Job Description

Veterinary Surgeon
Location: Purleigh & Althorne, Essex
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week over 5 days | 2 weekends in every 9 (TOIL) | Bank holidays on rota (approx. 1 per year, TOIL) | No out-of-hours commitments
Rota planning is structured and shared well in advance to support a healthy work-life balance.
Practice: Edgewood Veterinary Group
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience from £46,000–£65,000
Relocation: Up to £5,000 available

Edgewood Veterinary Group is looking for a Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly, supportive and experienced team across our Purleigh and Althorne branches in Essex.

This is a role for someone who enjoys first opinion practice but wants the time, structure and clinical support to work cases up properly and develop confidently.

You will be mainly based at Purleigh and Althorne, with occasional requirement to support our Maldon branch as needed.

You will be involved in a balanced mix of consults and surgery, including one dedicated second-op surgical day at Purleigh (where available, depending on annual leave cover) and operating time at Althorne between consults.

This role suits a vet who values continuity of care, collaborative working, and being part of a team where cases are discussed and supported rather than managed in isolation.

Why Join Us?

• Structured clinical workload with a balance of consults and regular surgical exposure (second ops at Purleigh + operating sessions at Althorne)
• Strong emphasis on in-house case work-up, supported by advanced diagnostics and experienced clinical teams
• Supportive nursing team of 11 RVNs plus trainee nurse, heavily involved in anaesthesia, inpatient care and clinical support
• Active learning environment with vets ranging from newer graduates through to 30 years’ experience, encouraging case discussion and shared learning
• Ongoing development culture, with vets undertaking surgery and cardiology certificates and nurses completing surgical and behavioural certificates
• Access to visiting orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon to support more advanced case management in-house

The Team & Practice

Edgewood Veterinary Group is an independently owned companion animal practice across three sites in Purleigh, Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch, located on the Dengie Peninsula between the Rivers Crouch and Blackwater.

We have grown from a small 3-vet practice into an established 11-vet team supported by 11 RVNs, a trainee nurse, VCAs and a dedicated reception team. The majority of clinical work is based across Purleigh and Althorne, with occasional cover at Maldon.

Our team includes a strong mix of experience levels, from younger vets developing their clinical confidence through to highly experienced clinicians with up to 30 years in practice. This creates a supportive environment where case discussion, mentoring and shared decision-making are part of daily clinical life.

Clinically, we are diagnostics-led and aim to work cases up thoroughly rather than simply treating symptoms. We aim to manage as much as possible in-house, supported by digital and dental radiography, high-spec ultrasound, endoscopy (gastroscope and bronchoscope), in-house laboratory diagnostics and multi-parameter anaesthetic monitoring.

We are supported by a visiting orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon, allowing us to manage a wide and varied caseload in-house and reducing the need for external referral in many cases.

Our nursing team is a key strength of the practice. Led by our Head Nurse Nicola, they are highly involved in patient care including anaesthesia, monitoring, inpatient management and clinical support, ensuring vets are well supported throughout the day.

We have a strong learning culture supported by monthly clinical governance meetings and access to the BSAVA library.

Outside of work, the team benefits from a genuinely welcoming and social environment. We are based in a beautiful rural/coastal location with access to sailing in Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch (one of the UK’s top sailing areas), countryside walks, vineyards, and community events such as the famous Maldon Mud Run. London is around one hour away by train, and Stansted Airport is easily accessible.

We also have a strong sense of team identity, including a well-used garden space and (slightly infamous) pizza oven that brings everyone together.

What We're Looking For

• At least 3 years’ experience in small animal practice
• Confident in routine consults and general surgical procedures
• Comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative team
• Strong communication skills with a client-focused approach
• Interest in working cases up thoroughly using a diagnostic-led approach
• Enthusiasm for continued clinical development and learning

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

Edgewood 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 prioritizes 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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Salary Value: £46,000-£65,000 per annum;
Salary Description: depending on experience;