Small Animal Veterinarian – Dream Lifestyle

Location Wanaka
Discipline: Small Animal Vet, Veterinary Surgeons, Mixed Vet (Small and Large)
Job type: Permanent
Salary: NZ$100,000–NZ$140,000
Contact name: Talal Jomar

Contact email: talal@lloydandcowan.com
Job ref: 5820
Published: about 9 hours ago

Senior Mixed / Small Animal Veterinarian – Wānaka

Build a Career You’re Proud Of in a Place You’ll Love to Live

This is not just another veterinary role.
This is a chance to step into a senior position where your clinical expertise is valued, your career development is supported, and your lifestyle actually improves.

Based in Wānaka, this full-time role offers the rare combination of a strong small animal focus, meaningful mixed-practice exposure, leadership opportunity, and an outstanding quality of life. You’ll be joining an established, progressive team with high clinical standards, excellent support, and a genuine commitment to looking after its people.

If you’re an experienced mixed-practice vet who enjoys small animal medicine and surgery, but still values staying connected to production work without being on-call constantly, this role has been designed for you.

Why This Role Is Different

  • Predominantly small animal focused
    Your day-to-day work centres on small animal consulting and surgery, allowing you to fully utilise and grow your small animal skill set.

  • Mixed practice without burnout
    Mixed animal work is primarily after hours, ensuring continuity of care for the local farming community without the intensity of a full production-animal workload.

  • A senior role with real influence
    This position offers scope to contribute to clinical direction, service development, mentoring, and leadership for those who want to shape how a clinic performs.

  • A roster built for sustainability
    The on-call roster is structured to support wellbeing, typically one weekend in five or less, plus one weeknight.

  • A team culture that backs you
    You’ll work alongside skilled veterinarians, nurses and support staff who take pride in delivering high standards of care and supporting one another.

The Role

This is a full-time senior veterinary position (40 hours per week plus rostered Saturdays and shared on-call). You will provide high-quality medical and surgical care to small animal patients during regular hours, with mixed animal responsibilities as part of the after-hours roster. Daytime mixed work is available by interest and skill set.

You’ll be trusted to manage complex cases, contribute to clinical excellence, and support the development of the small animal service. There is genuine opportunity here for professional growth and leadership, depending on your career goals.

What You’ll Bring

You’re likely to thrive in this role if you bring:

  • Registration eligibility with the New Zealand Veterinary Council and a current Annual Practising Certificate (or eligibility to obtain).

  • A Bachelor of Veterinary Science (or equivalent).

  • Solid experience in mixed practice, with strong small animal medicine and surgical capability.

  • Confidence handling complex or challenging cases.

  • Excellent communication skills and a client-first mindset.

  • A collaborative approach and the ability to contribute positively to team culture.

  • An interest in leadership, mentoring, or service development (highly valued).

  • Strengths in orthopaedics, dentistry or ultrasonography (advantageous but not essential).

What You’ll Get in Return

This role is designed to support you as a professional and as a person:

  • Competitive remuneration package.

  • Funded CPD and ongoing professional development.

  • Regular career development and progression conversations.

  • Wellbeing and employee assistance support.

  • Superannuation contributions.

  • Staff discounts on veterinary services and products.

  • Annual flu vaccination.

  • Additional paid birthday leave.

  • Long service leave.

  • Enhanced parental leave benefits.

  • Flexible working arrangements where possible.

Why Wānaka?

Wānaka offers an exceptional lifestyle that few locations can match. Set among mountains and lakes, it provides year-round access to outdoor recreation including hiking, mountain biking, water sports and world-class skiing. Beyond the scenery, Wānaka has a welcoming community, strong local culture, great food and coffee, and a relaxed pace of life that makes it easy to settle in and feel at home.

For many veterinarians, this role represents a genuine lifestyle upgrade without compromising on clinical challenge or career progression.

Ready for Your Next Chapter?

If you’re an experienced mixed-practice veterinarian looking for a senior role that offers clinical challenge, professional growth, and an outstanding lifestyle, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact:
Talal – International Recruitment Consultant
Email: talal@lloydandcowan.com
Mobile: +44 7835 146288

Senior Mixed / Companion Animal Veterinarian – Wanaka

February 16, 2026
Make a Real Difference | Join Our Team in Wanaka!
Are you a Senior Mixed Animal Veterinarian with strong companion animal skills, looking for your next adventure?
We are searching for an experienced and motivated veterinarian to join our busy and welcoming team in Wanaka, where every day offers the chance to make a meaningful difference for the animals we care for and the people who rely on our expertise.
We are a proactive, passionate team that values collaboration, professional growth, and a supportive working environment.
This is a full‑time position (40 hours per week, plus rostered Saturdays and participation in the on‑call rotation).
It’s an excellent opportunity to join a fun, dedicated group of professionals who are as committed to your development as they are to delivering exceptional veterinary care.
 
