Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Fancy ditching the weekend shifts? We are looking for a vet who wants to enjoy life and practice great medicine. Imagine working 9 to 5 daily, with no weekends, bank holidays, or out-of-hours!

At Calne Vets, we are not just looking for an experienced vet. We are looking for someone who shares our passion for exceptional patient care and wants to contribute to our practice's continued growth and success. We believe that a healthy work-life balance is essential to keeping our team happy, and we have designed our very flexible rota to reflect this. We are also committed to helping our team grow professionally, and we foster a supportive and relaxed work environment.

Our independent small animal practice in beautiful Wiltshire thrives thanks to our fantastic, long-standing team and lovely, loyal client base. Calne Vets was opened in 2000 by Irene, with the invaluable help of Sarah, our Practice Manager. Irene loves being a vet, and beyond her interests in small animal surgery and ultrasonography, she is passionate about horses and provides equine care for various clients, including racehorses and leisure horses. One thing Irene is not enthusiastic about is paperwork, and that’s where Sarah takes the reins! When asked why she has stayed here, Sarah says:

“Because I am still as happy today as I was on my first day. I never, ever get up in the morning and think I don't want to go to work. It's because I enjoy my job and the people; every day is different. We are very lucky with our team; everybody gets on so well, and we socialise together often. Irene is an amazing vet and has a heart of gold. We know she appreciates us as she has taken us all to Spain for a weekend, to Crufts, day trips to Bristol and Reading, and fabulous Christmas get-togethers; she just wants everybody to know how much she values them. I was born and bred in Calne, and here at Calne Vets, you are part of the community. I know so many people that when I pop to the shop, I could be gone for hours!”

We’re a collaborative team, and our dedicated nurses, Dawn and Christine, and our wonderful receptionists, Viv, Shannon and Joan, make sure everything runs smoothly. Dawn was a vet receptionist for many years before starting her nurse training with us. She qualified as an RVN in 2021. Christine has been with us for nearly 20 years as our VNA and, like Irene, enjoys spending her free time with horses as an avid point-to-point enthusiast.

“I joined Calne Vet Centre as a receptionist in 2016 and was given the opportunity to train as a Veterinary Nurse and qualified in 2021. I am involved and care for a variety of interesting cases which allows me to challenge and progress my skills daily. Everyone here is so friendly, caring, and welcoming. It feels like one big family, not just colleagues. It is a great practice, with lots of interesting cases, friendly clients and up-to-date facilities. I enjoy coming to work each day because I know as a team, we will support each other and provide a high standard of care to each of our patients, treating every animal with love and care.” Dawn RVN

“I have worked at Calne Vets for coming up to 20 years. It is a lovely place to work with a brilliant team that has become my extended family. They are all caring and aim to achieve the same goal: giving the best possible care and service to all our clients and their pets. Irene is a very professional and dedicated vet who always gives exceptional service and expertise to all the animals in her care. Helping clients who, at times, are very anxious when their beloved pet needs veterinary attention, Irene can provide that reassuring and kind manner that clients need. I have enjoyed working with Irene over the years and learnt a lot.” Chris VNA

“I started working at Calne Vets in August 2020 when we were still in the heat of the pandemic, so I quickly got to know the team well. We are a small team, but I find this nicer as you work with the same lovely people every day. I had two years of experience in the veterinary industry working in reception; however, I didn’t realise I lacked so much confidence in myself or my ability. I came from a larger practice in the local area, which had four branches and a team of around 50+. You often went days without seeing the same person. The team here is not only a joy to work with every day, but they have really helped me grow in the past four years, and I’m now a much happier and more confident person. We often have outings for meals or attend local events, which is always so much fun. We also occasionally have lunches or pizza ordered for the practice to have a group lunch and catch up / unwind. I would consider this team my family, and they have taken care of me and my family over the past four years; even my dog is treated like a VIP when he comes in for his monthly injections.” Shannon, Receptionist

“I have worked at the Calne Vets for over 22 years as assistant to the practice manager. The practice has a very loyal and long-standing customer base, as well as extremely supportive staff and managers, all of which make it an enjoyable place to work. Training and development are encouraged, which makes staff feel valued and appreciated. We meet up out of work for evenings out, parties, shows, concerts, conferences, etc, and on one special occasion, we holidayed in Spain. It is a totally different career path to the one I started out on and I'm pleased that I made the change to join the Calne Vets family.” Viv, Admin Coordinator

We have a diverse caseload of first-opinion work, so whether you're passionate about general practice or have a specific interest you want to pursue, we can help you achieve your goals. We're committed to supporting your professional development, whether gaining experience or working towards a certificate. We have all the usual kit to work cases up in-house, and if you are interested in orthopaedics, we have the equipment needed to build this service up. We also have great relationships with our local referral centres, Macqueen Vets and Eastcott Veterinary Hospital.

We are open 9-5, Monday to Friday, and we are happy to consider full or part-time hours. Whether you’re looking for 3, 4 or 5 days or have other commitments to work around, we’d love to hear from you. Our days are structured to offer a good balance of surgery and consultations so you can work up your cases. There are no weekends, bank holidays or out-of-hours, as these are outsourced to Nightingale Emergency Vets in Chippenham, who also look after any inpatients.

The team spirit extends far beyond the clinic walls. From evenings enjoying delicious meals and drinks to exploring a world of flavours at the Bath Food Festival and indulging in a bit of pampering with massages and bubbly at the spa, we have shared countless laughs together and know how to unwind and recharge.

Calne is a pretty market town in the heart of Wiltshire, on the edge of the North Wessex Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural that is ideal for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers. It’s the perfect spot for exploring everything Wiltshire has to offer, including Lacock and the Cherhill White Horse. Just 15 minutes from the M4, there are excellent connections to London and the south coast, and for rail travel, nearby Chippenham offers quick connections to Bristol and Bath in under 30 minutes.

We are offering:

• Salary of £65,000+
• No weekends, bank holidays or OOHs
• Five weeks holiday, plus bank holidays
• CPD encouraged, with certificates supported and funded
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS and BVA
• Private medical insurance
• Visa sponsorship considered

Want to be part of our supportive team? Call us for an informal chat, or apply now!