Veterinary Surgeon

Location: Basildon, Essex
Hours: Full Time (Wed/Thu/Fri requirement) | 1 in 4 Saturdays | No bank holidays
Practice: Cherrydown Vets
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum DOE 

We are looking for a Veterinary Surgeon to join the team at Cherrydown Vets in Basildon. This is a genuinely supportive, well-structured first opinion practice offering a high-quality clinical environment with a strong emphasis on teamwork, case continuity and protected time to do things properly.

This role is ideally suited to a vet who enjoys a consult-heavy GP caseload, values clinical standards, and wants the time and support to fully work cases up within a progressive and friendly team. Cherrydown is a structured, consult-led GP practice with protected time, strong imaging and surgical capability, and a focus on high-quality case work-up.

Why join us?

• Strong GP caseload with continuity of care aspiring to increase surgery load
• 15-minute consults supporting clinical quality and reduced pressure
• Dedicated admin time built into the diary
• Full clinical autonomy with encouragement to fully work up cases
• No bank holidays and only 1 in 4 Saturdays
• Supportive and collaborative 4-vet team environment
• Strong senior leadership and structured clinical support
• Flexible working pattern discussions welcomed
• Excellent transport links across Essex and into London
• Genuine team culture with regular social events (including our famous Friday homemade cakes)

The team and practice

You will be joining an experienced and collaborative team including a Lead Vet, Clinical Nursing Manager, GDP vet and a dedicated nursing and support team. There is a strong culture of case discussion, shared learning and mutual support, with vets actively encouraged to collaborate and develop their clinical interests.  Clinical interests already established within the team include imaging, laparoscopy and surgery, and we are particularly keen to welcome a vet with surgical experience to help further develop this area of the practice.

The practice is well equipped with:

• Large imaging suite
• Digital X-ray
• Laparoscopy kit
• Multiple consult rooms and operating theatres
• Separate cat and dog wards
• Dedicated facilities supporting patient care and workflow efficiency

We also have strong working relationships with referral centres including Southfields Veterinary Specialists, supporting seamless case escalation when required.

Located in Basildon, Essex, the practice benefits from excellent transport links into London while also offering easy access to countryside and coastal areas, supporting a strong work-life balance for the team.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys high-quality first opinion practice and being part of a collaborative clinical team.

• RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon
• Ideally 3+ years’ post-qualification experience within the UK
• Confident in consults and routine surgery
• Interest in increasing ops and adjusting dynamic of caseload seen throughout the practice
• Interest or experience in surgery (desirable)
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Keen to fully work up cases and deliver high clinical standards
• Positive, proactive and supportive team player

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday a year plus birthday leave and bank holidays
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• External CPD funded, including certificates (on approval)
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programmes
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance programme
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Voucher for Flu jab
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme

Cherrydown 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 at joanne.gray@linnaeusgroup.co.uk.