Veterinary Surgeon – Independent Practice, Stunning Location – Devon – £40,000–£70,000 DOE

Veterinary Surgeon – Independent Practice, Stunning Location – Devon – £40,000–£70,000 DOE

A wonderful opportunity to join a well-established, close-knit independent practice in one of the most beautiful parts of the country — with a supportive team, excellent facilities, and a genuine commitment to work-life balance. 🐾

About the Practice

This independent 10-vet small animal practice is situated in a beautiful part of Devon, within easy reach of the coast, Dartmoor, and Exeter. The main site is just outside Newton Abbot, with a branch surgery uniquely located on the grounds of a historic castle nearby — a setting that is hard to beat.

The practice has been established since 2012 and has built a stable, long-standing team with a wealth of experience — from recent graduates through to vets with over 20 years in practice. It's a collaborative, progressive environment where daily morning huddles bring the team together to discuss inpatients and interesting cases, and where clinical freedom is genuinely encouraged.

The facilities are excellent, including:

  • Two theatres and a dedicated dental suite with dental X-ray
  • Digital X-ray, ultrasound and multiparameter monitors
  • Endoscope and a fully equipped in-house laboratory
  • Separate cat and dog waiting rooms and kennelling
  • Visiting specialists supporting complex orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures in-house

The nursing team is equally impressive — 12 RVNs, 2 dedicated night RVNs, 3 SVNs and 3 VCAs, supported by kennel assistants and a friendly reception team. This is a nurse training practice with a real depth of support behind it.

About the Role

This is a permanent position for a vet with some experience who is comfortable with routine surgeries. Full-time vets work a 4-day week (8:30am–6:30pm), with typically 3 vets consulting and 2 operating daily — meaning support is always on hand and variety is built into every working week.

The practice runs its own out-of-hours service, with a 1 in 8/9 night rota and 1 in 4 weekends. The weekend rota is thoughtfully structured so you never work a full weekend — with time back in lieu and a bonus payment for each OOH call attended. A dedicated RVN night team triages calls from 7pm and is on-site overnight to look after inpatients and assist the vet.

What They're Looking For

They are looking for a motivated Veterinary Surgeon with some post-graduate experience who is comfortable with routine surgeries and keen to develop further. Clinical freedom, certificate support and encouragement to pursue special interests are all part of the culture here. Visa sponsorship and relocation packages are available for the right candidate.

What They Can Offer You

✅ Salary £40,000–£70,000 DOE

✅ 4-day working week

✅ OOH bonus payments for each call attended

✅ Time back in lieu following weekend work

✅ £1,500 CPD allowance with certificates fully supported and funded 🌟

✅ RCVS, VDS and one additional membership paid

✅ Holiday increasing with length of service

✅ Employee Assistance Programme with Bupa Wellness

✅ Relocation package available

✅ Visa sponsorship available

How to Apply

If you're looking for an independent practice with a genuinely brilliant team, a stunning location, and a culture that truly looks after its people — this is a conversation worth having.

Get in touch with Ciaran today:

📧 ciaran.drew@gvcvets.com 📞 01392 793241 👤 Ciaran Drew – Global Veterinary Careers

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...