Pets, Pets at Home and The Groom Room
• Exclusive colleague rewards and discounts across the wider Pets at Home Group

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a practice at the very beginning of its journey, giving you the freedom to influence its future direction and make a genuine impact in the local community. With excellent facilities, a supportive employer, and the charm of a coastal lifestyle, this role offers the best of all worlds.

So, whether you’re looking for your next challenge, want to pursue a certificate, or simply want a rewarding veterinary role with great balance, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and come help us build something special at Clacton-on-Sea Vets for Pets.

If you'd like any further information about this vacancy, the practice or our company please contact Jack from our Talent Acquisition team via email; COVet@vets4pets.com for an informal and confidential conversation.

Alternatively, you can submit your application directly to us now and somebody will be in touch with you to discuss this further. We look forward to hearing from you!

*Applicable to direct candidates only, 50% payable upon successful completion of 3 month probationary period and remaining 50% payable upon successful completion of 6 months employment.

Location: CO15 3TP

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer!

Pets just see people. They aren’t biased and they don’t discriminate. We take our inspiration from pets, and we value and respect difference in all its forms. Our aim is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and every colleague can help us achieve this. We encourage our people to be themselves so even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!