Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal
Unicorn Vets | Southampton, Hampshire
Salary up to £88,500 DOE
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.
Unicorn Vets is becoming part of the Orchard Vets family and are well-established veterinary practice groups with a reputation for excellence and a commitment to providing high-quality care to our community and their pets for over 35 years. Originally based in Romsey, we have continued to grow successfully with branches in Ashurst and we are excited the practices in Bassett and Fair Oak are joining us.
Our practices are well equipped with a range of in-house facilities including dental radiography, laparoscopy, endoscopy, K-Laser, Vetscan Imagyst and cryotherapy. We also have access to a local IVC referral centre to support more complex cases.
While this role is primarily based across our Bassett and Fair Oak branches, you will work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider Orchard Vets group, including our Romsey and Ashurst teams.
You will be supported by a dedicated and experienced team consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs, Student Veterinary Nurses, Animal Care Assistants and reception/administrative colleagues across our sites. CPD and continuous learning are extremely important to us, and we actively encourage further development and leadership progression within the team.
We pride ourselves on maintaining a supportive and collaborative culture where everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas and help shape the future of the practice group.
How You’ll Make a Difference
As Lead Veterinary Surgeon, you will be the most senior veterinary clinician within the practice, responsible for leading clinical standards, governance, and the delivery of outstanding patient and client care.
You’ll provide clinical leadership to the veterinary team, oversee complex cases, and act as the primary source of clinical guidance and decision-making within the practice. Working closely with the senior practice leadership team, you’ll support the strategic direction of the practice and drive continuous improvement in clinical quality, outcomes, and ways of working.
• This is a full-time role of 40 hours per week, worked across four or five days with a mix of early and late shifts. There is a 1:6 Saturday morning rota (8:30am–12:30pm), with no out of hours or on call requirements.
• Part-time applications are also welcomed.
You Might Be a Great Fit If...
You are a highly experienced veterinary surgeon with strong clinical expertise and a passion for leadership and clinical excellence. You’ll bring:
* A Veterinary degree and registration with the RCVS with significant experience in small or mixed animal practice, with advanced surgical and medical capability
* Proven experience in mentoring, coaching, and supporting veterinary colleagues
* Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
* Experience contributing to or leading clinical governance, audits, and quality improvement initiatives
* The ability to manage clinical complaints and provide professional guidance in complex situations
* Professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to the highest standards of patient and client care
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. 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.
