Veterinary Surgeon

Explore a world of opportunity

An exciting opportunity awaits for an enthusiastic and confident Veterinary Surgeon to become part of our welcoming team at Links Veterinary Group You will engage in a dynamic mix of consulting, surgical duties, inpatient care and emergency work within a thriving first opinion practice that prides itself on excellent, progressive patient care. This is delivered by an empowered, engaged, and close-knit team across our five East Lothian branches.

You'll work in a high-standard clinical environment with access to emergency cases without night shifts, benefiting from our 24-hour service while maintaining work/life balance. From February 2026, our OOH service will be staffed by a dedicated team of night vets alongside our existing night nurses, meaning no overnight working for this role.

The ideal candidate should possess substantial experience and be comfortable with sole charge responsibilities when necessary. We seek a friendly, adaptable team player with exceptional communication and customer service skills, strong organizational abilities, and attention to detail. The ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment, coupled with compassion towards animals and their owners, is essential. A valid UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are required, as branch coverage across East Lothian may be necessary at any time.

Fix or Flex

Here at Links, we understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We offer flexible rota patterns and working hours to accommodate your personal needs and priorities. Whether you prefer fixed or flexible work patterns, we are committed to finding the right solution for you.

The full-time rota for this role includes working 42.5 hours per week across 5 days, with flexibility open to discussion. Shifts include a mix of consulting, surgery, and inpatient/emergency work. Weekend day cover is on a 1 in 10 rota, with generous time back, and these shifts focus solely on emergency work. You'll still gain valuable exposure to emergency and critical care thanks to our 24-hour service—but with the reassurance of no night shifts.

Why join us?

Links Vets boasts 5 branches across picturesque East Lothian, surrounded by beaches and abundant outdoor activities. Our flagship Haddington branch hosts our OOH service and features state-of-the-art facilities including:

*Two operating theatres

*Three operating branches

*New ultrasound

*Digital and dental X-ray

*CT

*Endoscopy

*Dental suite, dedicated prep room, separate cat and dog wards, and 4 spacious consult rooms

We host visiting specialists in orthopaedics and ophthalmology and actively support staff development with ongoing certificate programmes. Our team includes vets invested in imaging, internal medicine and chronic pain management, helping us move towards offering the best all-round in-house service possible. A dedicated inpatient vet shift every day ensures hospitalised pets receive focused, continuous care. Our client base is highly engaged and committed to the wellbeing and quality of life of their pets, and our mission is to promote this through every stage of the patient journey—from routine boosters to late-night emergencies and complex medical workups.

Regular team meetings ensure our large, multi-site team remains closely connected, with consistent care standards across all branches. Management is deeply invested in maintaining a fulfilling, supportive working environment focused on excellent patient care and team satisfaction. Our experienced team comprises 17 Veterinary Surgeons, 15 Registered Veterinary Nurses, and a dedicated Reception and Support team. We foster a friendly and supportive environment, encouraging professional growth through certificate training and ongoing development opportunities.

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from -

Work-life balance

*6.8 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays

*Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

Wellbeing

*Private Medical Insurance

*Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline

*Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay

*Initiatives focused on colleague wellbeing 

Development

*£1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave pro rata

*Certificate support

*Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy

*Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider

*All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding

*All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund

*Infection Prevention and Control Programme

*Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

*BVA membership

*VDS cover

*RCVS fees

Colleague Benefits

*Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well 

*Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria

*Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you

*Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

*Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice