salary
£48,404 - £56,946 plus 4% shift allowance and a night shift allowance when applicable
Location
Greater Manchester Animal Hospital
Hours
35 per week
contract type
Full-time, permanent
values
- We are compassionate
- We are inspirational
- We are committed
- We are experts
- We act with integrity
We have been saving animals for almost 200 years. We were founded in a London coffee shop in 1824. The men present knew they were creating the world's first animal welfare charity, but they couldn't have imagined the size and shape that the charity would become today.
Back then we were the SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Royal patronage followed in 1837 and Queen Victoria gave permission to add the royal R in 1840, making us the RSPCA as we're known worldwide today.
Organisation Aims and Mission
Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion. Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect. Our strategy to 2030 will build on this strong platform as we look towards our 200th anniversary in 2024 and the years that follow.
- To perform consultation and medical treatment of animals according to RCVS standards as a qualified member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- To make decisions on and undertake a wide range of surgical operations and procedures. This requires competence and experience across veterinary disciplines, including soft tissue surgery, orthopaedic surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, clinical pathology and shelter medicine.
- To undertake, on a roster basis, emergency and out-of-hours qualified veterinary cover where the post holder will be in sole charge.
- To promote animal welfare through client education and preventative medicine in accordance with RSPCA policy, especially during consultation sessions.
- To implement RSPCA euthanasia policy with respect to stray and wild animals.
- To undertake any other duties as may be directed from time to time by the Hospital Director or Senior Clinician.
- To undertake overall responsibility for animals in care with regard to animal welfare and veterinary treatment
- To implement RSPCA policies in regard to the re-homability of stray animals, including decision-making on individual cases.
- To contribute to the development of RSPCA veterinary protocols.
- Identify and co-ordinate research projects, and provide support and advice to other RSPCA staff that are co-ordinating research projects. Part of the RSPCA Project Review Group. Collate and analyse data and prepare papers on veterinary work for publication.
- To undertake continuing professional and personal development associated with the role, in accordance with RCVS guidelines of 35 hours per year.
- To take part in PR and media activities as assigned by the Manager
- Training of Centre staff in standard procedures and protocols
- Surgeons are required to be directly responsible for supply, usage and recording of all POM drugs held and used at the centre (Animal and Wildlife Centres only).
- Improve rehabilitation techniques and skills through in-house protocol workshops (Wildlife Centres Only).
- Perform post-mortem examinations and lab work as required in accordance with RSPCA-agreed protocols, for animals in Stapeley care and for others within the regions or as agreed with Management (Wildlife Centres Only).
- Examine and report on cruelty cases, including court attendance if required, involving wildlife presented by the Society’s Inspectorate or by the Police Service (Wildlife Centres Only).
- Salary: £48,404 - £56,946 plus 4% shift allowance and a night shift allowance when applicable
- Working hours: 35 hours / Mon - Friday with some on-call overnight and weekend shifts (approx 1 in 6/7 rota).
- Onsite role: Manchester Animal Hospital - Your role also includes regular offsite work, travelling to our other animal centres/hospitals.
Here at RSPCA, no two days are the same, but we've added a short summary of what a typical day might look like. For full insight, please refer to the job description on this page.
Our expert team at Greater Manchester Animal Hospital provides life-saving veterinary care to thousands of animals rescued by RSPCA frontline officers.
They also provide vital support to rescued animals being cared for at RSPCA centres. Unlike private veterinary practices, our focus is exclusively on rescued, stray, neglected, and abused animals rather than owned pets.
In this rewarding and varied role, you will oversee the treatment and rehabilitation of injured, ill, and vulnerable animals, demonstrating clinical competence across a broad range of veterinary disciplines. Your responsibilities will include:
- Neutering and other soft tissue surgery
- Shelter medicine
- Dentistry
- Some sole charge
- Participating in off-site work around once a week for shelter medicine work with our local branches and centres.
- Implementing RSPCA policies regarding the re-homability of animals, including decision-making on individual cases.
- Welfare support work for the RSPCA Inspectorate.
- Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Interest or previous experience in shelter medicine
- A pragmatic, welfare-oriented approach
- Happy to handle dogs, cats, small furries and possibly bird and wildlife initial triage (although not expected to be an expert on wildlife)
- Excellent time management skills
- Ability to work autonomously and make informed decisions
- Great communication skills
- In line with the above, you will have the ability to explain complex clinical and welfare decisions in a clear and compassionate way to a variety of non-clinical staff, including the animal centre teams and Inspectorate
- A driver's licence is essential for this position due to consistent travel across the region.
Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles may need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK as we are unable to sponsor visas.
This is not your average Vet job - so, what's different about it?
We focus on animal welfare and can offer great hours (a good proportion of shifts are 8 am - 4 pm, and an actual hour for lunch most of the time). So, if you are looking for some flexibility to fit in with your home life, this could be the right fit for you.
- On-site role: Manchester Animal Hospital - Your role would also include regular off-site work, travelling to our other animal centres/hospitals.
- Professional development
- 35-hour working week (full-time)
- 25 days holiday
- Family-friendly policies
- Pension scheme
- Healthcare cash plan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational sick pay
- Life assurance
- Dog-friendly policies
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discount schemes
For more details on employee benefits, click here.
- Closing date: 18 November 2026
- For full details and to apply, click here
We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible
We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed to our mission. For this reason, we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA.
We're here to support you and encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.
Please feel free to contact us at resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685 so we can ensure the process works for you.