Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon in England

Build your career your way, with the clinical support and caseload to back it up.

Meopham Vets is an independent, family-owned small animal hospital in Kent led by Dr Martin Hobbs, with three well-equipped sister practices in Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Swanscombe. With a new branch opening in East Malling and further expansion on the horizon, this is an exciting time to join us. Our mission is to provide compassionate, high-quality care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As an RCVS-accredited Veterinary Hospital, we have vets and nurses on site around the clock, meaning our patients are never alone and our clinical standards never drop. We’re proud to run our own in-house OOH service, supported by a dedicated night team, giving our day vets true work-life balance.

Why join us? Because this isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” role. We’re looking for the right people, not a rigid checklist. That might be:

• A vet with some experience under their belt who is looking to grow in confidence and find their niche
• A surgically-minded vet keen to develop at certificate level
• An experienced clinician ready to take on more complex cases or referrals

What matters most to us? Attitude, curiosity, and a genuine love of clinical work.

What makes us different?

• A genuinely supportive team: We’re a close-knit team of 18 vets with a wide range of experience and certificate holders across surgery, medicine, ECC, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, and anaesthesia. Collaboration is part of daily life, so there’s always someone willing to help and discuss cases.
• Real clinical opportunity: You’ll work on a genuinely varied caseload, including referred cases from across the South East, with the ability to fully work up and follow cases through. This is a role where you can build confidence, continuity, and clinical ownership.
• Surgical development encouraged: If surgery is your thing, you’ll find real opportunity here—from routine procedures to laparoscopy and exposure to orthopaedics such as TPLOs.
• Fully equipped sites—not just a “main hospital”: Our branches are genuinely well-equipped, with theatres, imaging and dedicated dental suites, so you won’t feel limited working outside the hospital.
• A culture of learning and progression: We actively support career development at every stage, whether that’s building confidence in general practice, pursuing a certificate, or developing into more senior clinical or leadership responsibilities over time.

Weekly clinical clubs and regular in-house medical and surgical training are provided, along with strong support for certificates, dedicated funding, and protected CPD time to support your development. Teaching opportunities through our ongoing partnership with the University of Surrey, supporting EMS students and clinical training are also available.

Facilities: We’ve invested heavily in giving our team the tools they need, including:

• 16-slice CT
• Laparoscopy
• Digital radiography & ultrasound
• Endoscopy (including paediatric bronchoscopy)
• Full in-house lab (blood gas, coagulation, etc.)

We also offer a wide range of complementary services, including hydrotherapy provided by experienced, qualified therapists, physiotherapy, acupuncture, a canine behaviourist and in-house grooming.

The role: This is a flexible, mixed hospital and branch role that can be shaped around your interests and clinical strengths. The working week is varied and structured to support both development and work-life balance. You’ll have dedicated operating days where you can focus purely on surgery without the interruption of consults, alongside other days that combine consultations, procedures and case work-ups—allowing you to follow cases through and build continuity. Shifts are spread across the week, typically ranging from 8:30 am–4 pm, 9 am–5 pm and 12 pm–7:30 pm, creating a balanced and sustainable rhythm to the working day. Weekend work is shared fairly across the team, with daytime shifts (8 am–7:15 pm) and a clear, structured handover to the night team. Time off in lieu is always provided, and wherever possible, arranged to give you a long weekend.

No routine night work: Thanks to our dedicated night team, there are no routine nights. Our day vets only provide occasional overnight support to cover annual leave—typically around three nights per year.

What we offer: Salary starting from £40,000+, depending on experience; accommodation available if required; 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays (increasing with service); exceptional CPD study time and funding, with certificates supported; generous staff discounts; a genuinely flexible and supportive working environment.

The location: Based in Kent, we’re surrounded by beautiful countryside yet incredibly well connected. With easy access to the M25 and high-speed rail links, you can be in London St Pancras in under 20 minutes from nearby Ebbsfleet, while the Kent coast is just an hour away—offering a genuine balance between city access and rural living.

Interested? Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for, or you’re still figuring it out—we’d love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch for an informal chat to find out more.