Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal, Ballyshannon

Veterinary Surgeon– Small Animal, Old Church Vets, Donegal, Full‑time | 12‑Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover), Salary up to €60,000 DOE.

If you’re an experienced small animal vet looking for a role where you can take ownership of your cases, work within a genuinely supportive team, and enjoy a varied caseload, this is a fantastic opportunity to step into a well‑established practice. You’ll join a progressive, mixed practice environment where small animal work is at the heart of the day‑to‑day caseload but with the added benefit of being part of a wider, experienced and collaborative team.

A Role Where You Can Truly Clinically Thrive This position offers a rewarding mix of consulting, surgery, and case work‑ups, with the opportunity to follow cases through from start to finish. With excellent in‑house facilities, referrals are kept to a minimum, giving you the chance to develop confidence and clinical depth in your decision‑making. You will be trusted with sole charge responsibilities at times,making this an ideal step for a confident vet who enjoys autonomy but also values having a strong team around them for support and collaboration.

Keep Your Mixed Practice Edge (With Support) While this is a small animal‑focused role, you’ll be part of a shared out‑of‑hours rota that includes some large animal work. Importantly, you’ll never be on your own — guidance and support are always available, making this a great opportunity to maintain or gently develop mixed practice skills if desired.

A Structured Rota That Respects Your Time Work‑life balance is genuinely prioritised here. You’ll work a structured and predictable schedule, with protected time off so you can fully switch off when you’re away from work. Your working week will typically run Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, alongside a 1 in 5 rota for nights and weekends, including a light Saturday commitment. Crucially, no phone triage is required, as calls are screened by an experienced admin team before reaching the on‑call vet.

An Established Practice with a Strong Reputation Old Church Veterinary Group has been caring for animals since 1954 and is deeply rooted in the local community. Operating across three sites, including a beautifully converted 19th‑century hospital in Donegal Town, the practice blends heritage charm with modern veterinary medicine. The team consists of 8 vets, 5 RVNs, and a dedicated support team, all working together with a strong sense of camaraderie, respect, and shared clinical pride. Facilities are extensive and include a full IDEXX lab, ultrasound, digital X‑ray, endoscopy, laser therapy, physiotherapy, and orthopaedic capabilities, allowing for a high standard of in‑house care.

Who This Role Will Suit This opportunity is best suited to a confident and capable small animal vet who is comfortable with a first opinion caseload and enjoys taking responsibility for their work. You’ll be VCI registered, have at least 2 years’ clinical experience, and be confident working both independently and as part of a close‑knit team. While prior mixed experience is helpful, what matters most is a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and strong team ethos.

Benefits Package That Supports You Work Life Balance&Employee Wellbeing

22 days Annual Leave&Birthday leave

Paid Maternity, Paternity&Adoptive Leave Packages

Cycle to Work Scheme

Full access to EAP and Wellbeing Centre

Paid Bereavement Leave&Company Sick Pay

Development

€1300 annual CPD allowance with 5 days paid CPD days pro rata

Funding of any Certificates / Diplomas / PhDs you may want to pursue

Career Progression Opportunities, both clinical and non‑clinical

Professional Memberships

VCI membership paid

VDS cover paid

Additional Benefits

Annual Pay Reviews

Dedicated CARE fund– annual contribution of €1,100 from IVC Evidensia for each Vet to use on a case of your choice to ensure successful outcome with your patient (T&Cs apply)

Pawesome Benefits– reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers

Employer Pension Contributions

Free Flu Inoculations

Discounted Veterinary Fees

Opportunity to join company programmes (LGBTQ+, Wellbeing Champions, Nurses Committee, Clinical Board and many more)

Join a Team That Values What You Bring This is more than a maternity cover role— it’s an opportunity to step into a welcoming, experienced team, build your confidence in a supportive setting, and enjoy a role that offers clinical variety, autonomy, and balance. If you’re looking for your next move in a practice where you can feel trusted, supported, and genuinely part ofthe team, we’d love to hear from you.

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