Veterinary Surgeon

Job Title: Veterinary Surgeon
Location: Rickmansworth & Chorleywood, Hertfordshire
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Practice: Chess Veterinary Clinic
Salary: £45,000–£65,000 DOE

Are you an experienced small animal vet looking for a role where you can practice medicine properly, with time to work up cases and a genuine surgical caseload? Chess Veterinary Clinic offers a stable, supportive environment with loyal clients, experienced colleagues, a quaint practice building, and excellent facilities. This is a role where your clinical opinion is valued, your development is encouraged, and your work-life balance is protected.

Why join us?

• Wonderfully balanced days with a surgical caseload of 40–50%
• Loyal, largely insured client base that supports gold-standard care
• Supportive, collaborative team with nurses with decade-long tenures
• Structured, predictable rota: 40 hours/week, 1 in 4 Saturdays (1pm–6pm)
• Real opportunity to hone imaging skills

The practice & team

Chess Veterinary Clinic has been serving the Hertfordshire community for over 75 years, building trusted relationships with generations of clients. You’ll be primarily based at our Rickmansworth site, a charming, characterful practice set in a converted stable, and will spend 1–2 days per week at our Chorleywood branch, which features a large consult room, spacious waiting area, and recently refurbished facilities.

Both sites are fully equipped to support high-quality medicine, with an in-house laboratory for thyroid, cPLI, cortisol, routine haematology and biochemistry testing, digital radiography including dental imaging, ultrasound for abdominal and cardiac scans, endoscopy equipment, a dedicated theatre, and a separate area for dentals and ultrasonography.

Our experienced team includes a Nursing Manager with 14 years in practice, RVNs with over a decade of experience, a practice manager who is also an RVN, and long-standing reception staff. The team is welcoming, collaborative, and supportive, with a culture of open case discussion. The practice is located in an affluent area with excellent access to London, near the Rickmansworth Aquadrome and Chorleywood Common, offering a mix of village charm, countryside walks, and cafes for a great work-life balance.

What we’re looking for

• Solid small animal GP experience - minimum 3 years UK
• Confidence in both consults and surgery
• Enjoys working up cases fully rather than referring early
• Interest in developing imaging or endoscopy skills
• Values collaboration and open case discussion
• Pride in delivering high standards of patient care
• Ability to work full-time within a structured rota

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave

• RCVS & VDS fees paid

• CPD allowance and 4 days each year to attend events plus Linnaeus CPD Programme (including certificate holder level CPD)

• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program

• Career progression opportunities

• Staff discount schemes

• Life Assurance

• Enhanced sickness pay

• Enhanced equal family leave

• E-car salary sacrifice scheme

• Recruitment referral reward scheme

• Wellness program including:

• Employee assistance program

• Eyecare voucher scheme

• Free annual Flu jab

• Cycle to work scheme

About Us

Chess Vets is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.   

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.  

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose. 

If you would like to apply for the role or for an informal chat to discuss it further, please get in touch with Joanne in the recruitment team joanne.gray@linnaeusgroup.co.uk

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