About the Role
As a Companion Animal–focused Veterinarian, you’ll deliver high‑quality veterinary services to our Petfirst clients and their pets, while also contributing your mixed animal skills to support our production animal team for after hours work. This structure allows you to maintain a strong CA focus during regular hours, with the opportunity to engage in occasional daytime mixed cases and ensure excellent service continuity for our farming community during the on‑call roster.
You’ll bring strong organisational and client care skills, a well‑developed companion animal skill set, and the willingness to participate in our mixed after hours rotation. Experience with beef, deer, and sheep practice, along with some dry stock and equine capability, is required for after hours provision. Strengths in orthopaedics, dentistry, or ultrasonography will be viewed favourably. Leadership opportunities exist for the right candidate.
This role offers more than just day‑to‑day clinical work – it’s a chance to become an integral part of a passionate, supportive team in one of New Zealand’s most exceptional regions. Our on‑call roster is designed with wellbeing in mind, generally one weekend every 1 in 5 weeks or less, plus one weeknight.
 
Key Responsibilities:
  • Being an exceptional team player with a desire to grow our Small Animal business and find new possibilities for delivering excellence in care to our patients and outstanding experiences to their pet parents.
  • Provide exceptional veterinary outcomes to our companion animal patients (and the occasional production animal too), ensuring their well-being and quality of life.
  • Provide a strong surgical and medicine service as part of a cohesive and proactive veterinary team, delivering the highest standards of care to all the animals we have the pleasure of caring for.
  • Work with a nursing, technician and support team who take standards of care to the next level!
  • Support our LA team in the delivery of routine herd health and disease prevention when the need arises.
 
What You’ll Bring!
We’re looking for someone who’s as passionate about animals as we are and brings: 
  • New Zealand Veterinary Council Registration and Annual Practicing Certificate (or equivalency enabling registration).
  • A Bachelor of Veterinary Science with experience in Mixed Animal Practice and a strong Companion Animal skill set (including surgery and consulting).
  • Experience handling difficult or complex cases with professionalism and expertise.
  • A warm, approachable personality that makes both customers and colleagues feel valued and supported.
  • Exceptional communication skills, ensuring smooth collaboration with your team and clarity for farmers and pet parents.
  • Previous experience in leadership and a keen interest in the mechanics of what creates a successful clinic will be valued highly.
 
About Us!
At Petfirst Veterinary, we’re more than just a veterinary practice we’re a passionate community of animal lovers committed to making a positive difference for both animals and people. Our clinics, located across some of New Zealand’s most beautiful regions, are equipped with cutting-edge tools and technology to support our teams. But our real strength lies in our people. We believe work should be more than just a job - it should be a place where you can thrive, follow your passions, and find meaning in what you do every day.
We’re on a mission to create a community where pets flourish, and their owners feel confident in their ability to care for them. As a proudly Kiwi-owned group, we’re transforming the way we deliver veterinary care, combining great people with innovative technology to offer exceptional care. We’re equally dedicated to our team, providing a supportive environment where you can grow, develop your skills, and build a fulfilling career. Whether you’re passionate about making a difference for animals, people, or your colleagues, you’ll find a home with us.
 
Why Join Us?
Need someone to talk to? Our employee assistance programme through Vitae has got your 
  • Feeling stuck? Let’s chat about your future in our 6-month development review.
  • Dream big! We’re here to support your career goals and help create a better you.
  • Never stop learning! Dive into CPD and self-education opportunities on us.
  • Your wellbeing, your way – that’s what our Connected Lives programme is all about.
  • Earn what you’re worth with our competitive remuneration packages.
  • Future you, will thank present you for that 3% KiwiSaver contribution we’re making.
  • Unlock amazing discounts on animal care services and products just for being part of our team through our Teamfirst programme.
  • Flu season? Not for you? We’ve got your annual jab sorted.
  • Birthday pancakes in bed? Absolutely! Enjoy that extra paid day off.
  • Stick with us and earn some serious time off with long service leave.
  • New addition to the family? Enjoy extra parental leave top-ups.
  • Not the primary caregiver? We’ve still got paid leave for you.
  • Need to juggle work and life? Our flexible arrangements have you covered.
 
Why Wanaka?
Wānaka is a welcoming, relaxed alpine town surrounded by stunning mountain and lake scenery, offering an unbeatable balance of lifestyle and adventure. With year‑round activities - hiking, biking, water sports, and world‑class skiing right on your doorstep, it’s a paradise for anyone who loves the outdoors.
Its friendly community, vibrant local culture, and easy access to nature make Wānaka a place where you can truly feel at home while enjoying one of the most beautiful regions in New Zealand.