Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Are you an experienced vet looking for a friendly team that values collaboration, support, respect and diversity?

Coastway Vets is looking for an experienced small animal vet to join the 15-vet team at our RCVS-accredited hospital in Brighton. This is a great opportunity to showcase your skills, knowledge and expertise. Whether you already have a certificate or are working towards one, we have a diverse caseload to support your interests, including emergency and advanced medical cases referred to us from our five branch practices. We also offer orthopaedics, ophthalmology, advanced imaging, and exotics referral services.

We foster a collaborative work environment, and our team has a vast range of clinical interests and is always happy to share their wealth of experience. We have two Advanced Practitioners in small animal surgery; Christos performs orthopaedic surgeries, including TPLO, patellar and hip luxations, fracture repairs and arthrodesis. Matt prefers soft-tissue surgery, such as laparoscopy and BOAS. Céline joined the team 8 years ago to establish our Exotics Clinic, having completed her MSc in Wild Animal Health in 2011 at London Zoo and the RVC. We also have certificate holders in small animal medicine (Carmelo), exotics (Ivone), ECC (Aleksandra), and Eleanor, who holds a diagnostic imaging certificate and will be joining the team in September. We have an extensive and experienced nursing team, with 30 RVNs and 5 SVNs, who provide invaluable support along with our ANAs and front-of-house team.

Our large purpose-built hospital has excellent facilities with dedicated cat, dog, exotics, and day procedure wards, alongside high-tech equipment, including CT, laparoscopy, ultrasound, digital X-ray, rigid and flexible endoscopy, and a dental suite with dental X-ray. We also have a fully equipped in-house lab with wet chemistry analysers and a lab technician. Kim Jorgensen runs an Ophthalmology Clinic every fortnight, and we have a full range of ophthalmology diagnostic tools, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect as well as direct ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, gonioscopy, streak retinoscopy and facilities for microsurgery. We also have Sarah Band, an advanced practitioner in small animal medicine, who visits us weekly to assist with ultrasounds of more complex cases.

We're committed to professional development, and as a senior vet, you'll play a key role in mentoring and supporting our junior colleagues. We have morning and evening rounds for case discussions, updates, and patient handovers, ensuring a smooth and collaborative workflow. We value your feedback and ideas to help us improve and enhance our clinical services, which we share during team meetings, clinical discussions, and employee engagement surveys. We also offer opportunities for learning through in-house training, external CPD, and supporting certificates.

What our team says

“I am surrounded by a great team with a brilliant attitude. We all enjoy being able to deliver a high level of patient care whilst also being able to have fun at work. The practice has so much to offer, not only in the services we offer to patients but also in career progression for the team. There is so much that makes working here appealing, including the city of Brighton itself!” Paul MRCVS

“It is a really friendly environment, which makes going to work enjoyable and stress-free.” Carmelo MRCVS

“Working at Coastway Vets in Brighton has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I actually left for a couple of years to work in the Cayman Islands but came back as soon as I was back in the UK, and the team welcomed me with open arms. Our team is not just passionate about animal care; we are a close-knit family dedicated to providing the highest standards of veterinary services. The supportive environment fosters continuous learning and professional growth, making every day exciting and fulfilling.” Francesca MRCVS

The rota

We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. Our vets work a 4-day week (8 am - 6 pm), with a fixed day off. Each day, you'll focus on a specific area: consultations, surgery, or inpatient care. This rotation ensures a balanced workload and allows the team to develop skills in all aspects of veterinary medicine. Our weekend rota is just 1:5 (Saturday and Sunday 8 am – 7 pm), and you will have the Monday off in lieu of the weekend worked. There are always three vets working the weekend, with each vet taking on the responsibility of inpatient care, emergencies or on-the-day appointments. We have a dedicated out-of-hours team who take over after evening rounds, so there are no night duties for our day team. Our bank holidays are voluntary; if you choose to work one, you'll receive double pay and a day off in lieu.

The social scene

It’s not all work and no play here at Coastway! We love getting together outside work to make the most of Brighton’s vibrant social scene. We always have fun, whether enjoying a few drinks at the end of a shift at one of the seafront rooftop bars or gathering for our summer BBQs and big campouts. We also enjoy getting involved in community projects; we’ve had a float at Brighton’s Pride Festival for the last five years, which is always a blast, and we regularly take part in the local dog show, beach cleans, and took part in the Lewes raft race in aid of Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare.

With its bohemian atmosphere, bustling Lanes for shopping, lively nightlife, and eight miles of stunning beaches, Brighton offers something for everyone. If you are new to the area, the team are always happy to show you the sights and give great recommendations. It also benefits from easy links to London (1 hour by train) and London Gatwick for international travel (30 minutes by train).

We offer:

• A salary of £60,000 - £65,000, depending on experience, with annual pay reviews
• 6.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS, plus two other memberships
• CPD is encouraged, with additional days for advanced practitioners. Certificates supported and funded
• Focus on employee wellbeing
• Health Shield enrolment  
• My Perks – offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel, entertainment and much more
• Enhanced paternity, maternity, adoption, shared parental leave and surrogacy pay
• Discounted veterinary fees
• Cycle to Work scheme

If you'd like to learn more about our fantastic team, call us for an informal chat or go ahead and apply now. We'd love to hear from you!